[salubrious_k]

This is really a continuation of this thread but to aid future searches, I thought these comparison shots warranted a new thread.

So... here are my comparison shots taken using a Sto-fen Omni-Bounce diffuser and a Lambency Diffuser (which is basically a Chinese rip-off of the Gary Fong Lightsphere).

The camera and flash was a 5D with 430EX. The settings were ISO 100, 1/50s and f4.

The first set is taken with the flash pointed straight towards the subject, the second set it taken with the flash pointed straight up. The subject was about 2m from me, and the white ceiling was about 2m above the camera.

I should point out that since taking the shots, I've had a look at the Gary Fong website and I've realised that he expects you to turn the flash 90° to the left or right - I didn't do this and I'm not sure how much it would affect the result.

And finally here's a shot of the two diffusers together, where you'll see the main downside to the Lambency Diffuser - it's absolutely massive!

So I'd be interested to hear what you think... Which do you think is better? If you think the Lambency is better, do you think the extra size warrants the improvement in quality?

[ksten]

Originally Posted by salubrious_k

... turn the flash 90° to the left or right ...

I think the main reason for rotating the flash head through 90° is to allow you to change between portrait and landscape orientation more easily - I.e. it only requires the flash head to be rotated through 90° around one axis rather than two.

Originally Posted by salubrious_k

So I'd be interested to hear what you think... Which do you think is better? If you think the Lambency is better, do you think the extra size warrants the improvement in quality?

I definitely prefer the bounced photographs over the straight flash but, to be honest, I'm not sure which I prefer between the two diffusers. I have both too but I've only been inclinded to use the lightsphere at home whereas I wouldn't think twice about packing the stofen in my bag.

Thanks for doing the comparison!

Cheers.

[Torpedo]

It would have been nice to see comparison shots without a diffuser at all, for us folks who have never used one. There's not a lot in it really, is there? The size of the lambency is a bit off-putting though ...

[salubrious_k]

Originally Posted by Torpedo

It would have been nice to see comparison shots without a diffuser at all, for us folks who have never used one. There's not a lot in it really, is there? The size of the lambency is a bit off-putting though ...

I did that the other day on that other thread I referenced. Here are the results:

NO DIFFUSER - DIRECT

DIFFUSER - DIRECT

NO DIFFUSER - BOUNCE (straight up, white ceiling just under 2m above camera)

DIFFUSER - BOUNCE

[Tobers]

Well, that is very interesting. In your first set of pics, the diffuser definitely gets rid of the background shadow making the lady "pop" out of the picture more. I cant really tell the difference between the two diffusers.

For a pure convenience perspective, the smaller one looks like the better bet.

edit: actually the Stofen one looks better as the highlights aren't as strong on the cheeks so it looks more natural.

[mmayson]

Originally Posted by Tobers

Well, that is very interesting. In your first set of pics, the diffuser definitely gets rid of the background shadow making the lady "pop" out of the picture more. I cant really tell the difference between the two diffusers.

For a pure convenience perspective, the smaller one looks like the better bet.

edit: actually the Stofen one looks better as the highlights aren't as strong on the cheeks so it looks more natural.

I agree with you.

[Torpedo]

Originally Posted by salubrious_k

I did that the other day on that other thread I referenced.

Oops. Thanks

I think I am going to get a Sto-fen, for the convenience. It doesn't look like you can go wrong with either?
Anyone know the cheapest place to get one?

[Pirate!!]

Interesting stuff. You will need to rotate the flash to achieve best results with the dome. Also, I tend to adjust the flash power output on mine, so it's not at full power when close-up.

The diffuser will in my experience give a much more even cast of light resulting in less harsh shadows and a general softer tone. It's a matter of experimenting for best results.

[richard plumb]

how does TTL affect this, or did you shoot in manual? Just wondering whether the flash metering would try and compensate for the diffuser and increase the power of the flash

[salubrious_k]

Originally Posted by richard plumb

how does TTL affect this, or did you shoot in manual? Just wondering whether the flash metering would try and compensate for the diffuser and increase the power of the flash

I was using TTL, but the flash would have no awareness of the diffuser and so therefore wouldn't compensate. I think all the shots I had it set to -2/3 stop flash exposure compensation.

[pixpro]

I have the Omni-Bounce as well as a few reflectors which all work about the same as a 3X5 card and a rubber band.

I have always been happy with the Omni-Bounce although it does drain the battery very fast.

[tdodd]

I have an album of test images showing some different flash configurations including bare direct flash, bounced flash, stofen (knock-off) and a "better bounce card" (which I think I made too large).

Picasa Web Albums - Eezy Tiger - POTN Flash Sh...#

You can get Omnibounce copies from eBay for a fraction of the original cost. That's where mine came from. Here's an example....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Flash-Diffuser...QQcmdZViewItem

or just try this search....

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...ser&category0=

If you're using flash in an environment of tungsten ambient lighting then you may also like to get an orange/amber/yellow coloured diffuser. This will bring the colour temperature of the flash closer to the ambient, thus avoiding the situation of white/blue faces and a yellow background. If all the light is tungsten temperature, including the flash, then white balancing is much easier. Here's an eBay item with three diffusers, including white and yellow. The blue version seems an odd choice. Normally green is the third option, to attempt to colour match flourescent light....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Color-Flash-...QQcmdZViewItem

Maybe this is a bit closer....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Soft-Flash-Dif...QQcmdZViewItem

or this....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Colour-Omni-...QQcmdZViewItem

[salubrious_k]

Originally Posted by tdodd

If you're using flash in an environment of tungsten ambient lighting then you may also like to get an orange/amber/yellow coloured diffuser. This will bring the colour temperature of the flash closer to the ambient, thus avoiding the situation of white/blue faces and a yellow background. If all the light is tungsten temperature, including the flash, then white balancing is much easier.

So that's what they're for! Thanks for that very useful info!

Interesting seeing this thread again... mainly for me because of the photos of my wife a year or so ago.

As an addition to everything else that's written here, I now have both the stofen and the lambency, but the lambency never leaves my house because it is just too large, but without enough of the benefits of a softbox. I think it produces ever so slightly better results than the stofen though.

[tomson]

I had a lightsphere, used it for a one wedding before ebaying it. It was just too cumbersome and forever getting in the way. It also didn't seem to offer anything more than what my sto-fens were doing.

[Spod]

Originally Posted by salubrious_k

I was using TTL, but the flash would have no awareness of the diffuser and so therefore wouldn't compensate. I think all the shots I had it set to -2/3 stop flash exposure compensation.

I'm no expert and currently reading through all the info here but...

Another important thing to remember is that you do not have to adjust flash compensation when using a diffuser in any automatic flash metering mode that works through the lens (TTL, A-TTL or E-TTL) - just put the diffuser on the flash unit and shoot away. The camera will adjust automatically for the stop or two that the diffuser costs you, up to the limits of the flash unit’s light output. Of course, if you plan on shooting in manual flash metering mode you’ll need to factor in the reduced light output yourself through testing.

[electrolyte]

What a great thread that I didn't notice the 1st time around. Probably because I didn't own a flash gun. But now that I do this is exactly what I needed.

Originally Posted by tdodd

I have an album of test images showing some different flash configurations including bare direct flash, bounced flash, stofen (knock-off) and a "better bounce card" (which I think I made too large).

Picasa Web Albums - Eezy Tiger - POTN Flash Sh...#

You can get Omnibounce copies from eBay for a fraction of the original cost. That's where mine came from. Here's an example....

Flash Diffuser Cover Fits Canon Speedlite Flash 580EX on eBay, also, Flash Units, Digital Camera Accessories, Photography (end time 19-Feb-09 01:54:33 GMT)

or just try this search....

flash diffuser, Photography, Digital items at low prices on eBay.co.uk

If you're using flash in an environment of tungsten ambient lighting then you may also like to get an orange/amber/yellow coloured diffuser. This will bring the colour temperature of the flash closer to the ambient, thus avoiding the situation of white/blue faces and a yellow background. If all the light is tungsten temperature, including the flash, then white balancing is much easier. Here's an eBay item with three diffusers, including white and yellow. The blue version seems an odd choice. Normally green is the third option, to attempt to colour match flourescent light....

3 Color Flash Soft Bounce Diffuser fits Canon 430EX II on eBay, also, Flash Accessories, Flashes, Cameras Photo (end time 02-Mar-09 06:54:00 GMT)

Maybe this is a bit closer....

Soft Flash Diffuser Dome for Canon Flash 580EX II (3in1 on eBay, also Flash Accessories, Flash Units Accessories, Film Camera Accessories, Photography (end time 12-Feb-09 10:43:02 GMT)

or this....

3 Colour Omni Bounce Flash Diffusers for Canon 430EX on eBay, also Flash Accessories, Flash Units Accessories, Film Camera Accessories, Photography (end time 26-Feb-09 11:46:12 GMT)

Thanks for the tip re: cheap diffusers. I've just ordered one for £3.79 for my 430EX II.

[Valleyman]

I use the Nikon Diffuser that came with my SB800 all the time, but to be honest, with my old flash I used variations on the tissue paper/cloth + masking tape DIY job.

Unless you are comparing shots side by side (and even then), there is no real difference between any method in the real world.

A diffuser, is a diffuser, is a diffuser. Same effect, slightly different methods.

So why when I can have the convienience of a clip on Sto-fen (Or Nikon own) would I buy that hulking great thing to get ultimately the same image?

Maybe I'm just cynical...

[Jas H]

I have a Sto-fen too, and like its size and convenience.

However, I prefer the no diffuser & bouced image above. It has more of a 3D look to it.

I see the point in using the diffuser being only where bouncing the flash is not possible/ideal. Any thoughts on this pls?

[Pirate!!]

Clearly, whatever diffuser is used, they are quite different animals. The standard Sto-Fen or Omni-Bounce clip-in is just that. It's non directional, so all it does is diffuse the light in the direction of the flash.

On the other hand, the Lambency/Lightsphere (though bigger) both diffuses and re-directs the flash via the inverted dome. As you can see, the flash output hits the diffused dome and is dispersed 360 degrees so you dont a a great full-on in-your-face pulse of light, which is where a rotating flash head comes into play.

Two quite different animals. The Gray Fong website has a tutorial on how to use the Lightsphere and shows what the same shot looks like using different types of diffuser. For close-up portrait, I much prefer the Lightsphere (and so do my subjects). Bounce flash is also fine, but I find the results using the sphere are much nicer with a less harsh, more even distribution of light.

Clearly you can't cart the sphere around the same as the clip-on, but for the intimate personal shots, it does the job so much better (IMO). Anyway, horses for courses and all that.

[Some Bloke]

Check out this site ABetterBounceCard.com before spending any money.