MiroFoto

Can somebody direct me ?-- I would like to take some family portraits with my Nikon 7100. The pop up flash is a bit harsh I think. Yet it is weak and no flexible for bouncing off the ceiling. I wish to use low ISO. ( the same task in photobox for pictures of small items.

Is there any way how to spread=soften light from this small flash? I tried to use the plastic from a milk bottle, but it was not that great. Is anybody selling some prismatic material ? I am trying to avoid the shadows too.

Thank you M

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Yes. Get an old 35 mm film canister that is white. Cut a slit in it and slide it over your pop up flash.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/191865625633?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I've tried one of these for one of our loaner cameras.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0017LNHY2/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1485125552&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=pop+up+bounce+flash&dpPl=1&dpID=41o1Bxqnz3L&ref=plSrch
It does work, but because the pop-up flash is really underpowered, you need to crank up the ISO.
Anything you put on the pop-up is going to rob it of power and most likely still won't be complementary lighting unless you are using it as a weak fill.
To get soft light the source has to be big.

Best to bite the bullet and get a good speedlight.
I have only Nikon speedlights and highly recommend them. Used SB 600, 700 or 800 would be my suggestion. There are third party flashes that others will recommend.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I know very little about Nikon, but camera brand isn't your problem. There are all sorts of ways of diffusing a flash, but they only make it weaker. To solve your problems you need to buy a decent flash or two. If money is an issue, consider Yongnuo.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

[quote=MiroFoto]Can somebody direct me ?-- I would like to take some family portraits with my Nikon 7100. The pop up flash is a bit harsh I think. Yet it is weak and no flexible for bouncing off the ceiling. I wish to use low ISO. ( the same task in photobox for pictures of small items.

Is there any way how to spread=soften light from this small flash? I tried to use the plastic from a milk bottle, but it was not that great. Is anybody selling some prismatic material ? I am trying to avoid the shadows too.

Thank you M[/quote

I made this for my D7100 and SB400. I used diffusion material designed to be neutral. I laminated two layers and cut a hole. I use a step-up ring to attach to the front of the lens. I purchase the material online from ALZO Digital/Video. For your use, you could probably get away with a single layer of diffusion. This flash is sufficient for macro-- but you would need a more powerful unit.

(Download)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

No. The only reasonable way to diffuse light for softer shadows is to make it "bigger" by bouncing or shooting through a diffusing material that considerably increases the size of the light (2'x3' being the smallest). You can use a large umbrella (60") or a Brolly Blox, but I would not suggest a shoot through umbrella, as they are hard to control. Even if you were to be able to somehow "spread the light" from the small flash, you would do it at the expense of flash range. A flash targeting a tight and small area can work over a much greater distance compared to the same flash spread to cover a 24mm lens. That's just physics.

A large softbox with a 800ws (or more) monolight is what you want, but you can get great results with a shoe mounted flash bounced to the side or rear or off of a large piece of white foamcore or insulation board. You don't want to eliminate shadows as they make a subject more three dimensional and natural looking. Bouncing off the ceiling is a poor choice, leaving unflattering shadows under the brows, cheekbones, nose and chin.

I suggest you take a look at

http://strobist.blogspot.com/
http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/
http://www.tanguayphotomag.biz/photographic-lighting-2/fuzzy-duenkels-one-two-and-threelight-setups.html

for some guidance and examples of good portrait lighting.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Keep it simple and use one sheet of toilet issue taped over the camera flash.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Preferably not used!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Correct!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

That's known as a "tanning" light....

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Hahaha!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Check out the Weinbrecht reflector, it mounts to the pop-up-flash, so you can bounce it of a wall or ceiling etc.

Roger Lee

Use a balloon, cheap and readily available.

https://petapixel.com/2016/12/19/quick-tip-use-balloon-better-pop-flash-portraits/

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Interesting. Nikon decided to decrease the intensity of flash light from its D3400, to save battery life. Some Reviewers complained about it. As already suggested, get an inexpensive Yongnuo flash unit.

Mick 53 Loc: Minneapolis

Slice a ping pong ball and slide it over your pop up flash. A little bit of a pain but it diffuses the light well and you can use it to point straight on.