Can Diffusion Socks Replace Diffusion AND Gels For Micro Budget Filmmakers? | Cinematography

What are DIFFUSION SOCKS? These low-budget lighting tools create an interesting effect – but don’t quite surpass current gel or diffusion options – watch the video to see tests and examples

Diffusion socks’ #1 issue is that the light does not travel through it consistently across the entire surface. This creates a hotspot in the center where the color has less saturation and a vignette around the edges where the saturation is better rendered. With this issue, the exposure a few inches off of center, when tested at 1 meter, can easily lose half a stop. It is a significant problem to overcome.

The white one works well enough as a diffuser and is probably the one I will get the most use out of when combating the reflector’s multiple-shadow effect. With better options for diffusion like actual softboxes or diffusion frames that can get your light source to be a lot bigger, and actual gels that color consistently across the entire surface, I just don’t see that the colored diffusion socks have a significant place in my kit at this time.

To see examples and side-by-side comparisons, please take a look at the video above.

Note: This video is not sponsored or supported by the equipment being discussed.

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