I've been really considering buying a lumiquest softbox or softbox III for on camera flash work. The Softbox is ~2-3x the size of a flash head. The III is ~6-7x. My two setbacks have been 1) price and 2) not a fan of velcro mounts

Well today I had a Eureka moment. More like a DUH moment.

Way back when in Sept 2008, I built a "beauty dish" when I built my first DIY ringlight.

I used the same ~12" white plastic bowl, but instead of cutting a hole in the middle for the flash, inside the bowl, I glued down an old CD spindle with some white posterboard and a 2" convex round mirror. On the back, I used some poster board so that my 430EX fits snuggly. The beauty dish was designed to use off camera.



Anyway, this beauty dish costs ~$4 and has been sitting in my closet, barely used, for the past year.

Today I had a total DUH moment when I decided to try it with the flash mounted on camera. I trimmed the outside ring and the beauty dish will easily mount on camera and work completely unobstructed with my 28-75, 50, 100 macro, and 70-300.


(iphone pic)



If my math is right, this thing is ~18-20x the size of the flash head so it REALLY softens up the light. Sure it doesn't look the best, but I'll damn sure use it.





The only drawback is that the mirror does cause a small dark spot in the middle (like a ringlight, but not completely on axis) depending on how close you are to the subject. Also no AF assist light.

^^^ Yup, there's a great DIY article on this exact setup that was linked on Strobist a while back.

CD spindle and mirror included.

http://davidtejada.blogspot.com/2008...or-sb-800.html

It's good stuff!

-- Dave

In your test shot it doesn't seem all that soft. Maybe it is a bit over exposed? You might need diffusion material on the front to really soften it up.

P.S. I have a Lumiquest III and never use it. Not sure why really.

Its not umbrella soft, but its definitely softer than bare flash. It does wonders on skin tones, I just need to upload some.

Originally Posted by PhatheadWRX

Its not umbrella soft, but its definitely softer than bare flash. It does wonders on skin tones, I just need to upload some.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Originally Posted by thomps6s

P.S. I have a Lumiquest III and never use it. Not sure why really.

I LOVE my Lumiquest III!

I use it whenever I can...

-- Dave

Dave, you almost sold ne on the III, but this is cheaper and bigger !!!! Plus I already had it

Originally Posted by AcquaCow

I LOVE my Lumiquest III!

I use it whenever I can...

-- Dave

yeah, we know!

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

#2


#8