CartesianCreationsAU Macro Flash Diffuser for Oly 60mm macro - any good

Hi,

Just wondering how this option compares to the cheap “wireframe/cloth with lens hole” $7 option.

It's compact, attaches very conveniently, and produces great light. The $7 cloth-hoop has to be wound-up for storage, is twice as tall as necessary, but is narrowest at the bottom, where the 60mm lens uses it. The CC diffuser is widest over the lens, narrows going up, and isn't too tall. It's the only one I use any more.

I have the 60mm and 90mm diffusers. I'm very happy with them... the light quality and convenient, compact storage too.

These diffusers do two things: First, they provide a larger light-radiating surface than the bare head of most flashes. Second, they allow light to reflect up, back, and to the sides to bounce around the room to reflect off the much larger light-radiating surfaces of walls and ceilings. The size of the light source relative to the subject is important for apparent softening. Softening refers to how sharp or gradual is the line of the shadow and how much specular reflection is seen. Compared to an umbrella, a softbox, a ceiling, a wall, etc., both are still very small but some diffusion may be noticeable in the image, especially when used where there are walls and ceilings. When used outdoors, they don't have anything to bounce off so softening of shadows is determined mainly by size of the diffuser relative to the size of the subject.

The first one is cheap, will fit many lens sizes, and has a larger radiating surface. The second has a smaller radiating surface but its shape produces a catchlight in the eyes of macro animals that resembles what you might see from an open sky. Also, it's a cool design, but I'm not sure if that counts for much when diffusion is the goal. Both look to me like they would be susceptible to having a hot spot, but I don't know that for sure. Both are mounted on the end of the lens, so the light direction from the flash is straight on. Off-camera flash is often more pleasing than straight on flash, but a lot less convenient. There is no free lunch.

You could simulate the effect of either diffuser by simply holding some semi-opaque material in front of the flash head if you wanted to see how much softening different sizes and different materials would provide. Just for fun, compare those things to bouncing off the ceiling or a wall or a large piece of white foamboard or posterboard.

This picture is taken using the 90mm diffuser. I have the 60mm version and it's very good too.

Thanks all for the feedback. Will try the CC diffuser.

Hi, are they only available on "Etsy" ? (I'm not used to this website)

Yes, you are buying directly from the person who makes it. This is what Etsy is for.

I have a diffuser similar to the first one you show, it was inexpensive and worked well to diffuse the flash. BUT, it was a pain to put on and take off and tended to slide around to the bottom of the lens -- so I made a diffuser from a white plastic milk bottle that mounts to the flash, diffuses just as well and stays where I put it. The hinged unit that mounts to the lens looks very interesting and seems to be a great diffuser but I'd want to try it to see if it works better than my free plastic milk bottle.

What I like about Martins diffuser is its compactness.....folds up and fits anywhere in the camera bag.
I also have a couple of home made ones esp for STF8 twin flash as Martins doesn't really work for that.
If I travel I will take the wee fl300r flash and Martins diffuser and I know it will work and take very little space