Which Diffuser?

LiquidOps · January 9, 2006

Currently shooting with a Sony 717 and Sunpak 383...

I need some sort of diffuser...

Which do you recommend?

I'm looking at 2 in particular, but am totally open to anything else.

Gary Fong's
http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=4684316&showprevnext=1

or

Sto-Fen
http://www.stofen.com/Store/Products.htm

Thank you for all your feedback,

Steven

DavidTO · January 9, 2006

Fongs is much better, IMO. I don't have the current model, but the lightsphere II, I had the stofen, too.

I love the lightsphere. Well, I love the results with it. The new one, I don't know...

LiquidOps · January 9, 2006

DavidTO wrote:

Fongs is much better, IMO. I don't have the current model, but the lightsphere II, I had the stofen, too.

I love the lightsphere. Well, I love the results with it. The new one, I don't know...

you say you don't know about the new one... is that because you haven't tried it... or because you are skepticle of it for some reason?

Thanks,

Steven

DavidTO · January 9, 2006

LiquidOps wrote:

you say you don't know about the new one... is that because you haven't tried it... or because you are skepticle of it for some reason?

Thanks,

Steven

Haven't tried it, but I would definitely order the dome part of it...

spider-t · January 9, 2006

I have the new lightsphere..

DavidTO wrote:

Haven't tried it, but I would definitely order the dome part of it...

I love the quality of the light this LS II PJ creates. It's really my favorite diffuser.

But I find it difficult to use because I blow through batteries so fast that I miss shots. After a short while, my SB800 can't recharge fast enough and they all end up with dark images. I carry pockets full of rechargable batteries. None of the other diffusers I've tried (softbox, sb800 diffuser simmilar to omnibounce, built in bounce card) has me running through batteries that way.

Must be the amount of light required with I'm shooting straight up is a lot more than any diffuser pointed at my subjects. Most of my flash shooting is in places with very high ceilings.

I'm still trying to figure out the whole flash thing myself. Each event I shoot I try a different diffuser and flash position. Next event I'm thinking I'll try a bracket with maybe a softbox.

photos with lightspere PJ:

(and yes, I do know I went a little too shallow on the depth of field of these photos.)

cheers!
Trish

Jnichols · January 9, 2006

I just got the LSIIPJ the other day and I'm just practicing at this point but I am VERY pleased. I haven't uploaded my test shots yet so I can't show you the pics but it really works beautifully.

Nikolai · January 9, 2006

Diffusers
I've seen LS in action on David's camera and I confirm it's a nice piece. My primary grudge with it (apart from the price:-) is its bulkiness when transporting..

In case of a "regular" ceiling (up to 10 ft) a little sto-fen omni-bouncer does a wonderful job, and while in transport mode can be easily left on the flash or consume very little space in the case/backpack.

When ceiling is very high or not available I'm currently using lumiquest mini-softbox (which I purchased here at dgrin at a great price:-). Unlike LS/OB it does not deflect the light aside, saving it for the primary target.

Earlier (until Aug 2005) I used LumiQuest ProMax 20-80 system. Its biggest disadvantage was that it required the flash to be in "up" position, thus consuming a lot of juice, and, in case of Sony (505/7x7/828 + HVL 1000/F32X) not allowing more smart and efficient A-mode.

More later..

HTH

jkelly25 · January 9, 2006

I use the stofen omnibounce on my 340ex with my 20d and previously with an Elan IIE. It has worked well for me in different situations. I have used it to shoot pictures of my son's high school plays during dress reheasal and have gotten good results. In those cases I used it pointed straight ahead, not angled toward the ceiling as the ceiling was black and full of stage lights, etc.

When used indoors and angled up, it gives a nice shadow free lighting. I always shoot flash on automatic, as I never took the time to try and figure out how to do it manually. The camera does a good job with the omnibounce.

I don't have any experience with the other types.

Joe

Andy · January 9, 2006

Nikolai wrote:

More later..

HTH

We're counting on that! This would make a great Tutorial!

LiquidOps · January 9, 2006

Andy wrote:

We're counting on that! This would make a great Tutorial!

I wouldn't mind hearing your opinion and thoughts as well Andy....

Thanks,

Steven

docwalker · January 9, 2006

My inverted dome for the LSIIPJ arrived today. I have not had a chance to try it out. I wish that I had it this weekend.

I will post some pics once I get it out to play with.

ian408 · January 9, 2006

I've been using a Stofen on the 550 and been happy with the result.

One thing for sure is that different diffusers work differently and you'll need
to spend some time working out the details for yourself.

As for chewing batteries, have you thought about running in manual mode?
Bit less flash maybe?

Ian

spider-t · January 10, 2006

ian408 wrote:

I've been using a Stofen on the 550 and been happy with the result.

One thing for sure is that different diffusers work differently and you'll need
to spend some time working out the details for yourself.

As for chewing batteries, have you thought about running in manual mode?
Bit less flash maybe?

Ian

Hi Ian,

The way I have been using my flash lately is to run the camera in manual mode, exposed to get some ambient light, spot meter, + or - on the flash (depending on distance and clothes color, etc) and set the SB800 flash to TTL mode (turn off balance)

Are you suggesting I set the flash to manual so it doesn't use it's TTL mode? I could give that a try too. My thoughts were if it using that much flash to get correct exposures, then it needs it. (without the help of a lower, white ceiling)

Again, I'm pretty new to flash photography. I'm traditionally an "available light" girl. How would lowering the flash output get me the same results?

When I used my Stofen-equivalent Nikon diffuser, I don't have the battery problem. But I don't like the results as much as the lightsphere. And then I need a bracket if I'm shooting primarily in portrait orientation.

Looking for clues.... Thanks for any help!
Trish

Art Scott · January 12, 2006

Light sphere ?'s
I have read this thread thru....and it seems more people are talking Lary Fongs Lightsphere over Lumiquest, stofen and others....
Isn't ther a large amount of light loss from the sides of his diffuser?
At least to me it looks as if a lot of light would be going away from subject.

ScottMcLeod · January 12, 2006

ART SCOTT wrote:

I have read this thread thru....and it seems more people are talking Lary Fongs Lightsphere over Lumiquest, stofen and others....
Isn't ther a large amount of light loss from the sides of his diffuser?
At least to me it looks as if a lot of light would be going away from subject.

There's quite a bit of "loss", but there's a lot of "bounce" and "fill", which is why people buy these overpriced water-bottles.

Yes, I said water-bottles, why? Because I made my own. Find a 710ml squeeze bottle of AquaFina Water, and lop off the tapered bit, and shove it on most flashes (at least my sigma), and you'll find it fits perfectly.

Why pay an already rich photographer more money when you can save the 60$ and get something you can't make on your own, such as, putting it towards a lens, or printer paper/ink.

Andy · January 12, 2006

LiquidOps wrote:

I wouldn't mind hearing your opinion and thoughts as well Andy....

Thanks,

Steven

I use, and love, the now-not-for-sale LS-II diffuser. Totally recommended. I also have a lumiquest mini-softbox, that's useful, too. Omnibounce IMO is good for keeping paper clips in.

Does that help?

ScottMcLeod · January 12, 2006

Andy wrote:

I use, and love, the now-not-for-sale LS-II diffuser. Totally recommended. I also have a lumiquest mini-softbox, that's useful, too. Omnibounce IMO is good for keeping paper clips in.

Does that help?

Ahahaha. Best line... EVAR.

You just made my night. ^_^

I want one of those mini softboxes. I missed a deal on one a while ago, and the next time I see the deal, I won't hesistate.

spider-t · January 13, 2006

Battery problem, use higher aperature.
I just sent Gary Fong an email and asked about my problem burning through flash batteries with his lightsphere.

Here's what he recommended:

Trish,
Can you shoot at a higher aperture? The difference between f5.6 and
f4 is double the battery life, for example.

Gary

Which makes sense to me. I'm going to give it a try.

-Trish

FatNakedGuy · January 13, 2006

spider-t wrote:

I just sent Gary Fong an email and asked

What is Gary's email?

I need to purchase something by this weekend and wanted to see if he has local distribution in the Los Angeles area. Thanks!

wholenewlight · January 13, 2006

spider-t wrote:

After a short while, my SB800 can't recharge fast enough

Trish

Are you using the little "5th battery" attachment for your SB800 and does it make a difference?

spider-t · January 14, 2006

yes

wholenewlight wrote:

Are you using the little "5th battery" attachment for your SB800 and does it make a difference?

Love the 5th battery. My problem was my aperature size.

I shot an event tonight with Gary's suggestion of a larger aperature. Just to be extra safe, I shot at 2.8 all night. Recycle times were much better. No battery problems at all.

It makes so much sense, I'm not sure why I didn't think of it.

I'll get this flash stuff eventually.

cheers!
Trish

Art Scott · January 14, 2006

I sent an email to GF asking ?'s about his product and I haven ever heard back....

one way to lessen you cost on batteries is to get a quantum battery....I bought some off ebay that were not working (so I got dirt cheap) and had them rebuilt by a local battery company [total cost from ebay and being rebuilt was less than $60], now they work great...did a compleate wedding on 1 battery shooting with my potatoe masher sunpak 622....so I know that with my minolta 5600HS it should last atleast 3 times as long...yes they are cumbersome but I charge once a week or so and have not bought AA's in a long time.......

LiquidOps · January 21, 2006

LiquidOps wrote:

Gary Fong's
http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=4684316&showprevnext=1

Ordered yesterday

I'm excited to see how it helps.

now if I can just get some more feedback on my reflector thread...

thanks again,

Steven

Nikolai · January 29, 2006

Watch this thread plz
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=26887

HTH

Bodley · January 30, 2006

Andy wrote:

I use, and love, the now-not-for-sale LS-II diffuser. Totally recommended. I also have a lumiquest mini-softbox, that's useful, too. Omnibounce IMO is good for keeping paper clips in.

Does that help?

I have the LS-II and omnibounce. Was favoring the LS-II until my 15 year-old informed me I looked ridiculous with that on my flash

Unfortunately he's right. Many times I use the omni to be more discrete.

wholenewlight · January 30, 2006

Bodley wrote:

15 year-old informed me I looked ridiculous with that on my flash Unfortunately he's right.

That's what I was a little concerned about. I showed my wife the website (for the older model - not the LSII) and she told me it looked like "tupperware". :uhoh

LiquidOps · January 30, 2006

wholenewlight wrote:

That's what I was a little concerned about. I showed my wife the website (for the older model - not the LSII) and she told me it looked like "tupperware". :uhoh

haha... i had a few people tell me that as well... but they stopped laughing when they saw the pictures

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=26978

Steven

Which Diffuser?

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