External Flash Diffuser advice

[wendyt_ca]

I am considering purchasing a Canon Speedlite EX430 II flash for my camera, I am constantly borrowing a friends if I need to do indoor portraits or a wedding so I would like to just have my own. While considering this I am also looking at diffusers (which I have never used so this is new to me). So I need some advice. Will a diffuser make a difference? It seems as though it would based on what I can find online.

Next What would the differences be between these two?

I found this one on Ebay for $1 http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Soft-Box-Bou...ong-life-A1-/271582139295?hash=item3f3b8e939f

And a friend recommended this Gary Fong one http://www.garyfongestore.com/flash-diffusers/lightsphere-collapsible-speed-mount.html


Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance

 

[bob100]

I am considering purchasing a Canon Speedlite EX430 II flash for my camera, I am constantly borrowing a friends if I need to do indoor portraits or a wedding so I would like to just have my own. While considering this I am also looking at diffusers (which I have never used so this is new to me). So I need some advice. Will a diffuser make a difference? It seems as though it would based on what I can find online.

Next What would the differences be between these two?

I found this one on Ebay for $1 http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Soft-Box-Bou...ong-life-A1-/271582139295?hash=item3f3b8e939f

And a friend recommended this Gary Fong one http://www.garyfongestore.com/flash-diffusers/lightsphere-collapsible-speed-mount.html
View attachment 120038

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance

those diffusers don't work!
or more precisely, they don't make the "diffused" light source larger and spread out to be effective. Ask your question in a camera lighting forum such as
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=35 and see the responses you get about "Gary Fong". Some flash attachments can spread the light a little for situations where you cannot bounce off a wall like the "flash benders" but it's a small effect. I have some DIY diffusers and spreaders and the Gary Fong 'knock-off' is on ebay for a lot less. Again, get another opinion in a camera lighting forum if you want to spend more than $10 on plastic flash diffusers. Some claim these diffuser attachments are a valuable addition for camera lighting, some claim they are of very limited effectiveness.

 

[jec6613]

The $1 diffuser's only real purpose is to spread the light wider if you're getting dark corners on your wide angle lenses, particularly when using flash brackets - I have a couple myself and they do that job very well, there's even a built-in one on my SB-700s. But it's definitely a single purpose, usually for indoor wide angle.

The Gary Fong Lightsphere is to make the light less directional, so that light reflects off of walls and ceilings at more angles and give a more diffuse lighting. It can also diffuse outdoor fill by making it so that you don't need to point your flash at the subject to get a decent amount of light on it. I don't use one of these, and instead do traditional bouncing, but some photogs (particularly some wedding ones) swear by them for on-camera flash use. Personally, I'd rather use a flash bracket and more speedlights.

They both chew up a chunk of your flash output so your flash fires at higher power, either way.

 

[xlxo]

My fav diffuser is the Demb mega...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/833260-REG/DEMB_MGFI_Mega_Flip_it_Dish_Reflector.html

• Folds flat for travel...
• it's a big reflective surface
• don't need a low ceiling to bounce light
• don't need a back wall to reflect
• don't have dark eyes for subjects with deep eye sockets
• don't have white balance issues when reflecting light off color ceilings and walls