AK Macro Photography Diffuser Review 

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My AK Diffuser is arriving today, I can't wait to test it out... Till now I used the cheap "Dörr" Diffuser with works alright but is not very stable, get's in the way often and because it flapping about, it scares the insects away pretty fast. Thanks for the review.

I chose the AK diffuser since I liked the brightness of the photos you get while using it seemed to pop more. I just got it last week and I've been able to use it with impressive results. It works with my Canon 600EX-RT flash so I didn't have to purchase another dedicated for macro. I'm using a Canon 100 f2.8 Macro & a Raynox DCR-250 on a Canon R5. The AK Diffuser seems well made, easy to snap together. I only had to purchase the Battery for the light extra, they make recommendations on what to purchase.

I just got the AK last week. I haven't had a chance to use except in the house with test shots of shiny objects. The diffusion is great and think it will work out well for me.

I also ordered it last week. I can not wait to finally photograph with it 😁

7:40 I jumped out of my seat man! 🤣🤣🤣

I do 80% of my macro at night which is where a focussing light comes in. I use a similar diffuser and wouldn’t be without it.

Looks like real solid equipment!

Always in the right time .. Thanks for the nice Vid.

I have the same diffuser for my Nikon D850 but between you and me I still prefer the simple diffuser you use on the camera lens. Simplicity is divinity.

Amazing 🤩 wow excellent picture. Excellent photographer. Ak diffuser excellent 😊

The video is well done. I will plan on ordering one of these along with every other diffuser you have reviewed! The quality of these shots might make this THE one! The Crafty Bell has worked well. The POPE shield is ordered, but not yet delivered. What the heck, what is one more in the quest for the perfect diffuser!

Another amazing review, and so happy to see the product of my friend Zamir. I use this diffuser after I started in macro and helped me a lot not only to understand light but to capture insects at low light ( really early in the AM - 4 AM in the Everglades ) I just remove it from the camera and I never take it apart for storage or anything as Nicola states in the comments, in my case there is no need, in cases I even use the Velcro to attached into the backpack. Awesome review ! Thanks !

Great work as always, Micael! The images looked well diffused with beautiful light on your subjects. You have beautiful stink bugs in your area. The ones here in Tennessee are basically all brown with slightly red eyes. I wonder if you have or will ever try a "Crafty Bells" diffuser. They are based in Australia. They have an entire reflector system that is cheaper than this AK system you tried here. I just use the bonnet diffuser part of their system because it's less cumbersome. But their full system seems less cumbersome than this AK system. Thanks for another interesting video! Oh, Next month my jar will be 2 years old. I wonder how things are going in your jar.

Hey thank you for the video this is super rad 🎉

I'd actually been considering this one over the pope shield because there is no "option" for a roof. The design itself has a roof built into it period. I'd already seen amazing results on their IG page. Also, I loved the fact that the little "plate" you put under it to give the subject light from below as well can be clipped onto the roof when not in use to be out of the way & at the same time be available for when you do wanna use it. Another huge plus is the built in focus light, which is absolute genius and something I always wondered why nobody did, as I many times do take pictures in low light situations (including at pitch black night lol). I don't care if it's $100+ since it's custom made to your specific setup and very high quality, unlike the pope shield where you gotta hack and saw and make your own solution to mount it if it doesn't fit right from the factory (which seems to be pretty common). That and the fact that the roof is not separate. Dunno, AK Diffuser just seems better in all aspects all around, and you can easily just take it off and leave it on a desk or whatever if you're not gonna be doing flash macro-photography, but can quickly snap it on if you do. The focus LED thing is great as well since it's separate from your speedlite and won't detract from its intensity or recycle time, and a small powerbank will be light enough yet energy dense enough to make it run for a very long time. Was thinking of first buying my 2x Laowa lens of choice and then getting the AK Diffuser for it, and if I still wanna keep my 105mm Sigma art 1:1 macro after that, I'll get the pope shield for it if the AK diffuser doesn't work on that setup. Excellent images btw, I think the diffusion here looks even better than the pope shield. You have more coverage that's more even while at the same time looking softer, as some of the images you took with the pope shield last time looked like the highlights were right on the edge of blowing out certain areas.

Our whole macro group have been using the same shape diffuser for years. We just do DIY ourselves. Do not know making such thing can make so much money.

I just received mine, for the same flash and the 85mm Laowa lens. It’s so tiny! I already have one for the Nikon z 105mm, and that diffuser is a monster. I wonder how much the small ones are really customised though, considering mine was shipped only a day after ordering. I think for smaller set ups his new ‘mini’ diffuser just fits! You really ought to use the light though - so much help, and a small usb battery stuck to the diffuser weighs nothing. Also, looking at how it fits to the flash, I think I can used a modified Speedlight for fluerescent UV photography, with the necessary 62mm filters taped to the front of the flash (after removing the plastic gubbins).

Fint! Ha en trevlig helg!

Hi! Good video as always! The diffuser seems to be really good quality and really make the work easier... but it's a little bit pricy ... 100 dollars it's too much for me! But the construction worth it!

Aw man, I got the MK Diffuser a while back and it was $130 and it looks nearly identical to this. It has been great though so I can't complain. I only wished it was a bit smaller. I have recently been looking at CygnusTechs. I would definitely watch more diffuser reviews. Thanks!

best Diffuser. i have one DIY just used Polyfoam 5mm for diff...how about AK Diff, do know what material they used? ; a white part (diffuser)? thankyou sir

The diffuser looks good for macro photography. I wonder if it would be good even for portrait or event photography say with a 35 or 50mm lens. It looks like it would be better than a simple bounce card and more consistent than bouncing off the ceiling.

Think it's too expensive. Well made. Great images.

Woa! Now your photos are really good! Shucks am I gonna have to get a diffuser now? How long does it take to get used to using one?

Thanks!

It is a nice diffuser, but for me it is bulky and it is not easy to put in your backpack, assembling and disassembling takes too much time.

Thanks for another great video. Will this diffuser work well with Laowa 90mm ?

just got one based on your videos. haven't tested it out though yet.

Jump scared by the fallen camera ahah

Hi Michael, thanks a lot for your video. For studio macro, have you ever tried a studio flash with a white or translucent umbrella? If yes, what results did you get? Thanks.

Thank you for another great video. I'm still very much in the learning phase. Can you explain for me the benefits of the black shroud? Is it just to contain the light so a less powerful flash is required? Does that allow for less harsh light on the insect?

Thanks for this review. Question - are you able to operate the focus and aperture rings on the laowa lens easily with this diffuser mounted?

I was going to ask in your recent videos using the Popeshield why you used ISO 200, but I think it is answered here as the AK, with it's reflectors requires less flash power. Hopefully the next diffuser review will be the Crafty Bell as I think you will then have covered the top 3 commercial solutions. Insects (especially flying ones) seem to be very much in decline this year in the UK. Have you experienced this?

A few years ago, I invested in a Nikon 105mm 2.8 macro lens. I believe it is capable of 1:1. You mentioned 2x was what you were achieving. So, could you explain how you achieve this and how you know what the actual magnification was on a given picture? So far, I’ve not worried about it, so long as I like the result. Oh, is 2x written 2:1 or 1:2 ?

Great video, Micael. Have you used this diffuser with the Laowa 25mm and if so, how was the experience?

I'm inspired to make something like that from cheap household stuff like white paper cardboard etc.

💥 Thanks for the nice review. 3:12 why don’t I see the front of the flash showing inside.? Just the lens.

Would you disassemble the diffuser flat to transport it to the field, or would you just keep it assembled?

hey micael, can you help me with finding a compatible flash for my fujifilm x-t4? i cant find any information/ flash for it. only the "original" one from fujifilm for 400 dollars. do you maybe know one that fits?

Which lens are you using with it? Looks very compact.

Wich camera sir.... super rrrrrrrrrrrr b micro photography... krishna from india... Hyderabad....iam also big fan yours photography

How is this with extension tubes ?

I'm thinking of getting this diffuser. I use both the Laowa 25 and Laowa 85. Would I need to purchase two diffusers to cover both?

Yeesh, photography is not for the poors 😅 I'll stick to my $14 cloth one from B&H for now lol. Looks like a cut up Foldio, kind of neat though.

I guess yo mean live view.

Ridiculous that field was chopped down for no reason, I hope you complained to the council.

Looks like a missing piece from a BDSM costume.

I am looking at the cygnustech diffuser that is very similar to this one but only available via instgram. Not confident to try that way yet but i would like to try one of these two