Diffusing a Metz flashgun

arigram · Apr 4, 2008

I have added the diffusing plastic attachment to my Metz 45 and I still find the light a bit too harsh for a portrait with a MF 80 lens, unless the head is directed elsewhere than towards the subject.
I've seen some mini-softboxes for flashguns being advertised and sold around (though not around here) and was wondering which ones would work with that flashgun.

MattKing · Apr 4, 2008

For my Metz 60 series flashes, I use a thin white handkerchief, and a rubber band. If I was really industrious, I might consider sewing elastic into the handkerchief material.

It has the advantage of taking almost no space in the camera bag.

Don't know if you've tried this approach.

Matt

RobC · Apr 4, 2008

a diffusing sheet over an on camera flash only serves to reduce the output of the flash. Its the size of the light source which makes the shadows less harsh. The bigger the light source, the less sharp the shadows become.

You can get mini soft box to fit over a flash gun which will make a small difference but if you are using the gun for fill flash fill to reduce harsh shadows, then setting the correct output will make the biggest difference.

Otherwise if your main light is flash, then an umbrella reflector will increase the light source size significantly and spread the light around as well. Or point the flash at some big reflector which is pointing at the subject.

MattKing · Apr 4, 2008

rob champagne said:
a diffusing sheet over an on camera flash only serves to reduce the output of the flash. Its the size of the light source which makes the shadows less harsh. The bigger the light source, the less sharp the shadows become.

Rob is right in that the size of the light source is the most important consideration, but I find that if the handkerchief is carefully placed, there is at least some change in the quality of the light - sort of like the difference between light from a condenser enlarger and a diffusion enlarger.

I know I see some difference. I wonder if it is at least partially due to issues of flare?

I think you need to try these things out to see if they work well with your circumstances/equipment/development etc.

Matt

David A. Goldfarb · Apr 4, 2008

I've used the ol' handkerchief trick, and it does diffuse the light somewhat.

Gary Holliday · Apr 4, 2008

Is your Metz the main light source for your portrait? It's not really suitable unless you are using it as a fill/ bounce flash. I sometimes use a 45 degree reflector attachment to bounce the flash from a Metz...it helps spread the light.

eddym · Apr 4, 2008

I have a Sunpack 622, which is pretty similar to the Metz in terms of output and harshness if used as a direct flash. I have bounced it into a Lumiquest 45 degree card, which attaches with velcro, and it helps a little. Recently I added a diffusion head, which acts like a sto-fen diffuser does for smaller flashes, and is pretty effective in rooms that are small enough for the light to bounce off walls and ceiling. But the best results I've gotten with it have been when I added a 16x20 inch sheet of foamboard as a reflector. I raise the diffusion head to the vertical position, then position the foamboard directly behind the head with clamps. This creates a much larger light source, resulting in softer lighting. It's not too handy as an on-camera flash technique, though. But it works very well with the flash on a lightstand. Light loss was less than with the diffusion head alone.

arigram · Apr 6, 2008

I looked at LumiQuest's products and can't decide between a Bouncer and a Softbox.
The Softbox seems to have a softer light quality if I am not mistaken.
Any ideas?

eddym · Apr 6, 2008

arigram said:
I looked at LumiQuest's products and can't decide between a Bouncer and a Softbox.
The Softbox seems to have a softer light quality if I am not mistaken.
Any ideas?

I have both, and found the contrary to be true. The softbox is too small to really soften the light much, in my experience. The bouncer is very good, and the 8020 bouncer even better, if used in a room with a white ceiling that is not too high.
Another thing the bouncer does is move the light source farther from the camera lens, reducing the chance of redeye

arigram · Apr 6, 2008

eddym said:
I have both, and found the contrary to be true. The softbox is too small to really soften the light much, in my experience. The bouncer is very good, and the 8020 bouncer even better, if used in a room with a white ceiling that is not too high.
Another thing the bouncer does is move the light source farther from the camera lens, reducing the chance of redeye

Thanks Eddy.
I will try to find the Promax System which has the 8020 plus some other diffusing accessories that seem to cover every occasion.

arigram · Apr 7, 2008

The Promax is not available in Greece so I might have to order it from abroad.
I also found out that Lastolite has a series of mini-softboxes called "Micro Apollo"
They come in three sizes:
- Model 45 is 20cmx13cm
- Model 60 is 25cmx18cm
- Model XL is 41cmx25cm
The greek representative only carries the small one in stock.
The problem is that I don't know what kind of light they give so I can't compare.
The bigger the softbox, the softer the light is for sure, but since I will be using the flashgun as
a weak fill-in for portraits that could well be in shadow, I am not sure if I need the large one.
I plan on using the flash for on-location environmental portraits and street photos where, natural
light is preferred and the subject doesn't have to show full detail. I am not using it for "mobile studio"
just for a bit more detail, but without the harsh look of flash. I want the flash to be as "invisible" as possible.

arigram · Apr 11, 2008

I ended up getting the Lumiquest Promax System, which based on the 80-20 bouncer, it includes inserts to make it a white/silver/gold reflector and a small softbox. I've made some quick polaroid tests and seem to like the 80-20 effect, especially if I use the flash as a weak fill-in or weakened main light. I will try it on an indoors environmental portraiture project and see how it goes.

Diffusing a Metz flashgun

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Diffusing a Metz flashgun

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