Flash diffuser Sx IS [Archive] - Digital Photography School

crazymeezer

01-04-2007, 09:48 PM

Does anyone have a good DIY method they use for flash diffusion on these models?

I have tried with paper, tissue etc as I have on other cameras but have a problem with burning and haven't been game to try it since. The paper gets a little blackened, and a burning :o Is it damaging to the flash unit (probably a stupid question LOL)

Anyone else had any success?

(bugger, wrong forum, sorry)

Potr8

03-06-2007, 06:25 AM

Hi crazymeezer,

Check the technique in this forum for flash diffuser (http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222).

I tried the above technique (without filter) but I am not satisfied with the result, especially to make portrait for ID where you have to shoot the subject in close-up. The right way to do is to bounce the flash, so it’s not direct. But how? We can not swivel the built in flash in SxIS, can we.

So this is the idea. To bounce up the flash to the ceiling, we have to put reflector in front of the flash. The reflector should have 45 degree slope to bounce the light vertically 90 degree. I made a prototype as picture attached (It is not a good quality work, but as long it’s not appear in public it’s OK, isn’t it).

These are the sample photos to compare the result. The subject is about 1 m distance from camera. Zoom in to make a close up portrait. Flash with normal exposure.

Photo 1. Normal flash. You may see the flash washing the face and the skin looks too white. You may also notice a black shadow below both ears.

Photo 2. Using film-can flash diffuser. The flash effect is reduced but you still notice the black shadow below both ears.

Photo 3. Using bounce-up reflector. We got softer skin on the face, and black shadow is reduced significantly. (The shadow is still there, so I have to improve the reflector).
You can also compare the blue color of the t-shirt.

What is you opinion? Is it what you are looking for?
Any comment is welcome.

Regards,