Light Scattering/Diffusing

[Michael Guerrero]

Anyone know of a good way to take a light with a tight beam and put some kind of scattering filter on the front to diffuse the light and make more like a video light and reduce the hot spot?

 

[northernone]

I've had success with frosted domes off household lamps.

 

[3D diver]

White diffuser material sold for fluorescent lights will spread the light 180 degrees, but has about 50% transmission efficiency. I've been using these lately for my 360 view cameras, which need the wide spread. My GoPros are happy enough with them too.

Almost any other solution will need to be placed inside the light or the refractive index of the water will negate its spread.

I tinkered with diffusers a couple of years ago in this thread:

My GoPro 3D setup

 

[CuzzA]

I was in your position not long ago and found all of the DIY diffusing solutions didn't work all that well on your typical hot spot light. Take my advice and don't bother wasting your time, money and effort.

You can pick up theses lights for $30 and they work pretty damn good.
Underwater 100M 5000LM CREE XM-L2 LED Flashlight Torch Photographing Video 18650 | eBay

Here's a test in my pool at night. It was pitch black. I was shooting with one hand as I was dragging my AL19 on the bottom, so the video is a little shaky and I didn't get the arms positioned perfectly and ended up with some vignetting.