Diffuser - yes or no?

[ccredifo]

I have a pair of Ikelite DS-160 strobes with diffusers. I'm curious when to use the diffusers versus shooting without it. Are there certain instances when you should use one instead of the other? macro vs. wide angle?

It seems like the pics without the diffuser are a bit sharper and have better color. I'm thinking of not using the diffusers in the future.

Any feedback of users that have faced a similar decision would be much appreciated.

Thx,
C-red

 

[fppf]

I use diffusers for macro and when there is a large amount of particles in the water.
For wide in warm tropics, full power baby!

I also will use a diffuser if I'm shooting in a pool or other fake environment.

 

[alcina]

I pretty much leave mine on all the time.

 

[ptyx]

I concur with fppf.

The diffusers seem to help with backscatter and avoid harsh shadows for macro.
If you have a really wide angle, they're supposed to broaden the strobe angle as well and avoid hot spots - but I haven't experimented with that.

 

[fppf]

Just remember that it knocks you down a stop or so.

 

[AndyT]

Mine stay on as well.

 

[vladimir]

I always keep mine on. The downside is the half-stop or stop of light you lose. The upside is softer shadows.

 

[Larry C]

I dive in particulate 99% of the time. They stay on. Last week one fell off and I was too busy to mess with it, also distracted because the other strobe went dead. Three things resulted:
1. More brightly lit particulate, really strong, that required lots of photoshop time on the good shots to clean them up.
2. Very dramatic lighting, narrower and sharper with strong shadows, particularly since I was on a single strobe.
3. Blown out highlights on brighter subjects.
Try it both ways. My suggestion would be if you are using two strobes to try one at minimum power with the diffuser for fill light and play with the other one both with and without the diffuser for effects that you like. I've also tried moving one strobe above or below the subject with the second on one side or one behind the subject almost even with the port for backlighting.

 

[bkkchris]

I always keep mine on as well.

 

[lrossel]

Diffuser all the time... Well I use to dive in cold waters with a lot of particles (those small animals).:uwphotographer: