|
Search this group's discussions
|
On-board, pop-up flash diffuser. Any ideas?
|
I have decided against buying a hotshoe flash for my D50, due to costing and the fact I don't tend to like flash too much, I'll manage with the, seemingly ample, flash built into the camera.
I have noticed that, using the naked flash, skin gets horrid blown shiney highlights, and shadows are pretty deep and harsh. To remidy this, I started looking at diffusing ideas.
I had posted in a couple of other topics, that I have used the windows from those typed letter evelopes. I stuck this to the front of the "NIKON" text on the camera, and it sat infront of the flash. Ok, it did cut some harshness down, but, did nothing for the edges where the flash just shot round. Oh and also, it blined me.
I just made a template in photoshop (iffy CAD i know) based on some measurments on a quick 'back of envelope' digram I drew. Printed on ordinary paper, it is easy to assemble if your arty and crafty :-D, but is flimy as hell, and cuts light like anything!
 
This little thing slides into the hotshoe, and the pop-up flash can flip up inside the cavity and fire. As I say though, it does cut light.
Does anyone know what distance from the flash front to a diffusing object/material is good for a diffuser?
Are there any particuarily good materials that don't sap too much light, but do diffuse well?
Also, does anyone know of a way to build a reflector, ie for bouncing off of ceilings. Admittedly, I can't expect too much as its the onboard flash and distance will sink!
Any help please?
Cheers
Posted at 1:50PM, 6 September 2007 PDT
(permalink)
|
|
The translucent plastic film containers work well as pop-up flash diffusers. Just cut a hole in the side and slip it on the flash. Cheap, easy, uber-portable, and readily replaceable.
Originally posted 58 months ago.
(permalink)
jeebus! edited this topic 58 months ago.
|
|
1) Buy an ancient hotshoe flash (but NEVER put in on your camera, it will fry the electronics) off ebay for $20ish;
2) Buy an optical trigger for $20ish for the flash;
and
3) Manually set on-camera flash to a very low power setting, using it to trigger the optical trigger on the ancient off camera flash.
With this setup, you will be bouncing flashes off of walls and ceilings in no time, with little out of pocket cost.
Then, check out strobist.com (particularly lighting 101) and the strobist flickr group. For just a little bit more money, you can get a legit lighting starter kit.
Oh, you may just want to put a bandaid over the flash. But you sound like you want to do more, despite your protests that you do not like flash.
Posted 58 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Diffusion paper is another option. I have even used wax paper from the kitchen in a pinch.
www.amazon.com/Rosco-Diffusion-Thirteen-Assorted-Material...
Posted 58 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Have a quick look on Ebay and type 'pop diffuser' into the search. One item looks like a cloth cover that slips over the pop up flash and another that fits round the lens, they might be what you are looking for.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
store.garyfonginc.com/puf-01.html
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
 |
Len Scaps [deleted] says:
Have a look at this it might be what you are looking for
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Len Scaps oooo that scoop thingy is neatO
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
yeah, actually, i think that lens scoop would work well if you're just going for bounce flash. But there's many occasions where there's no light color ceiling to bounce the flash off of, which in that case you need a diffuser and not a bounce. If I had to solely rely on the built in flash, i would probably get both the scoop and the Gary Fong puffer.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Thank you all for your input.
OK, well after checking out the light scoop, I looked at an ordinary make-up mirror, and realised that it fits a very similar principle idea. It is a very reflective surface, that angles light in a forward and upward direction.
I messed around with the mirrow around 10mm infront of the cameras flash housing, tilted at around a 30* angle, twidling a bit either tighter to 45* for closer shots or shallower towards 0* for further, but still retaining a bounce, not full on flash!
I took on Professor Kobré’s tips of boosting the flash EV to +1, and switching to Manual exposure mode.. I decided on 1/100s or 1/60s and f/4 apperture, for a little ambient lighting.
Ok, well, it certainly makes a massive difference just whacking a mirror infront of your flash!
One handed camera operation is a bit silly, but did work here.
I also found that white balance is a little off, perhaps my cealings aren't that fab. Kelvin may fix this though.
The exposure wanted tweaking 1/3EV up. I am plannning on experimenting with FULL power flash or 1/2 power and messing around with settinsg there.
I also wonder how A or S modes will fair?
 
............................................................Direct Flash...........................................................................................................................Bounced Flash....................................................
 
....................................................Edited Direct Flash....................................................................................................................Edited Bounced Flash.........................................
 
.........................................................Bounced Flash.............................................................................................................Edited Bounced Flash..................................................
Im gonna take a look at incorporating a diffuser as well, or somthing to bounce the reflected light, kinda like the umbrellas, but with another mirror instead of reversing the flash. I am impressed with the results so far though! :-D
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
A piece of translucent tape over the flash would produce some basic diffusion.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I have just got the Puffer diffuser
www.photoproshop.com/usa/product_info.php/products_id/657
It's not too expensive at $20.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
tracing paper would probably work well
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Bubble wrap!
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I use the Lumiquest softscreen, and it works pretty well.
www.lumiquest.com/softscreen.htm
But, I can't stress enough how much happier you'll be if you save up for a nice hotshoe flash. After buying an SB-800, I don't know how I lived without it.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Or, if you don't want the size of the SB-800, put a 400 on there and get a bounce card (Demb makes one) and you can do some nice stuff with a small strobe on camera. I wouldn't go for less than the 800 for weddings, but I'm going to pick up a 400 for everyday on camera flash.
allan
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
If you look at my gallery you will see a diffuser I made from a milk carton. Regards,Ken
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I second the Lumiquest Softscreen for my popup. I also have an SB600 with the Lumiquest ProMax. If you're doing a lot of portraits, get one of the Lumiquest softboxes instead.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Thanksagain to everyone for their help here, and ideas on the subjcets of 'pop-up flash modifiers'
Regarding the bounce technique. It looks like the light scoop will be really the only intelligent option for something to be fairly strong, and working well. I suppose it could be fashioned from tin-foil, but would look terrible, and wouldn't be particuarily easy to keep an angle on it.
My only problem is that Im in the UK, and things may get a bit more expensive with shipping accross he pond.
I have read in some places that the Lumiquest softscreen can tend to sap the light out of your flash quite a bit (but then I have to ask how much gets lost in a bounce? max power output +1ev flash). The cloth thing that sticks ver the flash, I have read, that this idea of sticking something to the flash only decreases the power output and doesn't really diffuse, for diffusion a gap of, seemingly unkown distance, from the flash must exist between the flash and diffusing material.
I think a cut down milk carton, Ken, seems a really good way to go. It's fairly strong, durable, and is free. By the way, I liked your photoshop tisp there Ken, very helpful.
Issues with a dedicated flash I have, despite, it will give better results and more control:
Cost.
Size/weight.
Amount of usage. I just tend to shoot natural light most of the time.
I also own a Canon camera, and so couldn't swap the flash over, unless using a seperate commander.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
I picked up a Sunpak 2000 auto DZ recently, for $6 NZ it has pins to contact accessory shoe, and is compatible with Nikon,Canon,Minolta,Pentax, and Olympus-the trigger voltage is below the camera's 7 volts,and it works perfectly.regards,Ken
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I was taking some close ups of old photos and stuck a scrunched up old ASDA bag in front of the flash. Unsightly but it did the job.
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
For me ball of tennis table for the flash of the D50
Posted 57 months ago.
(permalink)
|
Would you like to comment?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).
|
|
Nikon D50 Users /
Discuss
Feed – Subscribe to Nikon D50 Users discussion threads
