Diffuser for a pop-up flash

 by eejit
2648506927_7f56f054f9.jpg
A quick-and-relatively-easy diffuser for a pop-up flash. I was getting tired of using an old translucent film canister, so I came up with this. I've seen someone selling a diffuser which fixes on the hotshoe but I believe it's constructed in a different way.

It's made out of a plastic ring binder. The one I used cost $2.20 but it will make about 8 of these diffuser. It could even be cut out of an existing binder which could still be used afterwards :-)

This won't work with cameras where the built-in flash is deactivated by the presence of something in the hot shoe. The Canon G7 behaves in this way, for example.

[Edit] The diffusion will only be noticeable at reasonably short distances, given that the effective size of the light source still isn't so large.
 
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Step 1: Find suitable material

I used an A4 binder made of translucent plastic. Other reasonably stiff, easily workable and flexible material would also do.
alaskanbychoice says: Dec 2, 2012. 9:52 AM
I think plastic milk jugs material would be ideal for this project.
RenDuH says: Dec 9, 2008. 4:39 PM
So.....I tried this.....went out and bought the binder and everything....followed the instructions exactly....and it didn't diffuse my flash at all. I was very disappointed, seeing as it seems like it SHOULD work....but it didn't. :(
eejit (author) in reply to RenDuHDec 9, 2008. 10:15 PM
Given the size of the diffuser in relation to the size of the flash, the effect is only going to be noticeable when the flash is fairly close to the subject. Too far away and it will still appear to the subject as a small light source. I'll have to try some more test shots.
RenDuH in reply to eejitDec 11, 2008. 6:09 PM
I tried both--tried taking pictures of myself, and pictures of my kitchen (also did a control shot without the diffuser), and it didn't make any difference for me :-/
sagarmothra in reply to RenDuHJun 2, 2009. 2:22 AM
could be that you need thicker plastic. you could try doubling up the plastic in front of the flash. also, if the plastic is too close to the flash, the effect is minimized; try giving it some space. & maybe you can change the intensity of the flash in your camera's settings.
eejit (author) in reply to sagarmothraJun 2, 2009. 11:01 AM
You're right about the space in front. I made an updated version and also gave it a larger, tissue-lined surface to diffuse with. It's at http://www.flickr.com/photos/victorf/sets/72157615322288778/
dangusmao in reply to eejitMar 6, 2011. 7:00 PM
Hi man did you giv to make design decal
dangusmao says: Mar 6, 2011. 7:00 PM
Hi man did you giv to make design decal
jumpfroggy says: Oct 18, 2009. 1:54 PM
It'd be great to see some before/after results shots, to see how well the effect came out.  Thanks!
eejit (author) in reply to jumpfroggyOct 18, 2009. 2:10 PM
Hi jumpfroggy ... check out sagarmothra's comment and my reply. I decided the effect wasn't so much so I improved the design. Details and before/after shots are on Flickr.
jumpfroggy in reply to eejitOct 18, 2009. 6:51 PM
Yeah, I saw your flickr.  Looks like a better version with the tissue paper, and the results look nice.  Thanks for posting!
blaqphut says: Dec 1, 2008. 5:50 PM
1stly......NICE
2ndly......dood! you should scan this and let us get the dimensions...thats really a nice shape.
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