Pete,
No matter what you do, it will cost you some light, be it bounce or a
diffuser. Most methods levy approximately a 1 to 1-1/3 stop toll.
F280 and Wide Adapter:
This is identical in concept to the 21mm WA adapater for the T-32 and
doubles as a ND2 filter. It works OK in smaller spaces with white ceiling
and light, either neutral or nearly neutral walls. Its effect is not so
much creating a aerial light source, such as a softbox would do, but in
spreading light so that some of illuminating the subject bounces from the
room surfaces. Not as effective at diffusion as a softbox though. The
white linen or cotton handkerchief over flash head method is the
old-timer's home-brew version of these WA panels.
F280 and LumiQuest:
LumiQuest has three softboxes: ProMax, ProMax II and ProMax Mini. The
ProMax II is intended **only** for bare tube flashes such as the Quantum or
Sunpak 120J that have large round reflectors. It won't work with
rectangular heads. Either the ProMax or the ProMax Mini should work with
the F280. I have the ProMax and use it with a Sunpak potato masher. As
with any softbox, it works well for softening shadow edges, especially at
closer distances. It is much better in larger spaces that will produce
less light from bounce that diffusers the same size as the flash head
depend upon. The effect of a softbox depends on its size and on distance
to subject as it creates an aerial source of light. At very long subject
distances, the effect is reduced as the relative size of the softbox to
subject distance begins to dwindle it down to a point source. Obviously
the larger ProMax will have a greater effect than the ProMax Mini. The
Velcro tabs on the ProMax are 3 inches across top and bottom, and 1.5
inches on the sides. There are flaps along the edges of box sides to allow
for flash head size variation and help seal things up. I don't know what
the tab dimensions for the ProMax Mini are.
F280 and Sto-Fen:
Sto-Fen makes an Omni-Bounce for the T-32, but doesn't list one for the
F280. You would have to measure the dimensions of the F280 head and either
visit a store or inquire directly with Sto-Fen. This is a shell type
diffuser that protrudes from the front of the head to produce 180 degree
bounce from some of the light emitted by the flash. It has a greater
effect than the flat Olympus WA diffusion panels, but it still depends on
smaller spaces with white ceiling and light, either neutral or nearly
neutral walls. I have one of these for a Metz, along with a bounce card
made by Metz for the flash. It does well at diffusion in smaller spaces;
the bounce card creates an aerial source and works better in larger spaces.
-- John
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