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08/28/2005 09:13:48 PM · #1 |
Has anyone used the lightsphere flash diffuser sold by Gary Fong Photography? The website seems very convinving, but I was wondering if anyone had a "real world" testimonial (good or bad) or actual results to share?
Lightsphere
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08/28/2005 09:24:05 PM · #2 |
| I know someone who has one of those or at least something similar, but he is not a member/registered user here. if I can get his opinion on the one he uses I will post here. |
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08/28/2005 10:07:34 PM · #3 |
| thanks, that would be great |
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08/28/2005 10:14:35 PM · #4 |
I have one. In my limited experience with it I've been happy so far. It softens the light nicely, but still leaves some shadows when used with the camera in a portrait orientation (it doesn't fall directly above the lens in that situation). In that sense it doesn't fully replace a flash bracket.
I've gotten a lot of good exposures (and a lot of funny looks) using it though. I'd recommend it. One thing I find annoying is its a pain to carry around (I don't trust the hot shoe on my camera to leave the flash there when I'm walking around and the lightsphere doesn't fit in my bag).
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08/28/2005 10:16:12 PM · #5 |
| it does have that "tupperware" look and seems like it would be awkward to carry, but I think I'm going to give it a try. |
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08/28/2005 10:18:26 PM · #6 |
I work for my school newspaper and brought it in with me today. I had to endure comments like "it looks like a toilet bowl" and "nice, you can drink out of it" and the general "what the *%$! is that?" but in the end, its the results that matter.
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08/28/2005 10:50:17 PM · #7 |
I use one for much of my indoor and outdoor flash work. It is a great improvement over bare flash. I've not ever used a flash bracket, so I can't compare. I even use it on the flash when I'm using it as a slave.
I'm able to keep the sphere in my camera case by carefully cradling it. I always get questions about it. I've also seen them used by other wedding photographer around. Feel free to take a look in my portfolio. The shots in the Selected Wedding folder includes some done with the sphere. |
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08/28/2005 10:57:21 PM · #8 |
| Yep, I agree. It's funny looking and you will get asked, "What the heck is that?" everytime you use it. It does a nice job, though. I used it today for outdoor shots in the shade. |
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08/28/2005 10:57:47 PM · #9 |
I liked it so much I bought one for my 2nd shooter. Its worth every penny. For weddings I use one on a 550EX and one on a 580EX flash. I've yet to read anyone's response who has used on in a setting where they were getting paid to produce who doesn't love the results. Fair warning, you need a flash bracket, though, or you can still produce some shadows. I use a Newton Di400CR flash bracket for my camera and my 2nd shooter uses a Stroboframe Pro-T.
I posted a funny shot that my 2nd shooter captured at a wedding last month.
Kev
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08/29/2005 07:29:07 AM · #10 |
thanks for all the info, I'm definitely going to give it a try.
nick |
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08/29/2005 09:34:19 AM · #11 |
Pro's: It works nicely, reducing shadows but also reducing hard reflections of the flash. It's essentially, the same effect a lampshade has on a light bulb.
Con's: Well, when mount on top of the 580EX it looks quite phallic. I imagine if you were to walk into a sority to do a model shoot they'd be all over it.... :|
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08/29/2005 10:15:11 AM · #12 |
You can make these on your own for a lot cheaper with a little bit of handy work.
I'm also wondering how much of a light loss you experience with one of these. |
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08/29/2005 10:32:25 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by theSaj:
Pro's: It works nicely, reducing shadows but also reducing hard reflections of the flash. It's essentially, the same effect a lampshade has on a light bulb.
Con's: Well, when mount on top of the 580EX it looks quite phallic. I imagine if you were to walk into a sority to do a model shoot they'd be all over it.... :| |
<---did you say the models all over you would be a con? Seems like a pro to me. ;)
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08/29/2005 10:36:55 AM · #14 |
It works very well. There is a new 'soft plastic' version coming later this year.
It does not mimic a lampshade - it mimics an open bulb flash like a lumedyne or quantum. Very similar light quality.
It reduces the need for a flash bracket, but a bracket still is better with the LS.
It does get comments...popcorn bowl, rain gauge, candy dish, You will not move about unnoticed with it.
Not sure how much light you lose with it, but the amount of light has not been an issue for me with my Metz54 and LS.
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08/29/2005 11:24:13 AM · #15 |
| will it work for a Sigma 500 Super DG? |
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08/30/2005 07:29:28 AM · #16 |
There's a few versions of it out for different flashes. I don't think the SIGMA you mentioned is listed
I've used it (limited usage) with pleasing results. It is *HUGE* and you will get looks. I was comparison shopping that and the Lumiquest system and all the reviews leaned toward the LSII.
The new version is more latexy (flexible is the operative word here, not rigid plastic) and less opaque. Sort of looks like a clear glass but with ridges glass fan light dealio. According to Fong's blog it should be out soon. |
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08/30/2005 07:47:48 AM · #17 |
How about making your own for like $0.99? It takes 5 minutes to make.
Homemade ligtsphere
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08/30/2005 08:36:55 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by letenele:
How about making your own for like $0.99? It takes 5 minutes to make.
Homemade ligtsphere |
Well that looks easy, did you try it?
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08/30/2005 08:47:11 AM · #19 |
There's also the "redneck lightsphere" using the dome type method. Cost is more than the alcohol bottle version...more like $3.49. The link for it doesn't work anymore (error 404 when attempting to link to it) but the idea is to use Gladware type bowls, use two of them, hot glue them together at the rims and cut a hole for your flash to fit into the bottom of one of them.
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08/30/2005 09:42:29 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by letenele:
How about making your own for like $0.99? It takes 5 minutes to make.
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I have to try that.
Hmmm, how about a 1 gallon milk bottle to really soften the light/shadows? Might look kind of funny though if you showed up for a wedding shoot with a milk jug on your flash. :-) |
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08/30/2005 10:13:38 AM · #21 |
I haven't had the time to go buy the bottle yet... :) But I will in the next few days. I'm not spending $30 on something I can make myself for a dollar!
Also if the lightsphere doesn't fit, you can put it in a pot of boiling water for a few seconds and then shape it to fit the flash.
Originally posted by Ennil:
Originally posted by letenele:
How about making your own for like $0.99? It takes 5 minutes to make.
Homemade ligtsphere |
Well that looks easy, did you try it? |
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08/30/2005 10:26:56 AM · #22 |
I went to a wedding where the photographer was using a bottle of dish soap cut to fit the flash. And this guy did not come cheap either. He charged well over $4k for the shoot and the pictures came out great. I made a ghetto diffuser once with some notebook dividers made of white semi-translucent plastic. That worked pretty well.
That being said, the Light Sphere looks like a decent investment. I have a Stoffen Omnibounce so I need conclusive evidence to tell me the LS is that much better. I've only seen marginal evidence so far.
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