Flash Diffuser

siumaibb

There are so many kinds of flash diffuser out there, which one is good for shooting indoor events in a hall? (like a wedding) and why?

Thanks

AAC

I use Gary Fong's lightsphere cloud for social cocktail event shooting.  It's good to avoid "raccoon eyes"  when flash is bounced back from ceiling. However, it's adding some more weight on my SB-800.
IMO, Most of these stuff are over priced.

Catpiano

Those GF one is not bad .. but .. spending $70 on a slurpee cup ..  and it look so weird ..  unless you buy one from AP LIU for $7

The best one I have tried, is the 80/20 diffusor ( ~ 80% bounce to the reflector then bounce to the front, the ~ 20% to the ceiling.)

Of course, the bigger reflector/diffusor, the better result, but it will use more power from your flash, and need longer recycle time, which is what you want to avoid for wedding. (unless you use external battery pack)

It also depends the location ..  if not super high ceiling ( like 20 ft plus ) and if the ceiling and walls are in white or close to white colour, then JUST BOUNCE is good enough.

Let me go home, and take some pic for different diffusors I have, and suggest you some.

^_^

siumaibb

sure, thanks CP

shutterbug

Sometimes you can get good results from light modifiers but most of the time it's too bulky for me so I don't use any of these.  Another thing I find is that the white balance is different depening on different materials.

chobit

Some of you may know that I have been using the Gary Fong LS since it first came out couple years ago.  (Cloud version).
Yes, it's expensive.., and I lost a couple of them before =( , yet it still worth every penny.
With experiece, you can simply do so much more with it on your flash, then using your flash alone.

The Con. side is that your battery recycle time can take much longer.  In my case, I use external battery pack in a wedding to compensate the down side.

chobit

The light balance is a non-issue if you shoot in Raw, but yes, it's sort of bulky, but then it's already so much better than bringing in reflectors or strobes =P

Sometimes, good photograpy do require the properly equipments preparation such as bringing a tripod, etc..!  However, they are all just tools.., and they won't do us any goods if we haven't learn how to use them.

Sometimes you can get good results from light modifiers but most of the time it's too bulky for me so I don't use any of these.  Another thing I find is that the white balance is different depening on ...
shutterbug 發表於 2009-5-15 11:10

shutterbug

The light balance is a non-issue if you shoot in Raw, but yes, it's sort of bulky, but then it's already so much better than bringing in reflectors or strobes =P

Sometimes, good photograpy do require ...
chobit 發表於 2009-5-15 14:46

Actually I don't think the white balance is OK even in raw.  I tried this before.  The reason is that on some material it casts a cool light on my subject when the environment is say tungsten.  Although this happens with bare flash as well, the degree is less.  In that case, even with raw converter you compensate for the subject with a warm tone your background light will be really warm.  You know what I'm saying?

So if you buy a modifier, make sure it doesn't give you a colour cast.

chobit

What you said is true, and you probably don't want an modifier which cause to much of un-neccessary color cast.  The LSII doesn't seem to have any color cast issue, so that the good news.  Then pesronally, I bounce the flash whenever it is possible, therefore color cast caused by the wall or celling is so much more important.  But gain, shooting in Raw, and fill the area with the bounce light can minmize the color difference.

Then again, the flash itself is only a tool to help modify the lighting condition.  I am no expert.. and still learning, but one thing for sure, skills and expereice would be the key.

I am no expert.. and still learning

Actually I don't think the white balance is OK even in raw.  I tried this before.  The reason is that on some material it casts a cool light on my subject when the environment is say tungsten.  Altho ...
shutterbug 發表於 2009-5-15 15:01

快樂牛郎

I use a $1.99 one from ebay