Flash diffuser

[Bukitimah]

I have been using the standard cap diffuser or at times the flash built in bounce card from my flash gun. I am not too please with the result. I read about the lambency sphere diffuser and those reflector bounce card. I would to know which is better. The sphere seem right if the light can bounce off the ceiling and walls but most times this is not the case. Also, the color of the surrounding may not be ideal. I made a bounce card from a white board for my macro and fount it quite good in reflecting the light on the subject. It has the effect of an umbrella. However, the light of the flash gun is not shooting directly onto the card but rather some of it. In that sense, there is a lot of waste energy. Would a direct controlled flash then be better? Why do manufacturers not design the flash guns with reflector in the first place?

 

[tirediron]

If they designed things perfectly the first time, they'd never be able to sell you expensive accessories!

There are a million products out there to modify speedlight output, but IMO, most of them are a waste of money. Without knowing what you're doing, it's hard to give good recommendations, but a small (8x12) soft-box and bracket are probably going to be your most effective tools.

 

[Bukitimah]

If they designed things perfectly the first time, they'd never be able to sell you expensive accessories!

There are a million products out there to modify speedlight output, but IMO, most of them are a waste of money. Without knowing what you're doing, it's hard to give good recommendations, but a small (8x12) soft-box and bracket are probably going to be your most effective tools.

So tirediron, an extension bracket is preferred?

 

[tirediron]

Yes, as this gets the flash off of the lens axis (which is the cause of 'red eye') and generally provides a more pleasing light.