Omni-Bounces
About Flash Diffusers
Flash diffusers (or Omni-bounces) are fantastic accessories that will help you light your subjects evenly and make them look natural and pleasing. By spreading out and softening light from the direct flash, diffusers eliminate the blinding white light and harsh shadows.
At first, the diffuser might sound like a really simple accessory. In the end, all they do is soften the light, right? Well, it is complicated. A diffuser can completely change the characteristics of your light source. That means, using the right type of diffuser is just as important as using the right kind of light. Some diffusers even let you change the colour temperature of the lights using photographic gels. Read this article to find out more about diffusers. Having a better understanding of them will help you make the right choices while making the purchase.
Four best flash diffusers to buy
If you are using a flashgun, chances are you’ve already considered picking up some kind of flash diffuser. In order to create a pleasant image, you should be able to monitor and adjust your light, particularly when you are shooting a portrait. Using diffusers and saltboxes is one of the most cost-effective methods of doing this. In fact, “Flash diffuser” is a fairly general term. The softbox, which is very simply a box used to soften the light, is the most common and frequently used form of the diffuser. These may take the form of a rigid diffusion dome or a pop-up fabric. Here is a list of the four best types of diffusers that you will find out there.
Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce
The Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce spreads out the light in all directions and lets the light bounce on walls and ceilings. You can also use this diffuser if there are no walls or ceilings to bounce the light. Although this is perfect for wide-angle and macro photography, it can also reduce the light output of the flash. But keep in mind that this diffuser significantly reduces the light. So, you don’t want to use it when you don’t need it. But the most attractive thing about this diffuser is its affordability. You can pick this model up for around forty or fifty dirhams.
Rogue FlashBender Flash Reflector
What makes Rogue’s line of FlashBender diffusers special is its ability to bend into a variety of positions. It has an elastic fastener with Velcro straps that makes it incredibly easy to connect the diffuser to a flash unit. And once you put it on the flash unit, the internal support keeps it firm. But you still can adjust the position without tanking the diffuser out. This means you will get much more flexibility than with a regular reflector. By adjusting the position of the reflector, you will be able to pinpoint the direction of light. However, bounce flash is not as discreet as it is with a softbox or a dome diffuser. But it’s something that is easy to carry anywhere due to its compact size and flat shape.
Lastolite EzyBox SpeedLite
This is a simple flash with a very basic design. It fastens easily into place using Velcro strips that wrap around the flash. Regardless of the simple design, the EzyBox is considerably big in size compared to other flash diffusers. But when you compare it with regular small boxes, this one does look a bit small. The front panel of this diffuser is 22 x 22 cm. So, people are going to notice when you are using it. But you still might want to buy this as it does a great job as a diffuser. EzyBox is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Gary Fong Lightsphere
This is a unique type of diffuser in this list. Out of the box, this diffuser will look like a narrow, translucent ring. Some might even confuse this for a disposable bowl. But, with a short tug, it will turn into an 11cm tall dome diffuser. When fully expanded, this diffuser will have three sections with a soft rubber-like material that produces soft and diffused light. Even though the collapsing mechanism makes it easy to carry around the diffuser, taking it on and off the flash is a bit tricky. However, the diffuser can be used in various ways to accommodate indoor and outdoor shooting.
Tips on how to buy Flash Diffusers Online
A flash diffuser might look like a really simple product at first. But looks can sometimes be deceiving. Diffusers are more complex than they look. Moreover, there are hundreds of different diffusers with each one of them designed for a specific use and function. To choose the right type of diffuser for your camera, you should have an idea about all the factors that you should look for in them. Here are a few things to keep in mind while shopping for flash diffusers.
- Type – Not all flash diffusers are the same. While some are plastic clips on diffusers, others can be large softboxes that go on top of the flash unit. There are also dome diffusers that uniformly diffuses the light everywhere. The characteristics of the light change a lot depending on the type of diffuser. So be sure to buy the right type of diffuser.
- Size – There is one rule that applies to any kind of lighting set-up that you use. As the surface area of the light gets larger, the softer and more uniform will the light be. So, that means it is better to use a large diffuser. However, there will be other practical constraints, and you might have to consider the portability and functionalities of the diffuser depending on how you shoot.
- Compatibility – It is imperative to make sure that the flash diffuser you are buying is compatible with your flash unit. You might be able to do some DIY and make an incompatible diffuser work with your flash. But if you are not in for that adventure, get a diffuser that works out of the box with the flash.
- Quality – The quality of the light dictates the quality of the picture. While the price of high-end diffusers might look ridiculously high, there is actually a lot going into making sure that the diffuser gives out an even and pleasing light. So, if you are serious about the picture quality, then you might as well invest in a good piece of the diffuser.
If you are a professional photographer or an enthusiast, then you need more than just a camera with basic camera supplies . These include things like tripods, lenses, flashes, memory cards, lens hoods, filters, lens caps, cleaning kits, and shutter remotes. You can find any of these easily using our shopping search engine . It will also let you compare the prices and features of different products and pick the best one among them. So, don’t forget to check out all the other amazing products from the Multimedia category.
Question & Answer
How to set up a flash diffuser?
The exact method of setting up a flash diffuser depends on what kind of diffuser you are using. In the case of the large dome light, you will need to put the diffuser in front of the dome light. Usually, such diffusers will have Velcro tape around the circumference and fixing it on the light fixture is not that difficult. It is even easier if it is a diffuser for an on-camera flash unit. Most diffusers will easily slide over the flash unit and stay in place. Some of them will have a Velcro or elastic strap that you can use to fasten the diffuser around the flash.
How does a flash diffuser work?
To capture a good picture without cranking up the ISO, you need enough light on the subject. If you are shooting indoors, the solution is to use a strobe light or a flashlight. However, this depends on whether you are shooting photos or videos. For the subject to look good, you should try to make the light look as natural and even as possible. Flash diffuser sits between the light source and the subject and spreads out the light evenly. This will help you eliminate hard shadows that makes the subject unflattening. However, using a diffuser is a creative choice. If you want hard shadows, you don’t have to use the diffuser.
Where to buy flash diffusers online in the UAE?
If you are using a flash for your photography, then using a diffuser can make a whole lot of difference. If you are looking for the best results, you should get a good diffuser. Fortunately, there are plenty of shops for you to find them here in the UAE. The best place to shop for it is online as it will give you access to a wide variety of models. Using our retail search engine, you can find all kinds of diffusers and other camera accessories. You will also be able to get them for incredibly affordable prices.
If you are looking to buy flash diffusers online in the UAE, look no further as you are in the right place. There are more than 500 shops and brands offering them here on Shops.ae. Here you can find shops that offer products from popular brands like Gary Fong, Godox, Yongnuo, Neewer, Stofen, and Magmod.