Flash Diffuser - Lightsphere? - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

10/31/2005 03:11:15 PM · #1

What is the best flash diffuser? I like the results of the lightsphere ii but it looks kinda lame. Anyone with experience or opinions on this or the other options?

Thanks

faidoi

Pentax K10D

10/31/2005 03:15:36 PM · #2

Sto-Fen Omni bounce

jab119

Canon EOS-70D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/31/2005 03:15:45 PM · #3

some of the actual user reviews rate other diffusers better than the light sphere. Someone said Mike Wong (the light sphere guy, I think thats his name) is really good at selling and marketing his stuff, even though it does not work better than lower cost diffusers

James

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

10/31/2005 03:16:34 PM · #4

Originally posted by eslaydog:

What is the best flash diffuser? I like the results of the lightsphere ii but it looks kinda lame. Anyone with experience or opinions on this or the other options?

Thanks

Do you want to look cool or do you want your pics to look cool?

I can't help you with the former, for that you need a stylist or something.

For the latter, you need a lightsphere II. You can probably cobble something together with a CoolWhip bowl and some duct tape, but unless you're Red Green, it will look even more lame.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

10/31/2005 03:16:36 PM · #5

Pringles cap :P

DanSig

10/31/2005 03:16:59 PM · #6

Originally posted by jab119:

actually his name is Gary Fong, and the Lightsphere works even better than shown in his video.

Message edited by author 2005-10-31 15:18:48.

TroyMosley

10/31/2005 03:17:07 PM · #7

yeah, i think the sto fen looks great???

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

10/31/2005 03:27:23 PM · #8

Originally posted by DanSig:

I have the lightsphere and stofen, and even though the lightspere looks lame, then I just look lame and produce high quality prints, better than to look cool and produce lousy prints ;)

the lightsphere has saved me on more than one occation where I didn't have extra lights, the soft light without all shadows is great, the stofen dosn't even come close ;)

Originally posted by jab119:
some of the actual user reviews rate other diffusers better than the light sphere. Someone said Mike Wong (the light sphere guy, I think thats his name) is really good at selling and marketing his stuff, even though it does not work better than lower cost diffusers

James

actually his name is Gary Fong, and the Lightsphere works even better than shown in his video.

It sells because it WORKS.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

10/31/2005 03:27:32 PM · #9

The lightsphere works VERY nicely. Outdoor portraits are awesome without having softboxes. I noticed that it warms the shot up a few degrees though. Best to shoot RAW and adjust appropriately afterwards, I usually went from 5600 to 5400K. Despite what Gary says about no flash bracket needed, I still used one and results looked better with the bracket.

10/31/2005 03:29:47 PM · #10

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by eslaydog:
What is the best flash diffuser? I like the results of the lightsphere ii but it looks kinda lame. Anyone with experience or opinions on this or the other options?

Thanks

Do you want to look cool or do you want your pics to look cool?

I can't help you with the former, for that you need a stylist or something.

For the latter, you need a lightsphere II. You can probably cobble something together with a CoolWhip bowl and some duct tape, but unless you're Red Green, it will look even more lame.

Spaz,

Thanks for your humor. When I photograph weddings, I like to remain inconspicuous. So, if there were an option that worked well and didn't look lame, I would certainly choose it over one worked well and did look lame.

10/31/2005 04:28:13 PM · #11

Are there any other options besides the Sto-Fen and the Lightsphere?

10/31/2005 04:32:45 PM · #12

I have the Sto-Fen, the LumiQuest ProMax, two LightSphere II's and one LightSphere PJ. Of all these devices I'll flat give you the Sto-Fen if you want to pay the shipping. I guess it was great technology before the advent of E-TTL/E-TTL II and stronger flashes but nowadays you can fire a 550EX or 580EX or another flash (Sigma DG maybe) and reap the benefit of more even dispersal of light. Perhaps someone who has years of trial & error experience using cool whip lids, tissue paper or God-only-knows-what to diffuse a flash can play MacGyver and make something that works as well as a product that you can buy for $39.95 but I can tell ya that if you want a small learning curve and well-exposed photos - pay a little more for a tool that's easier to use.

Let me know if you wanna try the Sto-Fen and we'll work out the shipping charges and you can have the silly thing.

Kev

10/31/2005 04:46:59 PM · #13

Kevin,

Thanks for your help. I own a Sto-fen already. Which of the others that you own is the best? I just upgraded my 550ex to 580ex so I'm in tha market and I'm looking for some advice on what to buy.

Thanks

TroyMosley

10/31/2005 04:56:04 PM · #14

Yeah that 580 EX is a great flash, i use it all the time, workes great,

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

10/31/2005 05:02:01 PM · #15

I use a Sto-Fen diffuser on my Sigma 500 DG ST with mixed results thats why I have just bouhgh a Sigma reflector, which is basically a piece of plastic that fits on the flash with velcro. It does what it says it reflects the light not a diffuser but initial tests seem pretty good.

Message edited by author 2005-10-31 17:09:25.

DanSig

10/31/2005 06:10:10 PM · #16

[quote=MikeOwens] It does what it says it reflects the light not a diffuser but initial tests seem pretty good.

I can't say it's good.. you got a really harsh black shadow behind her..

here´s one of my shots with the Gary Fong's Lightsphere, the only post process is crop, resize and save for web.

10/31/2005 11:35:38 PM · #17

Eric,

I do 2 things depending on the setting we're in, the effect I want and the camera I'm using.

With the 1Ds I generally use the LSII on the 550EX and point it straight up if we're indoors. Outdoors or in a setting where the ceiling is over about 10' high I may aim the LSII-diffused flash straight at the subject(s). I never angle the flash between straight up and straight on the subject as I don't like the effects that gives.
With the 20D I find that its much more forgiving (thanks Canon). Here's a secret if you promise to not share it with anyone (I don't remember who I stole it from originally - maybe Fong's website). Put the 580EX on the 20D, mount the LS-PJ on the flash (yeah, that's the one that doesn't have a top to it and it has soft sides). Aim the flash right at the subject. The kicker is to pull the 580's diffuser panel down over the flashhead so that when the flash is emitted it diffuses instantly and then has to jump through the LS-PJ. This gives you a nice, fairly strong flash on the subject that you're aimed towards but it also helps light up the scene around them as long as you're not too far away from them. I use this at weddings, modeling session and even with my daughter when we're shooting family shots. It really keeps you from having any harsh shadows.
An important caveat regarding this, though, is that when you diffuse that flash the camera will pick up on how dim its light is via the pre-flash evaluation that the camera & flash perform. That means it'll juice up the flash to produce what it thinks is an acceptable exposure based on the settings you've dialed in. You may find that this is power intensive. For weddings we shoot with Quantum Turbo 2x2's for each flash unit but this allows us to modify these flashes and still achieve 500-600 flashes apiece with no sweat.

For some modeling work outdoors I like to shoot either with reflectors (not conducive as a solution for a wedding since you'll be blinding the participants as you get your reflector set - it is handy for posed shots though). In this case, I like to use the LumiQuest ProMax 80/20 with the silver insert. It'll put a slightly harder light on the subject but I'm willing to live with the tradeoffs for the catchlights.

If I was trying to make a little cash on the side (hey, that sounds exactly like what I'm doing), then I'd invest in the LS-PJ if I thought I'd be indoors or if I thought I could power it for the duration of my shoot. If I was concerned about power I'd stick to the LSII.

That's just my $0.02

Good luck with the upcoming work,

Kev

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

10/31/2005 11:36:26 PM · #18

EDIT: - Oops. Guess it really did post the first time.

:)

Message edited by author 2005-10-31 23:37:08.

Cutter

Nikon D700

10/31/2005 11:42:48 PM · #19

nice comments kevinriggs, appreciated....

zerocusa

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/31/2005 11:46:16 PM · #20

11/01/2005 12:29:10 AM · #21

Originally posted by KevinRiggs:

Kevin,

I truly appreciate the time you've taken to give me some tips. I have a Quantum Turbo, so, if I read your post right, you are suggesting the LSII since I have enough juice to keep it going. Is that right?

Thanks again,
Eric

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/01/2005 01:00:54 AM · #22

I'm not positive what you're planning to do with it but given the equipment you have listed and what it sounds like you'll be wanting it for I think it would be a safe bet to say that you can probably drive some light through the built-in diffuser on the 580EX for many shots. Given that, I'd give some serious thought to the LS PJ (the floppy one without the top). Honestly, either will work fine for you and after you tear off and shoot a couple of things that make you some $$$ you can choose to try the other equipment and see if you like it better.

Kev

roadrunner

Canon EOS-20D

11/01/2005 06:24:29 AM · #23

didn't get a chance to read the other comments. but i personally just bought the gary fongs' light diffuser and absolutely love it, if you want photos to comapare pm me, ill share then... .

Message edited by author 2005-11-01 17:37:42.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II