Homemade Snoots For Canon 580EX II Speedlight Flash

I recently invented a simple and low cost do-it-yourself (DIY) snoot made from a 3 x 24″ mailing tube, tennis ball can caps/lids and black matte spray paint. Before this I had been experimenting with a soda/beer can koozie (pictured below) and realized that the mailing tubes I was using for another project fit perfectly over the head of my Canon Speedlight 580 EX II hot shoe flash. The great thing about the mailing tubes were that they were inexpensive, attached firmly to the flash without slipping or scratching the flash and the material was light. Another great thing about using mailing tubes is that it comes with two end caps that work great as a flash diffusers. I also noticed that the same company that makes these tubes also makes them with red end caps.

After experimenting with the first prototype I realized that I could cut the top of some tennis ball can lids to make some great little colored flash gels seen above. This way I could is it as a snoot, diffuser or colored gels. When I use it as a diffuser I point the head directly at the subject and turn the power up or down manually on the flash.

I cut the paper mailing tube with a hack saw to 3 1/2″ long (this size can vary), then used a stone grinder and some 220 grit sand paper to smooth out the edges. I then painted the inside and out with matte black spray paint. Once the paint dried, I decided that I would wrap the outside with photo tape for further protection.

All three colors, green, red and blue are shown here outside the lid. When the colored gel discs aren’t being used they can be staked up and stored in the end of the cap.

The image above was created by using my 5D with the homemade snoot described below. I had the red cap attached to the end of the snoot to create this image of party guests dancing at an event at Cielo Club, San Diego.

Green end cap attached to the end of snoot to create this portrait of Adam. 50mm f/1.4 lens with flash turned down to 1/64 power.

When I use the snoot I normally point it directly at the subject (the head at 90 degrees) and set the flash to “manual” and turn the power down (1/128 – 1/32). Of course is also all depends on the ambient light (if any) and the distance from you to your subject. When I want the light focused off centered or coming the side, I experimented using the snoot with off camera radio triggered flash slaves (I use pocket wizards). I also found it very useful when I shooting in low light with fast lenses (f/1.2 – 1.8) that usually have a hard time autofocusing in the dark.

The image above was a down and dirty test shot in the evening of my daughter Nikki in her bathrobe. Made with a Canon EOS 5D camera body, 50mm f/1.4 Canon Lens and and the white end cap attached to the end of the snoot. Flash set to manual at 1/128th power.

This is another snoot I made out of a soda/beer can koozie. I drilled a 1″ hole that the end of the koozie with a 25mm drill bit using a power drill. I then painted a 3/4″ irrigation pipe joint and stuck it on the end to help focus the light even more.

Homemade soda/beer koozie seen alone before being attached to flash head. You can see how I painted the outside of the white PVC pipe with black spray paint, but left the interior white.

This is a test shot that a friend my mine took of me (Chris Keeney) using the soda/beer can koozie snoot, my Canon 5D and a 50mm f/1.4 lens. The power on the flash power was turned down to about 1/64 power shooting the lens wide open.

I also experimented with changing the white balance in the camera, which also created some unique and interesting results. Since I’m still testing out this snoot, I’ll add photos to this post when I have new images to share, so check back later if you’re interested.

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All images copyright Chris Keeney Photography