just arrived in the mail. so what do people use to diffuse the light. i know about the Sfill. are there any alternatives? something smaller?

-- john molloy (ballyscanlon@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002

Answers

Leave the accessory diffusor on, buy an SFill (really works nicely) & remember--it's an SF-20!... Also, read the various threads on use of the flash. I've now tested it extensively & it works best at -1 2/3 to -2 EV, not the default setting.

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), April 08, 2002.

Try a worn handkerchief (clean)it has worked for me in the past on most flash guns

-- Gabriel Shaw (gabriel@gabriel.homechoice.co.uk), April 08, 2002.

Patrick, With the Sfill install on the Leica, does it looks pretty odd? What's the response you get when you photographing people?

I don't like the direct frontal light when doing the family group shot, very easy to get harsh shadow. I read about the SC17 cable, but it is not compact and not cheap. I believe Contax cable is similiar. I now use Vivitar 283 but still prefer to use SF20 when I travel and leave Vivitar at home.

-- Chi H (chihuang@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002.

I abore direct flash also. I use a Promax Mini Soft Box from Lumiquest. You have to mount velcro on the flash, but it's easy to remove if necessary. The box folds up to smaller than pocket size, and when mounted looks fine. I use the diffuser on it to spread the light out into the box. It really works to eliminate any harsh shadows. If you're interested I can pop a digital shot of the set up and e-mail it to you along with an example photo when using it. Let me know.

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net), April 11, 2002.