By Regie Fernando 6/22/2007
Portable flash diffusers might be the last thing to have and photographers often disregarded it as a valuable accessory for their external flash. We already have a bunch of it from Stofen, Gary Fong’s lightsphere and some others. The Demb Flash diffuser will probably add to your confusion in choosing the right flash accessory. Im here to give you an objective individual testing and review of Demb Flash Diffuser Pro.
Demb Flash Diffuser Pro
The Demb Flash Diffuser or we will now call it the DFD Pro utilizes the same old technique of bouncing the light into a card. What’s different is that it has translucent plastic in front to diffuse and deflecting some light to broaden the coverage.
The DFD Pro is consist of two parts one: is the hinged Flip-It reflector and two: the translucent plastic which is the one responsible diffusing the reflected light.
(See photo below)
Photo courtesy of EchoStore
One of the great things about this diffuser is that it can fit almost all external flash units. It uses Velcro strap that wraps around the flash head, the strap has a double lining of anti-skid rubberized material so that it won’t move or rotate while you are swinging the flash to every angle and degree that you do. Aesthetically it looks Pro and instead of using a UFO like thing to the top of your flash. The Flip-It reflector has two color variants that is retro-red and black but I prefer the latter. I feel that it would be nicer if Joe Demb (the innovator) used black colored rivets so that it blends well with all the reflector and specially the plastic hinges. The hinge is made of very good quality plastic, hinge is tight so that it stops to different degrees. The Flip-It reflector is made out of gloss finish plastic, the edges are nicely filed
Actual usage
These are the review shots I took of our garage. Its an open area and no ceiling to bounce off the light.
7 meters away
Camera: Canon EOS 5D, Canon 17-40 f4L with Canon 550ex
Camera settings: 1/60, f5.6, ISO 400, Focal length 40mm
7 meters away from the scene flash powered manual @ 1/1
In this testing the DFD Pro clearly requires more power to light the scene
Direct Flash
Direct with 550ex deflector
Direct with Stofen Omni Bounce
With DFD Pro with diffuser attached
With DFD Pro without diffuser
Closer
Camera: Canon EOS 5D, Canon 17-40 f4L with Canon 550ex
Camera settings: 1/60, f5.6, ISO 400, Focal length 40mm
3 meters away from the scene flash powered ETTL
At close distance of 3 meters the DFD Pro balanced the scene well and most importantly by playing the flash head in varying angles it gaved me more pleasing results.
Direct flash with deflector down ETTL
Direct flash with Stofen ETTL
With DFD Pro flash head 90 deg up, reflector @ 45 deg with diffuser
With DFD Pro Flash head 45 deg to the right , reflector @ 45 deg with diffuser
Some field testing photos
5th Jazz Festival shots
Shooting playful kids like my son
And while drinking
Bounced to the ceiling without DFD Pro
Bounced to the ceiling with DFD Pro
Conclusion:
The DFD Pro has its own use, it is most useful for situations which you don’t have anthing to bounce to. This diffuser is also useful if you shoot indoors because it bounces light from upwards and reflecting directly towards your subject eliminating shadows on the noses and eye lids. I had an unpleasing results using it in full frame @ 17mm sure nothing beats the built in deflector in shooting at ultra wide. I experienced some overexposing in shooting closely on a portrait but you just need to flip down the reflector to derease power. I also did notice some mis focused shot with my telephoto but never on my other lenses. Since I am into bouncing to the left, right, down and up DFD Pro’s refelector is quite beneficial for me and in case Il be shooting ultra wide or at long distance I can easily flip the reflector to the other side and use it as a bare flash gun. It is also worth noting that it can easily fit inside small bags and need not worry to free large space for it. The price is quite competitive, it retails for P2,100 but it has an intro offer of P1,900 until end of July and this is for the DFD Pro while the DFD Pro Jumbo is quite pricier at P2,400 because of larger Flip-It reflector. This innovative product is now available at EchoStore .
Portable flash diffusers might be the last thing to have and photographers often disregarded it as a valuable accessory for their external flash. We already have a bunch of it from Stofen, Gary Fong’s lightsphere and some others. The Demb Flash diffuser will probably add to your confusion in choosing the right flash accessory. Im here to give you an objective individual testing and review of Demb Flash Diffuser Pro.
Demb Flash Diffuser Pro
The Demb Flash Diffuser or we will now call it the DFD Pro utilizes the same old technique of bouncing the light into a card. What’s different is that it has translucent plastic in front to diffuse and deflecting some light to broaden the coverage.
The DFD Pro is consist of two parts one: is the hinged Flip-It reflector and two: the translucent plastic which is the one responsible diffusing the reflected light.
(See photo below)
Photo courtesy of EchoStore
One of the great things about this diffuser is that it can fit almost all external flash units. It uses Velcro strap that wraps around the flash head, the strap has a double lining of anti-skid rubberized material so that it won’t move or rotate while you are swinging the flash to every angle and degree that you do. Aesthetically it looks Pro and instead of using a UFO like thing to the top of your flash. The Flip-It reflector has two color variants that is retro-red and black but I prefer the latter. I feel that it would be nicer if Joe Demb (the innovator) used black colored rivets so that it blends well with all the reflector and specially the plastic hinges. The hinge is made of very good quality plastic, hinge is tight so that it stops to different degrees. The Flip-It reflector is made out of gloss finish plastic, the edges are nicely filed
Features and Specifications
o Fully adjustable reflector panel (4 x 4 inch)
o Feather-light
o Flips instantly out of the way for direct flash
o Non-skid flash Velcro attachment
o Fits almost all types of hotshoe flashes
o Folds flat for easy storage
o Feather-light
o Flips instantly out of the way for direct flash
o Non-skid flash Velcro attachment
o Fits almost all types of hotshoe flashes
o Folds flat for easy storage
Actual usage
These are the review shots I took of our garage. Its an open area and no ceiling to bounce off the light.
7 meters away
Camera: Canon EOS 5D, Canon 17-40 f4L with Canon 550ex
Camera settings: 1/60, f5.6, ISO 400, Focal length 40mm
7 meters away from the scene flash powered manual @ 1/1
In this testing the DFD Pro clearly requires more power to light the scene
Direct Flash
Direct with 550ex deflector
Direct with Stofen Omni Bounce
With DFD Pro with diffuser attached
With DFD Pro without diffuser
Closer
Camera: Canon EOS 5D, Canon 17-40 f4L with Canon 550ex
Camera settings: 1/60, f5.6, ISO 400, Focal length 40mm
3 meters away from the scene flash powered ETTL
At close distance of 3 meters the DFD Pro balanced the scene well and most importantly by playing the flash head in varying angles it gaved me more pleasing results.
Direct flash with deflector down ETTL
Direct flash with Stofen ETTL
With DFD Pro flash head 90 deg up, reflector @ 45 deg with diffuser
With DFD Pro Flash head 45 deg to the right , reflector @ 45 deg with diffuser
Some field testing photos
5th Jazz Festival shots
Shooting playful kids like my son
And while drinking
Bounced to the ceiling without DFD Pro
Bounced to the ceiling with DFD Pro
Conclusion:
The DFD Pro has its own use, it is most useful for situations which you don’t have anthing to bounce to. This diffuser is also useful if you shoot indoors because it bounces light from upwards and reflecting directly towards your subject eliminating shadows on the noses and eye lids. I had an unpleasing results using it in full frame @ 17mm sure nothing beats the built in deflector in shooting at ultra wide. I experienced some overexposing in shooting closely on a portrait but you just need to flip down the reflector to derease power. I also did notice some mis focused shot with my telephoto but never on my other lenses. Since I am into bouncing to the left, right, down and up DFD Pro’s refelector is quite beneficial for me and in case Il be shooting ultra wide or at long distance I can easily flip the reflector to the other side and use it as a bare flash gun. It is also worth noting that it can easily fit inside small bags and need not worry to free large space for it. The price is quite competitive, it retails for P2,100 but it has an intro offer of P1,900 until end of July and this is for the DFD Pro while the DFD Pro Jumbo is quite pricier at P2,400 because of larger Flip-It reflector. This innovative product is now available at EchoStore .
Next story: "Canon EOS 400D Review"
Comments:
Where is Echostore located. Tnx. :-)
