Review Digital Camera World 05-02-2013

Digital Camera World

Best flash diffuser: 6 top models tested and rated May 1st 2013, 23:01 For softer, more natural-looking light, you need to add a diffuser to your flashgun. We test 6 of the top models available to help you find the best flash diffuser worth your money Flash diffusers are great for ensuring more natural lighting in photos. They remove the harsh white light from direct flash by spreading out and softening light from flashguns. However, there are dozens of models available, each offering unique features. Which is the best flash diffuser for your needs? We tested six of the best flash diffusers available using a still-life setup, shot in front of a neutral wall using a tripod-mounted DSLR. The rigid camera position and single light source didn't eradicate shadows but was ideal for showing how each product diffused and/or bounced the light. The flash was operated manually and its output was adjusted for each shot, to measure the degree of light loss each diffuser added. A series of portraits was also shot to assess the practicality of each model, and to gauge the positives and negatives of different diffuser types. Best Flash Diffuser: 01 LumiQuest Softbox III Price: £44, $36 Buy it: www.lumiquest.com LumiQuest's Softbox III is up against some stiff competition in the diffusers field, considering that the well-made Lastolite EzyBox is available for a similar price (see opposite). By comparison, the LumiQuest's simple four-panel construction forms well, although the method of adhering it to a flashgun with Velcro doesn't feel sturdy enough. It also means you need to have Velcro on your flash head even when you're not using the diffuser. But that's not to say that the Softbox III doesn't work. Far from it. It's a decent enough performer for diffusing directional light, and the collapsible structure makes it portable, too. Shadows are softened and it's great for outdoor fill-flash work. It's just that there are better products out there. Our verdict Pros… Delivers softbox-style light diffusion, and is easy to carry around. Cons… Provides less diffused light than similar competitors, and isn't sturdy. Score 2/5 Best Flash Diffuser: 01 LumiQuest Softbox III Best Flash Diffuser: 02 Honl eight-inch Speed Snoot Best Flash Diffuser: 03 Gary Fong Lightsphere Best Flash Diffuser: 04 Rogue FlashBender Reflector Best Flash Diffuser: 05 Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce Best Flash Diffuser: 06 Lastolite EzyBox Speed-Lite Five things you need to look out for when buying a flash diffuser READ MORE How camera flash works: free photography cheat sheet Flash photography made easy: master everything from pop-up flash to multiple flashguns Flash photography tips: external flash techniques anyone can understand 16 new cameras we’d like to see in 2013 The best photographers of all time. In the history of the world. DIY Photography Hacks: make a powerful macro lens with an empty toilet paper tube May 1st 2013, 10:00 We’ve covered a lot of clever techniques in our DIY Photography Hacks series, and this latest is one of our favourites – both because it’s so simple and the effects are amazing! In our quick tutorial below we show you how to use an empty toilet paper tube as an extension to transform your 50mm standard lens into a powerful macro lens. A macro lens can be an expensive investment, especially as it's a specialist lens that you might only use a few times a year. However, if you want the close-up experience but don't want the expense of buying a macro lens, it's easy enough to create your own with a few household items, plus a standard prime lens – we used a Nikon 50mm f/1.4. Please note that you will need to sacrifice a body cap for this project, but these are cheap to buy, at around £8/$8. The key to this project is to flip the lens, putting the front element against the camera, then when you look through the viewfinder you'll see everything has got much closer. Stick a tube in between camera and body and everything gets larger still. Make a macro lens the DIY photography way 01 Make the extender Cut the toilet roll tube to roughly 100mm, then tape a piece of neoprene inside to help cut out any light reflections. If you don't have any black neoprene, black paper will also work. Take a body cap and carefully cut a hole in the front, then tape the tube securely to the body cap.   02 Attach the lens When all is secure, attach the lens, reversed so that the front element goes into the tube, and tape into place. Mount the camera on a tripod and move the subject into focus. There's a small lever on the back of the lens: move this to close down the aperture and secure with Blu-tack.   03 Take your shots Set the camera to aperture-priority mode. The camera will say it has set itself to f/0. Next, set the self timer to avoid any shake or image blur while shooting, and take a few test images. Check the results and adjust the aperture lever with the Blu-tack as needed. READ MORE DIY Photography Hacks: how to reduce camera shake using a simple bag of lentils DIY Photography Hacks: why a blank CD case makes the perfect rain guard for your lens DIY Photography Hacks: make your own tripod holder DIY Photography Hacks: get cool soft-focus effects using a pair of tights 99 common photography problems (and how to solve them)

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