You ever mess around with flash diffusers?

[BowerR64]

I remember doing this with my first digital camera back in the late 90s but i never really knew what i was doing or what it was called. It seems sometimes the cheapest stuff can give some really good results specialy when shooting close. I think the stock flash is more setup for distance.

Got any weird diffusers you have used with your cameras?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/pingpongdiffuser.jpg

These are ping pong balls i got at walmart and a "practice golf ball" i cut them so they would fit on the cameras. The 1/4 cut out just slips right over the S2 flash when its up and its handy to keep in your pocket or in your camera bag. It needs a little more cut away on the P&S cameras like the A540. You normaly have to use custom balance and set it with the diffuser on because it alters the color of the flash. The first shot "stock" i tried to set the W/B but it still came out blue for some reason.

Ive tried printer paper rolled up and taped to the back of the flash also, it seems to work similar if your in a pinch.

[XaiLo]

I did! "BowerR64"!!!

[BowerR64]

I did! "BowerR64"!!!

What did you use?

[wutske]

Never tried, but my camera isn't realy worth it :D (weak flash, weak macro and only W/B-presets, ow and no real subjects atm :D ).

How safe is this for the flash, because you are reflecting a lot of energy back to the flash itself wich is not so good I think. Even a bulb from an overhead projector can pop if you forget the open the mirror and even my 20W stroboscope may not have reflecting object closer than 1m (or 0.5m).

[BowerR64]

Never tried, but my camera isn't realy worth it :D (weak flash, weak macro and only W/B-presets, ow and no real subjects atm :D ).

How safe is this for the flash, because you are reflecting a lot of energy back to the flash itself wich is not so good I think. Even a bulb from an overhead projector can pop if you forget the open the mirror and even my 20W stroboscope may not have reflecting object closer than 1m (or 0.5m).


Have you ever looked at a flash inside it? its like a little thin long bulb. Behind it is a reflecter to reflect the flash forward and its really close behind the bulb. I would think that would be the limit. I think the lens on the front of the flash is probobly as close as it can get. I think the inside area around the flash is a few cm around it. Its just a split second it fires, i dont think it even gets that hot. What if the flash is cold? and you use it could the flash crack the bulb? quick burst of heat breaks cold glass doesnt it?

[MindBender]

I've used all sorts of things in a pinch when I was getting glare on things and didn't have proper equipment.

Folded Kleenex works okay. Printer paper.

I've also tapped paper over the end of a big flashlight and used it to illuminate things in a pinch with diffused light so I wouldn't get a heavy glare.

[BowerR64]

I've used all sorts of things in a pinch when I was getting glare on things and didn't have proper equipment.

Folded Kleenex works okay. Printer paper.

I like the idea of the pingpong ball... how effective was that at transmitting the light? Hard to tell from the photos and not sure which one was used to take them.

I've also tapped paper over the end of a big flashlight and used it to illuminate things in a pinch with diffused light so I wouldn't get a heavy glare.

The first shot of darth maul KFC cup was with the stock A540, it says on the image. You can see harsh shadows. Th second was with the pingpong ball over the A540 flash set at the same flash intinsity as the first.

The last was with the S3 and i used a plastick practice golfball over the flash.

It works fine at fairly close distances, and IMO thats where the flash usualy has problems. Close up is where it seems like its to much or its like a spotlight. If you cut the ping pong ball just right you can hold it over the flash with your index finger as you hold the camera.

On the S2 and S3 a little 1/4 cut section slips right over the popup flash and it stays on nicely.

What i thought ide try is painting the backside of the ball black. If you look at the ball when the flash fires its really cool how it lights up the whole ball. It lights up in a sphere.

[MindBender]

The first shot of darth maul KFC cup was with the stock A540, it says on the image.

Yeah... my brain wasn't functioning. I actuallyed edited out the question when I took a close look at the sample images ( was mainly fucused on the pics of cameras when I was reading the first time ). You just happened to catch between when I posted and when I edited. D'oh... too fast. ;)

I've also used cards that were semi reflective or even borrowed the occasional ladies compact to reflect flash rather than diffuse it if I didn't have anything handy for diffusion. Loses more lighting power, but better than blowing out a flash highlight... works okay in a small room like an office that has white walls all around.


What i thought ide try is painting the backside of the ball black.

I wonder if you could put something like aluminum foil on the back of the ball to force more of the light forward through the diffusing plastic. Don't know how much difference it would make... P&S flashes are usually pretty weak comparitively.

I love MacGyver life-hacks. Cool stuff. :)