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Another DIY Macro Flash Diffuser
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Feb 8, 2023 20:47:56   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
It's a rainy day today so what better to do than play with the camera? This is another of my "What If...?" Do-It-Yourself flash diffusers for macro sessions when out and about in the field.

I made this one from a large cottage cheese container where I cut the center out of the lid leaving just the rim to snap onto the container. I marked around the flash head and cut a hole in the bottom so that it would fit snuggly over the flash.

I use China White polyester clothing lining material as the diffusion material which has worked quite well for me in the past. It stretched tight and the lid snapped firmly onto the container. The final part was to line the inside of the container with aluminum foil which is held in place with stick glue. Of course, what fun is it to make something without trying it out?

This is my preserved green stink bug that I staged on a piece of a broken limb that I set on a sheet of white plastic poster material. This is the result of the shot with the camera set in manual, 1/160 sec., f/11, ISO-200, and auto white balance. The flash is set to manual at 1/32 power duration.


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Feb 8, 2023 21:04:00   #
SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia
 
Looks good Gary, where did you get that extension piece that allows the speedlight to tilt down...I've often wanted to do that but never knew anything like that was available..?

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Feb 8, 2023 21:12:45   #
BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten
 
Excellent! The whole idea is very clever, bravo.

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Feb 8, 2023 22:13:27   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
SX2002 wrote:
Looks good Gary, where did you get that extension piece that allows the speedlight to tilt down...I've often wanted to do that but never knew anything like that was available..?


Ron, I got it on eBay and it was about $12. It does require a flash sync cable so that it can transmit the signal from the bottom part to the top part. It's well made and I am quite pleased with it for it allows the flash to tilt which puts my diffusers at the front of the lens pointing downward.

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Feb 8, 2023 22:16:16   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
BassmanBruce wrote:
Excellent! The whole idea is very clever, bravo.


Thanks, Bruce. It's an enjoyable way to pass a bit of time, experiment, and learn, and building diffusers from everyday items around the house is mostly inexpensive.

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Feb 8, 2023 23:04:13   #
SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia
 
sippyjug104 wrote:
Ron, I got it on eBay and it was about $12. It does require a flash sync cable so that it can transmit the signal from the bottom part to the top part. It's well made and I am quite pleased with it for it allows the flash to tilt which puts my diffusers at the front of the lens pointing downward.



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Feb 8, 2023 23:55:14   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
SX2002 wrote:
Looks good Gary, where did you get that extension piece that allows the speedlight to tilt down...I've often wanted to do that but never knew anything like that was available..?




Maybe I can make something like that. I have a diffuser for the small flash and one of the cube tent types, but that isn't really a carry around thing.

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Feb 9, 2023 00:07:11   #
SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia
 
robertjerl wrote:


Maybe I can make something like that. I have a diffuser for the small flash and one of the cube tent types, but that isn't really a carry around thing.


Been doing a search Robert but from what I could find out, that tilt unit is not made anymore...with all the camera accessories made these days I can't believe an item like this isn't available...

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Feb 9, 2023 00:41:57   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
SX2002 wrote:
Been doing a search Robert but from what I could find out, that tilt unit is not made anymore...with all the camera accessories made these days I can't believe an item like this isn't available...


Someone in design and/or sales with strong ideas of what THEY LIKE probably decided on that.

Try buying airline approved luggage online, all in sets, few sites let you buy individual styles to pick what size etc. And even the same maker doesn't make all the styles and sets in the same colors. I am looking for US TSA approved checked and carry on for my wife, one son and I. She is going to a ceremony where they are assigned hospitals to do their residency at the medical school our daughter goes to and bringing back Jasmine's kitten (She is part of a group of Med students going on a medical mission to Costa Rica for one month in March and April.) Persephone (aka PURR-sounds like a diesel locomotive on idle) gets to come live with Grandma and Grandpa for a while. Then at the end of May all three of us are going to attend the Graduation Ceremony. Debra and Jon may take a 7-10 day transcontinental train ride there. Jon is special needs and LOVES TRAINS. But if Debra needs to stay and help Jasmine pack and move, Jon will fly back with me. I intend to get there on Friday, Graduation on Sunday, come home Tuesday because I don't want to impose on our older son and the neighbor to watch the house, take care of Purr and our two little dogs (one takes heart medication 2x a day). And if she doesn't have to stay to help Jasmine then Debra and Jon may take one of those multi week railway excursions with stops along the way to get back home.
So I need a carry on bag suitable for my camera and lenses I am taking, a personal item size tote bag for my glasses, medications etc. and a small/medium suitcase for my clothes that will be checked. If riding the train or flying, the two of them each need a carry on bag, a tote bag and 1 medium or large suitcase each. A travel site recommends Orange checked bags, not common and easy to spot at baggage pickup-but-Jon loves RED - maybe what we in the states call "Fire Engine Red" - designed to be very visible will work. And the airline carry on pet carrier for Purr - she has to be in the cabin with Grandma, no pressurized baggage compartment for Princess Purr!

Jasmine attends the University of Virginia Medical School on the East Coast of the US and we live in Southern California, over 2000+ miles (3200+kilometers) one way.

Well, I have been "running off at the mouth/keyboard" and need to do some things.
Have a good rest of forever.

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Feb 9, 2023 01:39:12   #
Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona
 
Great idea Sippy. I'm not sure if you are an engineer who likes to take pictures or a photographer who just happens to have engineering skills.

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Feb 9, 2023 08:41:28   #
ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA
 
That's a very clever set up. The diffusion looks good.

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Feb 9, 2023 08:53:19   #
raymondh Loc: Walker, MI
 
I now feel guilty for having tossed out all the potential flash modifying containers - Redi Whip, chip Dip . . .

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Feb 9, 2023 10:19:22   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
SX2002 wrote:
Been doing a search Robert but from what I could find out, that tilt unit is not made anymore...with all the camera accessories made these days I can't believe an item like this isn't available...


Ron, mine was a "previously owned" item that I brought from an individual on eBay. I tried it when it arrived and it would not activate the flash...What the Heck..!

However...looking at it closely, I noticed both the upper (that attaches to the flash) and the lower (that attaches to the camera) had a "flash sync cable connection". Ah Ha..! I put a short flash sync cable on it and it works perfectly. It made sense to me that the signal from the camera flash shoe had to be communicated to the piece that the flash connected to and because it is made in two pieces, a cable is required to do that.

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Feb 9, 2023 10:22:30   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
ecobin wrote:
That's a very clever set up. The diffusion looks good.


Elliott, I'm going to paint it black so that the cottage cheese container does not look so "cheesy". It fits well, is durable, and can easily be modified with different diffusion materials. Most importantly, I actually like it.

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Feb 9, 2023 10:27:41   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
Curmudgeon wrote:
Great idea Sippy. I'm not sure if you are an engineer who likes to take pictures or a photographer who just happens to have engineering skills.


Thanks, Curmudgeon. It's most likely the former. My specialty was as a mechanical system designer for highly controlled environments in my past life (before retirement) so I tend to have a mechanical turn of mind....of course, so did Dr. Frankenstein.

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