Any recommendations for flash diffusers?

[AndrewR]

I need to get a diffuser already and was wondering what people recommend for a diffuser. I'd prefer something unobtrusive so the Gary Fong monsters are probably out of the question. I'd also prefer buying something rather than making it because I seem to spend time either traveling, working, or fixing up the house without much time for anything else!

I'm particular interested in any other Sony users who have used diffusers and how that affected their exposures. Ditto for other systems though -- do you have to adjust exposure/flash compensation, or does the TTL system do that?

Thanks!

 

[jpeyton]

Demb Flip-It gets a lot of recommendations. ABBC is a DIY version of the Flip-It.

It shouldn't affect your exposure in TTL/auto, since your camera fires a pre-flash before the exposure to compensate for any modifiers you use. Any form of diffusion/bounce will use more flash power than direct flash, so if you're setting the flash manually take that into account.

 

[Heidfirst]

always Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce & ebay knockoffs.

 

[angry hampster]

I've had a Big Flip-It from Joe Demb for two years and love it.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst
always Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce & ebay knockoffs.

That's a good standby; Nikon includes a version of the Omni-Bounce with their SB-800/900, which work well. Like the Fong Lightsphere, the Omni-Bounce diffuses light 360-degrees like a bare bulb, whereas the Flip-It keeps it 180-degrees towards the main subject.

 

[bobdole369]

Never had much more than a white film canister and a pair of scissors. Sheet of white paper. Just my two cents - no experience using anything but those two items. Then again I never use the flash so I'm not surprised