Softbox Nikon
Flash Photography Tips
Every photographer would like to take great flash photos, but all too often they come out poorly lit, too bright, too dark, or just plain unattractive.
In his video tutorial at SteeleTraining.com, photographer Phil Steele offers a series of solutions for the whole spectrum of camera types. Whether you have a little point-and-shoot camera or a fancy digital SLR with hot-shoe flash, this article, based on Steele’s video, will have something for you.
Starting at the simple end, if you have a small point-and-shoot camera, with built-in flash, the first tip is to remember to use Fill Flash. Fill flash is forcing your flash to fire, even in daylight, to fill in dark shadows in your scene.
The classic case where you need fill flash is when your subject is backlit by the sun. The camera may think the whole scene is properly exposed, but your subject appears as a black silhouette. Unless you are intentionally going for the silhouette look, you’ll need to force your camera to fire the flash to see the detail in your subject.
On nearly all small cameras there is a setting to force the flash to fire. You can usually cycle through several flash settings ranging from Automatic (the camera decides whether to flash), to Always On, and Always Off. Setting this to Always On will force the flash to fire and your previously dark subject will now be lit. If the flash is too bright you can take a step backward or partially cover the flash with you finger to reduce its power.
The second tip for small point-and-shoot cameras is to use Slow-Sync flash, also known as “Night Portrait,” “Night Snapshot,” “Party Mode” and other terms. In slow-sync mode the flash fires to expose your subject, then the shutter remains open for a while to get a normal exposure on the light in the background.
Now, instead of your subject floating in a black void, you have a subject in a scene. You can also get interesting effects if the camera or the lights in the background move during the exposure. Of course, if there is no light in the background behind your subject, don’t bother with slow-sync. You’ll just get a very long exposure and a blurry shot.
Moving up to digital SLR’s the first thing to remember is that they have the same capabilities as pocket-cameras, plus more. So you should still use fill flash and slow-sync flash.
On a digital SLR you have much more control over your fill flash, because the power of the flash is adjustable. Typically called “Flash Exposure Compensation” you can adjust the power of the flash in small increments, such as 1/3 of a stop, to get exactly the power you want.
You can also improve the flash photos on your digital SLR by using a diffuser over the built-in flash, such as the LumiQuest Soft Screen, to make the light source larger and soften the light. In an emergency you can even hold a sheet of white paper in front of the flash to diffuse it. Anything to spread the light and soften it helps.
Stepping up in the world of serious flash photography, the next level is to purchase a hot-shoe flash to mount on your digital SLR. These flashes, such as the Nikon SB-900 or Canon 580EX are much more powerful than the built-in flash in your camera. They allow you to take photos at greater distances and to fill larger spaces with light.
Most importantly, however, the heads of these flash units can be tilted to bounce the light off a wall or ceiling. By bouncing the light off a surface, you transform the tiny light source into a large apparent light source many square feet in size, resulting in much more flattering light. Be careful not to bounce off a colored surface, though, or you will create a color cast in your photo.
Finally, the ultimate step in flash photography is to get the flash off your camera entirely, bringing the light to your subject from a different angle instead of straight along the lens axis. This creates much more attractive light that sculpts your subject instead of bouncing back straight into the lens and creating the harsh look typical of flash photography.
When you use this kind of “off-camera-flash” you typically diffuse the light through a softbox or umbrella. To trigger the flash you can use a cable such as a PC cord or shoe cord, or a wireless trigger, such as a radio trigger. Some flashes, such as those from Canon and Nikon, also have a built-in wireless triggering system.
For those interested in off-camera-flash photography, Steele offers a video course at SteeleTraining.com called “How to Shoot Professional Looking Headshots and Portraits on a Budget with Small Flashes” which covers all aspects of off-camera flash and illustrates the principles with live models.
For a video version of this article, visit this YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRoZwkTj74k
About the Author
Copyright 2010. Mark Lawson writes for SteeleTraining.com where photographers can find free photography courses and tutorials on a wide variety of subjects, from flash photography tips to Photoshop techniques and everything in between.
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Portable Two 20″ 50cm Softbox for Speedlight Flash Light Nikon Canon Speedlite $74.95 |
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Inflatable Flash Diffuser Soft Box for Flash of Canon Nikon YongNuo Metz Nissin $4.58 |
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Universal SoftBox Diffuser for Pentax Canon Nikon Olympus $3.26 |
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Air Blow Inflatable Soft box Flash Diffuser For Canon Nikon Pentax Olympus D03 $3.99 |
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Flash Soft Box Diffuser—2Cloth—f Nikon SB900 SB800 SB28 $62.99 |
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new Flash Diffuser Softbox For Nikon SB24 SB25 SB26 SB28 DX R036 $10.88 |
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free shipping Flash soft box diffuser for Canon Nikon sony pentax $18.29 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox for canon nikon sigma minolta $2.90 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox for Nikon SB-600 SB-800 SB-900 $2.60 |
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Flash Diffuser Diffusion Dome Softbox For Nikon SB-400 $11.99 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox for canon nikon sigma minolta $3.88 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox for Nikon SB 800 SB800 SB-800 Flash White UK $5.79 |
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Snoot Flash Light Silver Reflector Soft Box Diffuser for Nikon/Sony/Canon Pentax $6.99 |
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Universal Portable Flash Diffuser Softbox All Brand Canon 580EX Nikon SB-800 600 $0.99 |
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Flash Softbox/Diffuser for Pentax AF540FGZ/AF360FGZ Nikon SB700 SB600 SB28DX $3.50 |
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flash soft box diffuser for speedlite Sunpak PZ42X PZ40X PZ30 Nikon Canon $17.99 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox White MQ-D6 for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-400 $5.99 |
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Universal Studio Soft Box Flash Diffuser MQ-20 For Canon, Nikon,Sigma,Off-Camera $30.99 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox Golden MQ-D1 for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-600 $5.99 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox White MQ-D1 for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-600 $5.99 |
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Foldable Snoot Flash Beam Cloth Softbox Diffuser for Canon Nikon Pentax YONGNUO $6.88 |
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Snoot Flash Softbox Diffuser for Nikon SB900 SB800 SB700 SB600 SB28 SB25 SB26 $6.88 |
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New Lambency Pop-up Universal Flash Diffuser Softbox Cover MQB3 for Canon Nikon $4.99 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox MQ-D5 Green for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-700 $5.99 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox Large for SLR FLASH CANON NIKON $19.95 |
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Flash Diffuser Soft box For Nikon SB-600/800/900 AT20 $9.90 |
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Camera Flash Diffuser Softbox For DSLR Camera Nikon SB800 CANON 580EX Flashgun $2.49 |
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Nikon SB 900/800 Flash Umbrella Soft Box Light Diffuser $54.96 |
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20cm Round Mini Speedlight Flash Softbox Diffuser for Canon Nikon Vivitar Sunpak $9.97 |
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Flash Light Diffuser Softbox for Sony Canon Nikon DSLR $3.98 |
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flash soft box diffuser for speedlite Sunpak PZ42X PZ40X PZ30 Nikon Canon $17.99 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox Golden MQ-D11 for Nikon Flash Speedlite R1C1 $5.99 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox For Nikon SB24 SB25 SB26 SB28 DX $4.99 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox For Nikon SB-800 SB-600 $4.99 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox for canon nikon sigma minolta $4.99 |
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Flash Diffuser Soft Box For Nikon D300 D700 D5000 D300S $5.99 |
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Nikon SB 900/800 Flash Umbrella Soft Box Light Diffuser $61.35 |
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Flash Gun Diffuser Soft Box Fr Canon 600EX 580EX II 550EX 430EX Nikon SB-910 AF $6.75 |
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White Softbox Flash Bounce Diffuser Cap for Nikon Speedlight SB600 SB-600 SB 600 $1.97 |
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Soft Box Diffuser Fr Nikon SB-910 SB-900 SB-700 SB-800 Flash Gun Light Speedlite $3.55 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox for Nikon SB 600 SB600 SB-600 Flash White UK $5.44 |
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Nikon Canon Speedlite Flash Softbox Photo Studio Lights $42.90 |
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TWO 20×20″ LOCKABLE SHOE MOUNT SOFTBOX FOR POCKET WIZARD PLUS NIKON SPEEDLIGHT $94.95 |
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TWO 24×24″ LOCKABLE SHOE MOUNT SOFTBOX FOR POCKET WIZARD PLUS NIKON SPEEDLIGHT $109.99 |
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Flash Diffuser SoftBox Nikon,SB25,SB26,SB28,DX,SB50DX,SB80DX,SB800 SB900 D02 $3.78 |
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Universal Softbox Diffuser 17*15cm Fr Nikon Canon Sony Pentax Olympus Flash Unit $9.99 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser 30*20cm For Flashgun Nikon SB910 SB900 SB800 SB700 SB600 $12.99 |
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30×20cm Universal Flash Softbox/Diffuser ④Canon Nikon Nissin Metz Vivitar Sunpak $8.97 |
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Flash Softbox/Diffuser④Nikon Speedlight SB910/SB900/SB800/SB700/SB600/SB28/SB26 $9.49 |
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3 Color Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox MQ-D7 for Nikon Flash SB-800 $16.99 |
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Flash Diffuser SoftBox For Canon 550EX Nikon SB-800 $8.43 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser for Speedlite Canon 550EX 540EZ Nikon SB900 SB800 Olympus $49.99 |
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Universal Flash Softbox/Diffuser for Flashgun Sony F58AM Nikon SB800 Canon 580EX $3.00 |
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Universal Foldable Snoot Flash Beam Cloth Softbox Diffuser MQ-B9 fr Canon Nikon $15.99 |
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Universal Studio Soft Box Flash Diffuser MQ-B1A Fr Canon, Nikon,Sigma,Off-Camera $5.99 |
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32″Reflective Flash Umbrella Softbox Diffuser f Canon Nikon Pentax&Studio Strobe $39.96 |
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32″ Flash Reflective Umbrella Softbox Diffuser fr Canon Nikon Metz&Studio Strobe $39.96 |
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Flash Bounce Diffuser Cap Box softbox for Nikon SB-400 SB400 Flash speedlight $9.99 |
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3 Color Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox MQ-D6 for Nikon Flash SB-400 $15.99 |
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Universal Studio Soft Box Flash Diffuser MQ-B5 Fr Canon, Nikon,Sigma,Off-Camera $7.99 |
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3 Color Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox MQ-D8 for Nikon Flash SB-900 $16.99 |
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3KV Bounce Flash Diffuser Dome Soft Box For NIKON SB900 $1.00 |
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Softbox Flash Bounce Diffuser For Nikon SB800 SB-800 Blue camera YN467 yn465 $0.99 |
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Softbox Flash Bounce Diffuser For Nikon SB800 SB-800 white camera YN468|| $0.99 |
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Softbox Flash Bounce Diffuser For Nikon SB800 SB-800 Yellow camera YN468|| yn460 $0.99 |
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Camera Flash Diffuser Softbox for Nikon SB-800 SB-600 SB-80DX SB28 SB26 SB25 $2.49 |
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Flash Reflector Soft Box/Diffuser for Nikon SB700/SB600 $11.99 |
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New Lambency Pop-up Universal Flash Diffuser Softbox Cover MQB3 for Canon Nikon $6.99 |
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2pcs x Flash Bounce Diffuser Softbox for Nikon SB600 SB800 YongNuo YN-460 460 II $1.59 |
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32R Bounce Flash Diffuser Soft Box For Nikon SB800 $1.00 |
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A32Q Bounce Flash Diffuser Soft Box For Nikon SB 600 $1.00 |
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Flash Diffuser / Softbox for canon nikon sigma minolta $7.99 |
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Flash Diffuser / Softbox for nikon SB600 SB800 SB900 $7.99 |
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Flash Gun Diffuser Soft Box Fr Canon 600EX 580EX II 550EX 430EX Nikon SB-910 AF $6.75 |
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Soft Box Diffuser Fr Nikon SB-910 SB-900 SB-700 SB-800 Flash Gun Light Speedlite $3.55 |
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Softbox Flash Diffuser Fr Nikon SB-900 SB-800 AF YongNuo YN-565EX YN-560 YN-460 $6.75 |
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Softbox Flash Gun Diffuser Fr Canon Nikon YN-565EX YN-467 II YN-468 II SB-910 AF $8.45 |
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Cowboystudio metal speedlite softbox bracket with hot shoe mount for Nikon Canon $32.00 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox for Nikon SB 600 SB600 SB-600 Flash White UK $5.44 |
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Foldable Flash Diffuser Soft Box For Canon Nikon Sigma Minolta New $103.56 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser for Nikon SB-600,900,400,800,28 $45.95 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser for Nikon D3000,D5000,D90,D40,DX $45.95 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser for Nikon D200,D100,D3s,D3x $45.95 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser for Nikon D70s,D50,D700,D300,D2x $45.95 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser for Nikon D60,D80,D70,D40x,D300s $45.95 |
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LumiQuest Soft Box Flash Diffuser For Canon Nikon Flash $37.50 |
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Nikon Canon Speedlite Flash Softbox Photo Studio Lights $39.00 |
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Universal Flash Bounce Diffuser Softbox for Canon Nikon $103.19 |
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Flash Softbox/Diffuser for Nikon Speedlight SB900/SB800/SB700/SB600/SB28/SB28DX $3.70 |
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iShoot Universal Flash Softbox/Diffuser for Canon Nikon Sigma Sunpak@COST $3.00 $3.00 |
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Camera Flash Diffuser Softbox For DSLR Camera Nikon SB800 CANON 580EX Flashgun $2.75 |
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Foldable Reflector/Snoot Reflective Flash Diffuser Softbox④Canon Nikon Speedlite $16.99 |
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Universal Foldable Softbox Flash Diffuser for Canon Nikon Sony Sigma Off-Camera $8.30 |
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60cm 24″ Soft Box Kit Softbox for Flash Speedlite Canon 5D Mark II III 7D Nikon $53.79 |
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Flash Diffuser Softbox for Nikon SB-600 SB-700 SB-800 SB-900 SB-28 SB-80DX $3.98 |
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Universal Foldable Softbox Flash Diffuser for Nikon SB28 SB26 SB25 SB600 SB800 $12.25 |
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Flash Soft Box Diffuser f Nikon SB900 SB800 SB600 SB700 $22.00 |
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Flash Softbox Diffuser for Nikon SB800 SB900 SB600 New $22.00 |
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NIKON SB-26 STROBIST SPEEDLIGHT FLASH AS-15, SS-24, AURORA MINI MAX SOFTBOX LOT $186.50 |
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Universal Foldable Snoot Flash Beam Cloth Softbox Diffuser Tube for Canon Nikon $6.88 |
