Flash Light diffuser for Samsung SEF42A

[northlondon43]

I can't find a diffuser to fit Samsung flashes. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks Adrian

[Colin Southern]

I can't find a diffuser to fit Samsung flashes. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks Adrian

Hi Adrian,

People use diffusers to soften light - and the softness of any light is proportional to the size of the light source, and it's distance from the subject. Assuming that the distance is constant for a diffused -v- undiffused flash, then the only other variable is the size of the lightsource -- and most "diffusers" don't do anything to change that. In other words, the likes of "Stofen" type diffusers just done work (in my opinion).

Folks here have their own favourites, one I like to recommend (and I have 4 of them) is the Lightshpere; basically it works by spreading the light in all directions - a portion of which travels directly to the subject, and a portion that is reflected from other objects in the room (walls, ceiling etc). Their standard model is designed to fit most flash units.

Of course their are other techniques and other modifiers; a side bounce is another (potentially) effective technique (I usually avoid ceiling bounces due to the unflattering "office lighting" it creates).

Hope this helps.

[northlondon43]

Hi Colin

Thanks for the recommendation; Lightspheres, whilst expensive, have excellent reviews by the look of things...I particularly like the collapsible version.

I want to use a diffuser as my external flash tilts but doesn't swivel meaning I can only bounce off ceilings.

Cheers

Adrian

[Colin Southern]

Hi Adrian,

No worries.

You can probably get a hotshoe swivel - failing that, just use an off-camera shoe cord and make something. Ceiling bounces usually produce racoon eyes, which isn't very flattering

There are 3rd party rip-offs of the lightsphere too which probably work just as well, although I might add that I like to support the innovators of products like the lightsphere, even if it does mean paying a lot more.

[northlondon43]

Thanks again Colin. Someone at work had also suggested Rogue Flashbenders...so will look at them as well

[charzes44]

Adrian, it might be worth your while looking at Lumiquest diffusers.

[northlondon43]

Thanks Charles, I'll take a look

[rpcrowe]

One more hat in the ring for you to consider if you are talking about a Samsung hotshoe flash, not the built-in camera flash...

I am a great fan of the Joe Demb flash products, especially the Flash Diffuser Pro which, IMO, produces very decent lighting whether used on camera or used on a flash bracket. Joe's web site is www.dembflashproducts.com. If you scroll down the right side of his web site, he links to my portrait gallery "Smugmug examples by Escondido photographer Richard Crowe"

BTW: I have no connection with Demb Flash Products, except being a very satisfied user.

If you are using a hotshoe flash that tilts but doesn't rotate, I suggest that you mount your flash on a Stroboframe Camera Flp Bracket. That way, the flash is pointed in one direction all the time regardless if your camera is being used in the portrait or landscape position. The Stroboframe Camera Flip Bracket is quite often sold on eBay at quite a good price...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stroboframe-...item2a18ca7237

BTW: I consider a camera-flip bracket better than a flash-flip bracket because the flash remains in one position with a camera flip-bracket and you need to reorient the flash when using a flash flip bracket...





Although my 7D will trigger the flash wirelessly, I normally use an off camera sync-cord (not shown in the illustrations) because the 7D wireless triggering can be a bit chancy outdoors.