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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

New Diffuser for the MT-24EX, again!

As you are aware of, I have had a new and improved diffuser since February 2010. Loving the light from it. Sample shots as below:

All images shot with a Canon 40D, Canon MPE65 1X-5X macro lens and Canon MT24EX Twin Flash with DIY Diffuser.

DIY Diffuser for MT-24EX IMG_8219 copy

Sample shots:
IMG_0252 copy

IMG_9729 copy

There is just this one thing that bothers me though - the twin catch lights in subjects with big reflective eyes, such as my favorite spider - jumping spider! In the image above, the highlight/catch lights in the eyes have been toned down in PP. It was much brighter originally!

Now compare it to another jumper shot lit with a big bowl diffuser:
DIY Diffuser - big bowl IMG_5360 copy

I prefer a single, bigger catch light like this.
IMG_4549 copy

For more lighting comparison, please check out A Comparison of Different Lighting Setups.

Now a couple of sample shots from the newest diffuser:

The dome is transparent PP material from a mineral water bottle, covered with 2 layers of polystyrene sheets. Idea from Stephen's cup diffuser (SteB1) on Juza forum.
DIY Diffuser - cup diffuser - MT-24EX new diffuser cropped

I used 3M medical tape to hold the concave diffuser in place. But i think I will get some moldable plastic to DIY a better holder!
3M Durapore Medical Tape, Silk Tape - 1 in. x 10 yards per roll
3M medical tape

InstaMorph - Moldable Plastic - 12 oz
Moldable Plastic

Now the sample shots:
Bubble blowing...IMG_0671 copy

IMG_0388 DT copy

Definitely nicer catch lights in the spider's eyes. However, the catch lights seem to be much brighter in the smaller pair of front-facing eyes though.

More to be improved on the newest diffuser. Perhaps a more opaque material Stay tuned.

Edit: slightly improved version of the cheap but great DIY Concave Diffuser is  here.


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5 comments:

  1. liewwkMarch 17, 2010 at 12:43 PM

    definitely must better but it is annoying front object ... make a lot of bugs flew off

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kurt (OrionMystery)March 17, 2010 at 2:11 PM

    Ya...the diffuser gets in the way quite often:(

    I'll just use the older one for non jumper....and use this cup diffuser for jumper, i guess.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MelMarch 26, 2010 at 7:48 PM

    Well I certainly have to do something about diffusing my MT-24EX. There is so much to learn when you are first starting out but now I am focusing on the catch-lights in the eyes of esp my jumper images and I need to tone them down I too like just the one light.
    I am forever bumping into leaves etc that the above diffuser wouldn't work for me as my jumpers are always hiding in leafy environments.
    Still looks good for other situations.
    Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks, great stuff Kurt.

    Mel (melieli) on Flickr.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kurt (OrionMystery)March 26, 2010 at 8:01 PM

    Hi Mel, yes, this cup diffuser does get in the way a lot. Maybe you can coax the jumper into coming out. Most jumpers will allow me to hold the leaf they're on.

    Meanwhile, Steb @ Juza forum is working on a new design. I can't wait to see what it's going to be like :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. MelMarch 28, 2010 at 5:50 AM

    I will keep an eye out for the new Diffusers.
    Thanks Kurt.

    ReplyDelete