Anybody buy a Gary Fong Whaletail?

BaldyBaldy Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 2,853 moderator
edited May 17, 2007 in Accessories
I bought two at the wedding photographer's expo in Las Vegas last but haven't received them. Wondering whassup. They looked really good on the floor.

http://store.garyfonginc.com/wt.html
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Comments

  • digitalpinsdigitalpins Registered Users Posts: 448 Major grins
    edited May 7, 2007
    Email and tell them that you have a shoot coming up and you will get an email and then soon afterwards you will recieve it.

    Thats what I did their shipping is kind of slow and I did have a wedding coming up so I sent them that email and then got it right away.
    www.lamontphotography.com
    Canon 60D
    Canon Rebel XTi (400)
    Canon 10-22mm, Canon 50mm f/1.8 II
    MacBook, MacPro
  • BaldyBaldy Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 2,853 moderator
    edited May 7, 2007
    Thanks. Do you like yours?
    My Smug Mug
  • digitalpinsdigitalpins Registered Users Posts: 448 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2007
    yep I love it, it helps out alot
    www.lamontphotography.com
    Canon 60D
    Canon Rebel XTi (400)
    Canon 10-22mm, Canon 50mm f/1.8 II
    MacBook, MacPro
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited May 8, 2007
    Baldy,

    Interesting gadget. Looks more professional than a big foamie diffuser.

    Did you order the one with the colored gels as well?
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • anwmn1anwmn1 Registered Users Posts: 3,469 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2007
    How does it compare to the lightsphere and lightsphere cloud?

    It there a significant difference?
    "The Journey of life is as much in oneself as the roads one travels"


    Aaron Newman

    Website:www.CapturingLightandEmotion.com
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  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2007
    Baldy wrote:
    http://store.garyfonginc.com/wt.html
    It looks like someone left the toilet seat up....lol3.gif
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • W.W. WebsterW.W. Webster Registered Users Posts: 3,204 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2007
    Jeffro wrote:
    It looks like someone left the toilet seat up....lol3.gif
    Doesn't everyone - how do you keep yours? mwink.gif
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  • mr peasmr peas Registered Users Posts: 1,369 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2007
    pfft looks like a Joe Demb diffuser with a plastic cone mounted to it. $109+ bucks? That is ridiculous. eek7.gif
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited May 9, 2007
    Lookee there, I had one already! ... and it's even graduated so I can tell how much light I'm puttin' out. thumb.gifclap (Squirrel's nuts, not mine.)
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • Scott_QuierScott_Quier Registered Users Posts: 6,524 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2007
    Ziggy,

    I about died laughing at your most recent "idea" for a diffuser! That is just so cool!rolleyes1.gifrofl

    Now I waiting to find out what kind of surgery you're going to have to perform to get that to mount on your flush errr, em, flash unit!
    Scott
    My Photos
    Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
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  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2007
    ziggy53 wrote:
    Lookee there, I had one already! ... and it's even graduated so I can tell how much light I'm puttin' out. thumb.gifclap (Squirrel's nuts, not mine.)

    Sorry I could not help it... $100? eek7.gif
    Well, here you go:

    Materials: One Tasters' Choice empty coffee can.
    Tools: one paring knife.
    Procedure: make two crossing cuts in the bottom of the can, thus forming an X.
    Installation: insert top of the flash into the cut. No stinking Velcro tape required.
    Removal: simply pull it off the flash.
    Compatibility: fits any major flash brand (as long it's not a Nikon:-) :hide
    Time to market: 1 minute or less. deal.gif
    Cost: uhm, zero... headscratch.gif
    Satisfaction level: PRICELESS! wings.gif

    01: Shot in P mode, 1 minute after I read baldy's post and started the project.

    151322392-L.jpg

    02: Shot in manual, to get a bit of the device details...

    151322444-L.jpg

    Enjoy!
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2007
    Nikolai wrote:
    Enjoy!

    Yours looks better! Cheaper too. I may be alone on this, but I feel like G.F. is getting rich off a gimick. An ugly one too.
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • mikeshotsmikeshots Registered Users Posts: 44 Big grins
    edited May 10, 2007
    I read a thread on POTN a few weeks ago about these products. I think the concensus was that they were not nearly worth what he's charging for them. I don't own one, so I can't say for sure.
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited May 10, 2007
    Don't get me wrong, a working pro can make money with the Gary Fong devices, as long as they do the job. If the "Whitetail" was the only way to get the lighting effect it produces, I might be moved to purchase one for myself. I simply haven't seen any compelling argument which leads me to believe this to be true.

    I do trust the fellow DGrinners enough that I know they would not throw their own hard-earned money away on nothing, so they might know something I don't know. ne_nau.gif

    I just want some proof.

    At least the Whitetail will work on many different flashes, unlike the LightSphere which would only mount to specific flashes with each model.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2007
    ziggy53 wrote:
    I just want some proof.
    Me too. So far I'm not convinced.
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • colourboxcolourbox Registered Users Posts: 2,095 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2007
    The Whaletail looks like a mass-produced version of Peter Gregg's classic do-it-yourself Better Bounce Card. Nothing wrong with that. If the market bears what Gary Fong's charging, his business model is valid enough.

    The Whaletail features and functions are very similar to the Better Bounce Card. Works horizontal or vertical, height-adjustable, easily change bounce between ceiling+front and ceiling+back wall, fits any flash...it almost seems as if Gary Fong decided to make it after Peter Gregg's video demonstrated how his free paper bounce card provided more lighting options than a Lightsphere. Watch both Gary's Whaletail demo and Peter's BBB demo videos and you'll see what I mean.

    The main difference is that the price difference (the BBB is almost free) equals two Canon lens hoods or a 50mm 1.8. :D
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2007
    Am I the only one who is amused about
    the funny forms these lightspreaders
    come in today? :D
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited May 12, 2007
    Form follows function??:D
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2007
    pathfinder wrote:
    Form follows function??:D
    Einstein had his best ideas in the bathtube,
    you shure know where gary fong gets his ideas. :D

    http://store.garyfonginc.com/wt.html
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited May 12, 2007
    Manfr3d wrote:
    Einstein had his best ideas in the bathtube,
    you shure know where gary fong gets his ideas. :D

    http://store.garyfonginc.com/wt.html

    So are you saying that Gary Fong is the Einstein of flash modifiers? ne_nau.gif

    I would say he is the most enterprising marketeer of flash modifiers, without a doubt. thumb.gif
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2007
    ziggy53 wrote:
    So are you saying that Gary Fong is the Einstein of flash modifiers? ne_nau.gif
    No, I'm saying he invented the whale tail thing sitting on a john. :D


    wt_grey.jpg vs toto-soiree-toilet.jpg
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
  • davidweaverdavidweaver Registered Users Posts: 681 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2007
    LMAO

    I lost a diffuser (again) between shoots. I keep some rubbing alcohol in my car and some electric tape in my bag. I emptied the bottle. Cut off the bottom half and taped it to the flash just before I went into go shoot an event. I actually like the results from this a bit better than the OEM part from Nikon. You have to make sure the little switch that senses a difusser is depressed too.

    Cost: 5 minutes and 2 dollars! wings.gifbarb AND I have kept it on the flash for the last 2 weeks while doing events. Laughing.gif!

    152645786-S-1.jpg152645899-S-1.jpg

    Cheers,
    David
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    davidweaver wrote:
    LMAO

    I lost a diffuser (again) between shoots. I keep some rubbing alcohol in my car and some electric tape in my bag. I emptied the bottle. Cut off the bottom half and taped it to the flash just before I went into go shoot an event. I actually like the results from this a bit better than the OEM part from Nikon. You have to make sure the little switch that senses a difusser is depressed too.

    Cost: 5 minutes and 2 dollars! wings.gifbarb AND I have kept it on the flash for the last 2 weeks while doing events. Laughing.gif!

    152645786-S-1.jpg152645899-S-1.jpg

    Cheers,
    David

    Thats pretty cool. It also looks much less intimidateing than the whaly. :D
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
  • colourboxcolourbox Registered Users Posts: 2,095 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    Also interesting is what you get as the top hit when you try and Google the name of the product...
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    Heres mine ..$2.50 for the chocy milk.


    132675714-L.jpg


    132675679-L.jpg
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    The plastic looks like it sucks alot of light. Whats the working
    distance you get with the 430EX in this config?
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    Manfr3d wrote:
    The plastic looks like it sucks alot of light. Whats the working
    distance you get with the 430EX in this config?
    No idea & not really that interested to be exact. It does the job.
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    gus wrote:
    No idea & not really that interested to be exact. It does the job.

    Ok let me ask more specific. Do you only photograph items for ebay from a 1 ft distance with this or are still able to bounce off walls for portatis shots and
    the like as well?
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    Manfr3d wrote:
    Ok let me ask more specific. Do you only photograph items for ebay from a 1 ft distance with this or are still able to bounce off walls for portatis shots and
    the like as well?
    No idea. I dont analyse stuff.
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    gus wrote:
    No idea. I dont analyse stuff.

    I see. Anyways thanks for sharing your milkcan mod.
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
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