Kimel’s Pop Up Flash Soft Box Diffuser

Here is another great one from Martin Kimeldorf, converting a LumiQuest popup diffuser into a softbox thingy. This will work great to add some direct flash fill in. Now, I am not saying that you should run and buy one of those just to mod it, you can start with silk and some black Bristol and get the same place.

I liked the LumiQuest Diffuser for Pop Up flashes except that the diffuser panel hung rather limply on my camera and thus produced an unreliable surface shape. Also, I wondered about the light escaping the sides. Then I thought, I could add sides and create a miniature soft box, especially if the inside had a silvered lining.

Parts

• LumiQuest pop up flash diffuser
• Black core foam and silver facing cardboard.
• Hot glue gun
• Velcro
• Scissors and knife or cutter

Assembly Steps

1) The OUTSIDE of the diffuser showing the beginner part, a LumiQuest Pop Up Diffuser. One could create this part on their own if they chose, but I liked the LumiQuest diffuser panel over all material I created or substituted.

There is no single design because every camera will be different. I can show you how I assembled mine and then you can use this to guide your creation. Typically, it takes me about 3 tries to get it right, so us a mock up of the LumiQuest before using the real thing.

2) INSIDE showing the mirrored side panels. First cut out black core panels so they rest on your camera and hold the panel out where you want. Then cut out shaped material from silver backed card stock. Then attach entire panel with hot glue and black tape along the edges where panels meet back side of LumiQuest.

3) Add thing Velcro strips along edges so the panel can detach and fold up flat. This shows the edges where the front diffuser meets the side panels, I glued in a thin Velcro strip. One part is on the diffuser and the other on the panel edge.

4) There are many ways to attach the soft box to the camera. Velcro is one option. The LumiQuest has a built in tab for inserting into the hot shoe.

5) Mounted on the camera. It is easy to lift if you don’t want the effect, or just drop it down for the next shot.

6) When attaching side panels with glue and tape, make sure they lie flat first, otherwise it will never fold up into this low profile.

It can be used straight on the camera’s pop up when you don’t want to lug around a strobe. This diffuser lets you get close without risk of hot spots or harsh shadows.

An even better way to use the popup softbox is to use it as an on axis fill in a scene with another flash. I have also used the diffused pop up to fill Christina’s face which was also lit by a diffused strobe on the left using The (Really HUGE) Kimel Bouncer.

Side Lighted

Fill Added

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Other Great Stuff From The home Of Martim Kimel:
– The (Really HUGE) Kimel Bouncer
– Double Your Light Stand As A Portable Backdrop Mount System