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The flashes from cameras can be very harsh. It often produces shadows in pictures that ruin the image. In order to correct this, you will need a piece of equipment to pounce the flashlight and bounce it by rotating the direction of the flash or one that can spread out the light and prevent dark shadows from appearing.
The best flash diffuser can do the job for you. It gets rid of the contrasting shadows and bright areas so that your images will be as clear and sharp as you want them to be.
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Our Top Flash Diffuser Reviews
Flash diffusers can help you bring more natural lighting to your photos. They remove any white light that may affect the quality of your pictures by spreading it out evenly and softening it up. The best flash diffusers that we’ve picked out have all of the requirements that you need to achieve high-quality images.
Best Overall Flash Diffuser: Etekcity Light Reflectors
The Etekcity is a 24-inch light reflector that is known for its high-quality materials and portability. It is ideal for travel photography. It is easy to set up and carry around. It is a great diffuser to use when you need to snap photos using one hand as it is light and small.
The reflector measures 9 x 8.9 x 2.6 inches and weighs 8 ounces, making it heavier than the Fotodiox Pop-up Flash Diffuser and the Fotodiox Diffuser Kit. The Elekcity is a 5-in-1 kit. It has one translucent panel that has four different color covers that provide five different photography effects.
The gold reflector is used to warm up photos, silver is used to brighten them, the white part is used to bounce the light into the shadows, the black one can block out any unwanted light, and there is the translucent part that lets the light through.
Unlike the Fotodiox Diffuser Kit, this reflector comes with a 10-inch durable zippered carrying pouch for storage, However; despite being portable, the reflector can be difficult to fold. Also, switching between the different color covers to get the result that you want for your image can be time-consuming.
Pros:
- Light and ideal for traveling
- It is equipped with five different covers, so you have a wide range of options
- It comes with a pouch for easy storage
Cons:
- The reflector is difficult to fold and zip up
- Changing the color cover takes time
- 5-In-1 lightweight reflector: Gold, silver, white, black and translucent
- Gold: warm up the picture; Silver: brighten the picture; white: bounce light into shadows; black:...
- Collapse multi-disc light reflector into a portable size for travel or storage, best for...
Best Flash Diffuser for the Money: Fotodiox Pop-up Flash Diffuser
The Fotodiox Pop-up Flash Diffuser is designed to fit pop-up flashes for DSLR and SLR cameras. It is user-friendly, plus it can enhance flashes and minimize harsh light for a clear and sharp image.
The diffuser measures 1 x 1 x 1 inches and weighs 2.4 ounces, making it lighter than the Etekcity Photography Reflector.
You can control the wings of the diffuser for your desired light spread, it is easy to use, and it can be easily carried anywhere as it is light and portable. It is also very easy to fold, unlike the Etekcity Photography Reflector.
However, there are instances that it does not mount properly, especially if you are using full-frame DSLR cameras with large sensors like the Canon EOS 5D III and the Nikon D810. Also, the fold at the back of the diffuser can be distracting as it may poke your face while taking pictures.
Pros:
- Light, easy to fold, store and carry
- It can enhance flashes and minimize the effects of harsh light
- It lets you decide on what angle you want the wings to be positioned at for an even light distribution
Cons:
- Mounting the diffuser can be difficult if you are using full-frame DSLR cameras
- The fold located at the back of the diffuser can poke your nose or face if you are not careful
- Specifically designed to fit pop-up flashes for most SLRs and DSLRs
- A premium-grade diffuser engineered to be a flash enhancer and a harsh light minimzer
- User controls the wings for desired light spread
Best Cheap Flash Diffuser: Fotodiox Diffuser Kit
The Fotodiox Diffuser Kit is equipped with three filters: the UV filter, a circular polarizer, and a soft diffuser. The UV filter can help ensure clear images during hazy or sunny conditions. The filters are multi-coated, a feature that helps minimize the appearance of ghosting, reflections, and glares.
The circular polarizer can remove any unwanted reflections, and it can help increase color saturation and contrast. Meanwhile, the soft diffuser can soften landscapes and improve texture in portraits.
Measuring 3 x 1 x 4 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces, it is a bit heavier than the Fotodiox Pop-up Flash Diffuser. It has filter rings that make it easier to stack the filters when using them or leave them on your lens.
However, the filters come in awkward bags, unlike the Etekcity Reflector. You can change it to a pouch for better storage. Also, the zipper can be difficult to close and open because of stray threads.
Cons:
- The kit comes with a diffuser, polarizer, and UV filter
- Can improve color saturation and color contrast on images
- It can minimize flares, ghosting, and unwanted reflections
Pros:
- The bag that it comes with is not of the highest quality
- Stray threads get caught up in the zipper
- Optical Glass Filter
- Three must-have filters in one KIT.
- Leather Storage Case
Features to Consider in a Flash Diffuser
Flash diffusers are used to spread the light over different surface areas to eliminate unwanted shadows and to create soft lighting to give your images a more natural look.
The best flash diffusers have other features that can be very beneficial and can help you improve your photography skills, below are some of them.
| Product | Easy To Store | UV Filter | Foldable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etekcity Light Reflectors | No | No | Yes |
| Fotodiox Pop-up Flash Diffuser | Yes | No | No |
| Fotodiox Diffuser Kit | No | Yes | No |
Easy to Store
Since diffusers are attached to SLR and DSLR cameras, most likely, they will be your companion when you do outdoor photoshoots to enhance your images.
A flash diffuser that’s easy to store can help you pack faster, and they won’t take too much of your time when you fold them and zip them up. Also, it is best to get a diffuser that is easy to set up, like the Fotodiox Pop-up Flash Diffuser.
High-Quality Panel
Diffusers with high-quality panels can minimize the effects of harsh light that are often caused by direct sunlight or lighting from a bulb that is not covered.
Harsh light can cause shadows in your images and can blur your subject. The Fotodiox Diffuser Kit and the Fotodiox Pop-up Flash Diffuser have panels that can remove shadows and distribute light evenly on your photos.
Easy Mounting Capability
The majority of the diffusers are one-size-fits-all; however, that does not mean that all of them can be mounted on cameras easily. Diffusers need to be attached to the lens of the camera securely so it can function properly and distribute light evenly. The last thing that you want is a diffuser that is loose as it won’t perform well.
The Etekcity Light Reflectors and the Fotodiox Diffuser Kit are great diffusers that can be mounted easily on any DSLR or SLR camera.
Type of Diffuser
The different types of diffusers are diffusion domes, reflectors, and softboxes. A diffusion dome is translucent. When the flash hits, it illuminates the diffusion dome and is scattered evenly in different areas.
Reflectors are also called bouncers. They are used to bounce the light to correct the color temperature of the images and make sure that the color is consistent, and prevent a faded look.
Meanwhile, softboxes tend to have bigger surfaces, spreading the light further than the diffusion domes. They’re used to remove shadows on images.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can UV Light Pass Through a Softbox Diffuser?
UV light can’t pass through the fabric of a softbox diffuser; however, it depends on the material that is used.
Flash makers create flash tubes with a UV coating to prevent UV emissions, and if you are looking for a diffuser to block UV light from passing through and affecting your images, then it is better to get a reflector or a diffuser dome.
Conclusion
Snapping a beautiful photo does not take only a camera and a lens; you will also need the assistance of other equipment such as flash diffusers to prevent any unwanted element from appearing on the result.
Flash diffusers come in so many shapes and sizes. If you are looking into improving the overall quality of your images, going through the features and materials of the diffuser that you are planning to purchase is the way to go.
