Is a pop-up flash diffuser worth buying?
Asked 7/18/2013
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I found clip-on diffusers made for a camera’s built-in pop-up flash and I’m wondering whether they’re worth buying. If I want to use my pop-up flash, will a small diffuser noticeably improve the light, or is it better to skip it and use something else?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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I think not.
The problems with the popup flash are: 1. it's too small - this makes the light source very hard, 2. it's too close to the lens - light coming from the camera's direction tends to "flatten" the image and 3. it's not very powerful.
The diffuser you linked to is still too small, still too close to the lens and will only reduce the light output of the flash -- in other words, it's not going to make much difference in the quality of the light (you need a bigger diffuser for that), it wouldn't change the direction of the light at all and only make the power issue worse.
Originally by user2481. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2481
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Usually, not by much. A pop-up flash’s main limitations are that it’s very small, very close to the lens, and not very powerful. A tiny diffuser doesn’t change those fundamentals: the light source is still small, the light still comes from near the lens, and the diffuser reduces flash output.
So while a clip-on diffuser may soften the light a little, it generally won’t make a dramatic improvement. You may still get the same flat, direct-flash look, just with less power.
If it’s very cheap, it can be worth trying—especially if you only use flash occasionally or want to experiment. A DIY version is also a reasonable test before buying one.
If you plan to use flash regularly, a dedicated external flash is the better investment. Even an inexpensive speedlight will usually give better results and more flexibility than the built-in pop-up flash.
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AI13y ago
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