Built-in flash diffuser

The built-in flash on SLR cameras may not always give the desired result. This is due to the fact that the light source is very small - therefore it turns out very hard light when photographing. Diffusers can be used to reduce hardness. Therefore, without hesitation, I found a very simple way to make a compact diffuser for the built-in flash. All you need is an empty one film box... It is enough to cut a strip of the desired length in the box to conveniently place it on the flash.

Photo film jar

Photo film jar

Flash nozzle from under the film jar

Flash nozzle from under the film jar

view of the diffuser on the camera

View of the diffuser on the camera - sync with the help of a mirror.

The convenience of such a design:
1. Easy to do (if you haven't found a film box, ask your friends for it)
2. It is easy to fix (the cap from the box fixes the home-made device well)
3. Great effect for the money
4. Durability (paper boxes can bend or tear, conventional wipes are carried away by the wind)
5. Compactness (conveniently fits in a bag with a photo - I constantly carry it around)

Of course, if it’s difficult to invent something, then you can just buy one that's ready built-in flash diffuser.

Help to the project. Thanks for attention. Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 51, on the topic: Built-in flash diffuser

  • And the meaning of this action? Built-in flash, even with a diffuser evil evil)

    • Embodiment_Dreams

      In life, there are a variety of situations and all evil and good are just relative concepts, as they say, the main thing is that your hands are golden. The diffuser gives not such a hard light, and for this reason these things are being done.

  • Vika

    brilliantly

    • Sergei

      For a Russian, everything is simple, ingenious and cheap!

  • It would be interesting to see examples of photos with / without a diffuser

  • Igor

    Is there any way to adjust (compensate) the flash output? Indeed, in this case, the light flux is not only scattered, but the flash power decreases.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      No, the camera and the flash work in TTL automatic mode, which means that the camera itself determines the power from the illumination of the first pre-flash (which is almost invisible), and since the first pre-flash goes through the diffuser, the main pulse power will also be calculated for the diffuser.

  • Igor

    Thank you!

  • Jury

    in a similar way, you can slightly soften harsh shadows and slightly save on iso in the room, but then the power must be set manually and the minimum =) so as to light up slightly =) leaving the shadow pattern from the main lighting (window or bright chandeliers, where it is completely dark anyway will not help, you will have to "flash on the forehead") I used to be perverted with pieces of paper =) now I'll try with a box =) thanks for the great site!

  • Thank..
    i have a true canon
    but I’ll do something like that ..

  • Igor

    Yes, all ingenious is simple =)))

  • Igor

    An amendment, or rather an addition. One should work with such a clever design “without fanaticism”. You can just burn your built-in flash (or melt the glass, body) DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS WITH A SMALL INTERVAL !!! The little box is responsible for the removal of heat ...

    • Gene jb

      What does the lamp have to do with it? First of all, the flash pump circuit is overheating.

      • Arkady Shapoval

        Despite the fact that no one speaks for the scheme, but simply talk about the flash overheating, and what does not have time to work there faster is another question.

      • Taras

        Kakraz, moreover, I made a diffuser from improvised means, once, without attaching it, but simply leaning it on a flash (built-in) I wanted to take a quick photo, but missed it and it puffed close to the paper (cardboard box), so this paper was roughly burnt. A couple of times to do this and you can burn cardboard)

        • Andrey Super

          Supergoningly!))))) Fire using a flash!)))))

  • Sergei

    Pictures are really softer, but on Canon the box is a bit small. We need to look for something like that, but more.

  • Alexander

    Today made for the Canon 600D. The box turned out to be small, I had to make a slot in the lid. After that, it sits perfectly.
    The picture is softer, the white cold tint at overexposure has disappeared.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Happy for you :)

  • Dmitriy

    Interesting idea, thanks) I need to try.

    PS I also met a homemade diffuser from a ping-pong ball somewhere on the Internet)) Also a hole was cut out there and a simple device was mounted on the flash)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Yes, I saw if I get a ball, I’ll make an article about him too :)

      • Stas

        also orange pingpong has a cool effect too ...

  • Vladimir

    Some use ping pong ball

  • i-hero-in.narod.ru

    On the Internet, I came across a fabric (like) diffuser on an external flash. a kind of minisoftbox with Velcro. Has anyone made this on their own?

  • Paul

    and I tried a pin-pong ball diffuser)))) one obvious drawback compared to a box from under the film - it does not sit very tightly on the flash

  • Sergei

    I tried 1 - a polyethylene wide stopper, placed close to the flash glass; 2 - paper tape for pasting windows; 3 - white paper; 4 - plastic tracing paper (plastic tracing paper for printing on an inkjet printer).
    What I noticed is that any diffuser lowers the temperature of light, respecting the red-violet zone. We have to adjust to blue. This is especially true for adhesive tape for window pasting, since it is yellowish by itself.
    I'll try to make a cloth.

  • Basil

    I use the built-in flash to synchronize external flashes; from the side of the flash into the “shoe” I insert a cut-out screen made of white plastic with a “tail” for the “shoe”. The structure is bent at an angle of 110..120 degrees in order to avoid direct light from the built-in flash on the subject.

  • Gene jb

    I also came up with - you can use bottles of all kinds of cosmetics.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      :)

  • Alsusha

    But I did here according to this scheme http://samodelka.net/blog/idei_I_foto_samodelok/184.html

    • Eugene

      For a link - cool :) Interesting construction ...

  • Valery

    Well, I don’t know…, I read, read and thought: either people are very fond of doing something with their own hands or they don’t have 30 UAH. for the purchase of a diffuser made in the factory (and in three colors) and with the same factory universal mount. The internet is full of proposals.

    • Sergei

      Throw a link where for 30 UAH. (still desirable with free shipping)
      DIY is always more expensive, thanks to the author for skillful hands!

  • Levani

    when shooting with him, from a distance of about more than three meters, the photos are blurry, although focus confirmation works.

  • Andrei

    Thanks! It works with a photocell for flash with an umbrella, for home portraits.

  • Vyacheslav

    Thanks to the author, I went to the photo printing office and took a free box, made a bigger cut for my canon. the pictures are impressive! works for all cheers! soft photos, no excess glare on nearby objects! I think still try with a ball for table tennis, they say is also impressive)

  • anonym

    I made a similar diffuser - it does not hold well. I cut the second box differently - now it keeps well. Great advice.

    • Vyacheslav

      How exactly is it different? At first it didn't fit me, made it wider, not reliably ... Dangling ...

  • Ronin427

    I use a soft diffuser, from a piece similar to a synthetic winterizer.
    It softens the light very well. (^ __ ^)

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