LeeinNC Loc: Morganton, NC

Hey folks! I'm attempting to make a DIY speedlight diffuser for my "in the field" macro work. I'm kinda stumped on what diffusion material to use in order to decrease/eliminate hot spots. Any suggestions? I'm using a D700, Neewer 750II speedlight and my beloved Nikon 105mm 2.8.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

White Tissue Paper.A white hankie.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Absolutely! Back a long time, a clean linen pocket handkerchief worked a treat, even with bulb flash. They were very finely woven. Something from a cloth store, or cast off piece of clothing would do the trick.

LeeinNC Loc: Morganton, NC

No hot spots?

Quixdraw Loc: x

No guarantees - requires a little experimentation. In film days, you paid for the experiment - free with digital ex. your time & effort!

fjdarling Loc: Mesa, Arizona, USA

Maybe a piece of an old T-shirt. Look around in your garage and laundry room for white-ish plastic containers...see what you have and try them. Or, you can layer tissue or paper towel to achieve the amount of diffusion you need. For macro work you might need more diffusion, rather than less.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Fotodiox makes a great diffuser that is pretty inexpensive. I love mine.

Dennis

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

I bought a roll of Savage Translim, and it is a really handy diffusion material. It is a fairly stiff plastic that can easily be cut and taped together to make any kind of diffuser you might need.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

i also use a cheap diffuser but i add a piece of vellum paper to it.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

What is vellum paper? Where do you find it?

Dennis

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Those thin, white styrofoam containers that take out food comes in comes to mind...

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

It's tracing paper. But I am not sure if it is a specific material.

One would think this problem would be simple. But it is not. The paper and cloth ideas are good ones, and popular choices, but you can still have a hot spot. The fibers are opaque and they will block a fair amount of light. I should try these one day though.
I use thin foam packing material, this being an example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078WPZ2W1/?coliid=I1UMDFWAV03MV5&colid=1V6SX5W6Z17J6&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it But you can get the same sort of thing at office supply stores, or scrounge in the packing material for purchased electronics. If you still have the box you bought a computer in, you may have plenty of it there. This kind of material is more transparent so less light is lost, but that also means its gonna leave a hot spot. What I do is make 2 layers of it in the diffuser, and add a double layered strip in front right in front of the flash. I can still get a hot spot, though!

I do recommend that you line your diffuser with reflective material. People use aluminum foil, silvery paper (art supply store), or vent tape (hard ware store): https://www.amazon.com/3M-3311-Silver-Aluminum-Foil/dp/B007Y7EP5I/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Vent+tape&qid=1597330195&s=office-products&sr=1-4
I've used all of these things.

There is more, but I should stop.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Interesting ideas. Thank you very much. I occasionally buy custom knives and sometimes they come wrapped in the thin foam material much like that indicated in your link. Next time I will try to save some to try as a diffuser.

Dennis

LeeinNC Loc: Morganton, NC

Ah Ha! I used a flexible foam that was protecting a screen of a small tablet. Diffuses really well...but still has the hot spot. Kind of like being on a quest. If you have the time, please continue, Mark.
Lee

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tinusbum Loc: east texas

those look good!