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08/03/2006 10:49:14 PM · #1 |
| Anyone have examples of shots from both of these Lightspheres? Or maybe just from the cloud? I've read the description of the difference on Gary's site but you'd think that a site selling photo equipment could provide actual photo examples. |
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08/03/2006 11:27:56 PM · #2 |
I have the cloudy, hard lightspere, I don't leave home without it, but it's a pain in the ass. I am thinking of buying the flexible one with I believe is the clear one.
I have no post processing software with me this summer, so all pix have been converted from raw into JPG and that all the editing until I get home. (I've taken 550 pictures in the last month and can't edit a one, it's killing me!)
I also don't have the dome with me this summer.
These pix were taken with the flash and lightsphere pointed straight up pointed to the open sky:
This pix was taken with the flash and lightsphere pointed straight up in an orangey hued-room:
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08/03/2006 11:45:01 PM · #3 |
God, I have to get myself a couple of Lightsphere's.
-Hideo |
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08/03/2006 11:51:01 PM · #4 |
| I dont have pic examples for you at the moment - but I have the clear one myself. If I find the lighting is still too harsh, I have placed wax paper along the inside of the lightsphere, and created a softer light like the cloudy one produces. Wax paper on the inside of the lightsphere is cheaper than buying the cloudy one in addition - not sure if it the results are conmparable though. |
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08/04/2006 11:52:22 AM · #5 |
Thanks Adrienne and Shutter! :)
Anyone else? |
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08/04/2006 12:57:13 PM · #6 |
i have the original one - cloud? THere was only one then...
I' tend to steer clear of the clear one as it doubt it diffuses as well.
Mine is hard and therefore large and often stays home. I've seen teh PJ version (soft and clear) - do they have a soft cloudy/opaque one? I might be tempted for that.
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08/04/2006 01:02:38 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
do they have a soft cloudy/opaque one? I might be tempted for that. |
Cloudy version |
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08/04/2006 01:03:49 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
do they have a soft cloudy/opaque one? I might be tempted for that. |
//store.garyfonginc.com/licl.html |
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08/04/2006 01:10:38 PM · #9 |
*** warning - Hopper opinion only ***
I've been more or less into photography for 10 years. So for 10 years I've tried to watch and learn how other people do things. More recently, in the past 3ish years, I've been to over 20 weddings.
I have never once seen any professional photographer using a lightsphere or anything even remotely similar. It's ridiculously expensive and completely unnecessary.
Maybe an omnibounce, but that's about it. I have seen countless occasions where the photographer will bounce off a ceiling, but slide the wide angle diffuse up half way so it sticks straight out of it's enclosure - this is done to direct some light forward.
Flash diffusers destroy the power of your flash because it has to compensate for the 2 stop loss of light.
I think diffusers are a good idea (sometimes), but those things are way too expensive and hog up way too much light.
(climbs down off soapbox) |
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08/04/2006 01:19:34 PM · #10 |
I know that for some 50 bucks is way too expensive ... But I have used the sphere (clear one) for events in theaters and other low light situations and I can say it makes a heck of a difference with shadows... I HATE 1) shadows and 2) what bounced flash does to eye sockets.
This thing rocks when used correctly !
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08/04/2006 01:21:04 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by hopper:
*** warning - Hopper opinion only ***
I've been more or less into photography for 10 years. So for 10 years I've tried to watch and learn how other people do things. More recently, in the past 3ish years, I've been to over 20 weddings.
I have never once seen any professional photographer using a lightsphere or anything even remotely similar. It's ridiculously expensive and completely unnecessary.
Maybe an omnibounce, but that's about it. I have seen countless occasions where the photographer will bounce off a ceiling, but slide the wide angle diffuse up half way so it sticks straight out of it's enclosure - this is done to direct some light forward.
Flash diffusers destroy the power of your flash because it has to compensate for the 2 stop loss of light.
I think diffusers are a good idea (sometimes), but those things are way too expensive and hog up way too much light.
(climbs down off soapbox) |
Well, I'm not a professional photographer. :) |
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08/04/2006 01:23:47 PM · #12 |
fair enough ... and i've never used one, so really - you shouldn't listen to me at all
:)
Originally posted by mk:
Originally posted by hopper:
*** warning - Hopper opinion only ***
I've been more or less into photography for 10 years. So for 10 years I've tried to watch and learn how other people do things. More recently, in the past 3ish years, I've been to over 20 weddings.
I have never once seen any professional photographer using a lightsphere or anything even remotely similar. It's ridiculously expensive and completely unnecessary.
Maybe an omnibounce, but that's about it. I have seen countless occasions where the photographer will bounce off a ceiling, but slide the wide angle diffuse up half way so it sticks straight out of it's enclosure - this is done to direct some light forward.
Flash diffusers destroy the power of your flash because it has to compensate for the 2 stop loss of light.
I think diffusers are a good idea (sometimes), but those things are way too expensive and hog up way too much light.
(climbs down off soapbox) |
Well, I'm not a professional photographer. :) |
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08/04/2006 02:24:02 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by nomad469:
I know that for some 50 bucks is way too expensive ... But I have used the sphere (clear one) for events in theaters and other low light situations and I can say it makes a heck of a difference with shadows... I HATE 1) shadows and 2) what bounced flash does to eye sockets.
This thing rocks when used correctly ! |
AMEN on hating shadows!!!
ironically, as i was reading this post, the UPS man just delivered my cloud lightsphere!!! i'm looking forward to using it!!!
just on my first few shots using it, there was NO shadow behind my subject :) |
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08/04/2006 02:32:41 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by irishempress:
just on my first few shots using it, there was NO shadow behind my subject :) |
Share! :) |
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08/04/2006 06:26:02 PM · #15 |
here are my test shots from a few minutes ago...please keep in mind i have a less than cooperative model :)
 DIRECT FLASH
 BOUNCED FLASH
 WITH CLOUD LIGHTSPHERE
 WITH CLOUD LIGHTSPHERE
I hope these give you a little bit of an idea of what the lightsphere does for the flash/lighting.
the DVD that comes with the sphere does an excellent job demonstrating how to use it and offers several useful examples.
i think it does as good a job as a bounce flash with the hood diffuser that came with our nikon sb-800. the only difference is that the color is a bit better (less yellow...more true to life).
i'm not sure how much i'll get to use it. my camera is already big and bulky with the vertical grip and the flash attached.
hope these help :) |
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03/02/2008 09:43:50 PM · #16 |
I shot about 20 weddings last year (2007) and have used a fair number of flash diffuser and bounce products. The Lightsphere II cloud is the only one in my bag now. The clear lightsphere doesn't diffuse enough, and still creates some hard shadows. The cloud is just right, I point it straight up, most often with no insert, and get terrific results. When I shoot large formal shots, like bride & groom + both families (20 people or so) I snap the chrome dome in for extra power, and it works like magic. The amber dome insert gets used a little bit when in really low yellow light to make white balance match. The white insert almost never gets used, maybe when there's a really high & dark ceiling but most wedding venues aren't like that.
Yes, the lightsphere is overpriced, but i've never paid so much for so little and had it work so well. It delivers the goods, well worth $50.
The Gary Fong wale tale is awful, it's more complicated to use and therefore doesn't get used at all. When shooting weddings, you don't have time to be playing with all those features on your flash. It doesn't diffuse as well as the L.S. in my opinion and it looks like a toilet.
Some photographers don't use any diffusion other than what's built into their flash unit, and their shots look like prison photos. Don't do that. You something on there to diffuse.
I've used some bounce products made by lumiquest, and they work OK, but are larger and more cumbersome, and create hard shadows unless you're really close to the subject.
Softboxes are too heavy and large for my taste, rob the flash of even more power than the lightsphere, and only work close up.
My advise, is to get a powerful flash like the sb800, use good batteries like powerex 2700s, and a lightsphere II cloud. Can't go wrong with that, it's hard to make it NOT work.
p.s. You can stay way from flash bars if you use the lightsphere. They just add a lot of weight and don't improve image quality.
//www.kevinnye.com |
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