Customer Reviews

RPS (Dot Line) RS-DF120 FlexiDome Flash Diffuser Combo for Canon 580EX & 580EX II, Pentax AF-540FGZ, Phoenix DZBIS-112, Sigma EF-500 & EF-530 Flashes

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have long been familiar with flash tools and techniques such as indirect bounce, umbrellas, and other reflective devices, but I had no recognition of on the flash diffusers. One of those things you may see in the ads, catalogues, and in photo stores but paid no mind to. The first time I saw one in use, a friend and I were on a photo shoot at a local botanical garden and saw a couple of them. We knew what they were for but still thought it looked more like a lamp shade and thus a little embarrasing to tag along with. Later my friend rented one to use for a wedding he was going to be shooting. I saw the results and was sold on the idea.

Yes, it is a little bulky to use and you will receive some funny looks on a walkabout, but so what. I took the extra size into consideration when I made a recent upgrade to my equipment backpack so it would fit. It does fit quite fine. You may have trouble fitting it into more common smaller bags where the rest of your equipment just fits. A different story though.....

I've shot a number of indoor settings with the diffuser and in some cases I've shot comparison shots by removing it and relying on upward pointed bounce and direct flash. The difference in the harshness of shadowing is quite apparent. I wish I'd had this thing when I shot my last wedding a couple of years ago. Bounce was impossible for the audiotorium where the cerimony was conducted had a black framework ceiling so all flash shots in that room had to be direct. Results were ok but I think they could have been better with a diffused flash.

I have also used it outdoors for nature shots. Bear in mind that you are going to have a little loss of range from a device such as this (I'll let the technical gurus tell you how much) so you have to take that into consideration when shooting in larger rooms or at greater distances outdoors. Ok, by larger rooms, I mean larger than the typical residential living room. Here I have not noticed much dropoff. Being able to get closer shots of flowers and other such objects without so much direct glare which can wash out your subject is a real plus. Bounce is not going to work in such settings so how else are you going to illuminate your subject short of rigging external reflectors? I've used flash mostly with high speed sync so I've not had so much over exposure and washout even with direct flash. The diffuser does help even there to reduce the possibility of too much light too close.

The set comes with, in addition to the the white cap, an amber, red and a blue cap. Honestly, I am not sure of the value of those different colors. I tried them briefly just to see the affects and though they can be ok for something different in your shots, I find them more of a gimick. I suspect that for b&w shooting, there might be some potential but I've not yet tried that. For my shooting I've only used the white cap.

As for the fit over the flash head, you may have to wiggle it a little but it's pliable plastic (feels something like rubber) but it will fit. I've read comments about the device falling off. I've not exeperienced that though I can see how it can happen. I think if you're climbing through trees or up mountain sides, you're going to risk it falling off but for normal on the ground walkabout use or with the camera on a tripod, unless you're prone to bumping into things it's going to stay on ok. I'll admit it's a little awkward to "wear" with the camera plus big lens (like my Canon 100-400mm L for example) plus the flash pointing up at your face and the diffuser on top of that. Ok, with that lens on, the camera is not going to be hanging on my chest with the flash pointing up at my face. So the whole thing can become just a little bulky if you leave it on the flash while touring around. You may want to leave it in the bag until you need it.

Bottom line, for me, I will do almost no flash shooting without this or at least something like it. It's cheap enough so why not.

Dan W. Dooley

just like the gary fong diffuser. all it is, is mold plastic. great lighting, a bit bulky but worth every penny.

I have three different type of diffusers, the Gary Fong diffuser gives me the softest shadows and best lighting indoors, it is bulky but not heavy, I just push it together to get it in my camera bag, goes back to it's round form when taken out. Have not tried leaving it crushed for long periods.

Got this yesterday and gave it a complete shakedown cruise. Does everything well but I see little need for the colored dome caps......everything they do can be easily done in any photoshop product. The pliable plastic fits very nicely over my 580EX II, and my 420 EX. Why pay triple the price for Gary Fong's device when this one does the same job?

Only complaint was dealing with the company I bought it through, Titan America. Took 12 days to get here from California, I'm in New Jersey, and they just shipped it in the same box the manufacturer put it in. No packaging at all. Very poor service, Titan America gives.

I'm pleased with this purchase. It is much cheaper than the Gary Fong name brand equivalent and seems to be essentially the same thing.

this item was way to big and clumsey for your use. Buy a smaller usable dome diffuser.