Lightsphere by Gary Fong

[thebubblybeginner]

I am a newbie to all this and I just saw a pro using a flash diffuser at a wedding. I asked and they told me it was by Gary Fong. I checked the website and they look wonderful I'm curious to know if anyone out there is using any of his lightspheres (especially the collapsible one) and if so which one(s) and how do you like them.

If not, what do you use? Looking to really take this to another level. I hate hard light but sometimes just can't get away from needing to use the flash. I love the idea of a diffuser!

[acedrew]

Check these for much less expensive versions of the popular Cloudsphere. I have both of these, and use them quite a bit. work GREAT.

Amazon.com: RS-DF120 RPS FLEXIDOME FOR CANON 550EX/580EX/580EXII AND NISSIN 622 FLASHES: Electronics

Amazon.com: - Prolight Inverted Cloud Dome Flash Diffuser System for the Canon EOS 420EX 430EX 430EX II & Sony F36AM Flash Unit: Electronics

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers | Andrew Rodgers (acedrew) on Twitter | Login | Facebook

[inkista]

You need to understand what a Lightsphere/Omnibounce type light modifier actually does before spending your money on one. You also need to know that you could probably DIY one for a few bucks out of tupperwares. There are people who use old rubbing alcohol bottles with the top cut off instead of a Lightsphere. Or bubblewrap.

Modifiers this small do not soften the light in and of themselves. They simply scatter the light in all directions, so that the light will bounce off all the walls and that's what does the diffusion. You lose a LOT of the light/power this way, and if you're outside, or in a very large venue, you are essentially throwing your light away. And even if you have enough light to work with, it's still essentially coming from the on-camera axis. It's far more effective (and easier on your flash) to just learn to bounce directly or to get the light off-camera.

The biggest compromise/tradeoff you're making with getting a speedlight is that in exchange for the small size and portability, you don't have a lot of light/power at your command (vs. monoblock lights). You need to know how to preserve it. A tupperware modifier isn't one of the best methods for this.

[peeperita]

i received the "tupperware" version of the lightsphere last year for christmas and i am absolutely addicted to the soft shadows i get by using it.....there is a trade off on how hard your flash has to work, but i have yet to be hindered by it......

peeper

[thebubblybeginner]

Thanks guys, I will check all this out for sure! As far as a homemade one I'm kinda concerned that it might not look very professional.... have you had any problem with this or do people pretty much just ignore it?

Also, I forgot to ask in my original post about what type of flash people are using/prefer.... I am using my old Vivitar (told you I'm new) from my old film camera. I didn't even know that flashes now move around, lol! That's soooo cool!

[ddr]

hey inkista u seem to know quite about about flash photography. any tips on gels for my 430EXII? I'm trying not to use the lightsphere...

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by inkista

You need to understand what a Lightsphere/Omnibounce type light modifier actually does before spending your money on one. You also need to know that you could probably DIY one for a few bucks out of tupperwares. There are people who use old rubbing alcohol bottles with the top cut off instead of a Lightsphere. Or bubblewrap.

Modifiers this small do not soften the light in and of themselves. They simply scatter the light in all directions, so that the light will bounce off all the walls and that's what does the diffusion. You lose a LOT of the light/power this way, and if you're outside, or in a very large venue, you are essentially throwing your light away. And even if you have enough light to work with, it's still essentially coming from the on-camera axis. It's far more effective (and easier on your flash) to just learn to bounce directly or to get the light off-camera.

The biggest compromise/tradeoff you're making with getting a speedlight is that in exchange for the small size and portability, you don't have a lot of light/power at your command (vs. monoblock lights). You need to know how to preserve it. A tupperware modifier isn't one of the best methods for this.

Not to mention the ones I've seen are a good 12-24" high off the top of the camera, which makes it unwiedly

[Saralonde]

I have one, too. There always seems to be a love 'em/hate 'em aspect to them. I'm kind of in the middle. I find they work best when I need a little fill flash, but have no where to bounce.

I think they are a little pricey for the amount of time I use it.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by thebubblybeginner

I'm curious to know if anyone out there is using any of his lightspheres (especially the collapsible one) and if so which one(s) and how do you like them.

One each (original ones) for Nikon and Canon flashes. Have been using them for couple of years.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by thebubblybeginner

As far as a homemade one I'm kinda concerned that it might not look very professional.... have you had any problem with this or do people pretty much just ignore it?

I'm a hobbyist and a geek. I honestly don't care if I look professional or not. If that's your concern, then skip the DIY route. Personally, what I've found is that as soon as you're pointing a dSLR with a speedlight on it at someone, you're already pretty intimidating to the average subject who isn't used to being photographed.

Also, I forgot to ask in my original post about what type of flash people are using/prefer.... I am using my old Vivitar (told you I'm new) from my old film camera. I didn't even know that flashes now move around, lol! That's soooo cool!

Ummmm.... did you check that the trigger voltage on your old Vivitar won't fry your camera's hotshoe? It's not likely that it will, but it's good to check. Don't be alarmed at what that webpage reads. The 6V limit was only for the first generation of dSLRs. All the current Canon models (according to Chuck Westfall) and Nikon dSLRs (according to their manuals) have a trigger voltage limit of 250V.

I'm using an ST-E2, 580EX, 430EX, and SB-26. I use the ST-E2 for off-camera triggering. I use the 580EX mainly for on-camera work (the 360° swivel, extra power, and eTTL makes it my bounce flash), and as my key light for off-camera. I tend to use the 430EX as my fill light for off-camera. The SB-26 gets put into use as a hair or accent light.

Originally Posted by ddr

hey inkista u seem to know quite about about flash photography.

Be warned. Most of my knowledge is theoretical from reading too many lighting blogs.

any tips on gels for my 430EXII?

Try to make sure there's some separation between the gel and the flash head. It is easy to melt a gel or to fuse it to the flash head from the heat of repeated bursts. And the Strobist pack from Rosco seems like a good way to start, now that the free sampler packs are a thing of the past.