Flash diffusers...

kelly1

Hello all,

just wondering if it's worth getting a flash diffuser such as a Stofen Omni-bounce? What kind of shooting scenario would benefit from a diffuser?

Would you only use one where there is no suitable surface to bounce off?

Thanks,
Noel.

Fionn

I often use a Lumiquest Soft box which works out ok because it reduces the harsh shadows you can get from direct flash! it can be a bit fiddly to put on the flash but it works pretty good!
I've never used a Omni Bounce but they can be handy at reducing shadows too, probably not as good as a soft box tho!

ThOnda

Omni bounce works only when you are in a room, that has ceiling and/or walls. The light from the flash head does not go only directly in the direction where you point it, but it gets dispersed in almost all directions and fills in nicely shadows.
Using it outdoors (without possibility to bounce the light back onto subject or background), you are only lowering the power of the flash and by that the usable distance between you (camera, respectively the flash) and the subject.

One more thing, the bounced light will have colour of the ceiling and/or walls, so don't be surprised to see green shadows, if there is green wall paint

kelly1

ThOnda wrote: »

Omni bounce works only when you are in a room, that has ceiling and/or walls. The light from the flash head does not go only directly in the direction where you point it, but it gets dispersed in almost all directions and fills in nicely shadows.
Using it outdoors (without possibility to bounce the light back onto subject or background), you are only lowering the power of the flash and by that the usable distance between you (camera, respectively the flash) and the subject.

One more thing, the bounced light will have colour of the ceiling and/or walls, so don't be surprised to see green shadows, if there is green wall paint

Thanks. Normally, when I bounce flash, I bounce it off the ceiling for general shooting and point the flash straight up if I'm near the subject or tilted forward if the subject is fairly far back. Would this change when using an Omnibounce?

ThOnda

If you are used to bounce the flash (and don't forget the white reflective card), you should be grand even without omnibounce. It just disperses light in all the directions. Unless you want that. It nicely fills the whole area. And for a tenner, you cannot go wrong if you get it ;-)

Edit: I read your post again. If you point the flash forwards, the omnibounce will disperse light in all the directions to fill the area. The power won't be equal to bounced flash, but the effect will be still visible. It is somewhere between straight and bounced flash. At least from my limited experience.