Bubble wrap: a great flash diffuser for built-in flashes!

[996GT2]

Sandwiching a piece of tissue paper between 3-4 layers of bubble wrap is a great way to make a flash diffuser on a budget. I took some test shots with my 40D and it definitely works.

Slower shutter speed and lots of ambient light (room lights on)

With diffuser: 1/50 sec, f/2,8, flash power @ -1

Without diffuser: 1/50 sec, f/2.8, flash power @ -1

Without ambient light (all light coming from flash, room completely dark):

With diffuser, 1/250 sec, f/2.8, flash power @ +1

Without diffuser: 1/250 sec, f/2.8, flash power @ +1

 

[andylawcc]

what did you use to keep the bubble wrap on? tape? if so, how? tape it all around the pop up flash?

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
what did you use to keep the bubble wrap on? tape? if so, how? tape it all around the pop up flash?

I didn't use any tape, but you could if you wanted to.

You can get quite creative with mounting it...personally I folded up a note card, mounted it to the diffuser, and stuck one end into the hot shoe halfway (if you put it completely into the hot shoe the built in flash no longer fires).

You don't even need to secure it really. Holding it with one hand in front of the flash works fine too.

 

[grrl]

I've used a few layers of white grocery bag as a diffuser. You can easily attach it with an elastic, plus adjust the layers for more or less diffusion.

 

[corkyg]

The Scotch cloudy tape works as well, and is a easy on and off. It can be layered as well. Especially good for closeups.

 

[twistedlogic]

Who uses built-in flash for anything other than fill-flash anyways?

I find a white roll of film or some other white plastic bottle works great too. The problem I find is keeping excess light from bouncing off the diffuser back into my eyes.

Has anyone tried using a reflective material (foil, mirror) to try and get on-board flash to fire upwards for a bounce flash? I've seen some crude ones made, but never attempted it.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: twistedlogic
Who uses built-in flash for anything other than fill-flash anyways?

I do, quite often, especially when taking quick illustrations of things for this forum.

Anyway - I found an even better tape, and it is still available on line. It is splicing tape formulated for use on 1/4-in magnetic reel-to-reel tape. I just happened to have some I used to use regularly, The dispenser does not come with it - I adapted an old dispenser to hold the milky white, almost translucent tape roll.

I tried it and it works even better than the opaque mending tape, and because of its formulation, it leaves no residue. Here is the old dispenser taken extreme close up without a piece of the tape over the built in flash:

No Tape

And this is the same subject using a piece of that tape on the flash:

Taped

And this is the type of tape I used that is currently available.

Tape

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: twistedlogic
Who uses built-in flash for anything other than fill-flash anyways?

I do, quite often, especially when taking quick illustrations of things for this forum.

I meant for anything other than emergency use or for just a snapshot.

Anyway - it was a joke, hence the