Gary fong lightsphere good to use?

ecphotoman · March 12, 2012

Is it any good for use with weddings?
Or is it another gimmick that doesn't deliver?

Or how about flash soft boxes?

Really I'm just looking for a good way to soften the light in a dim venue where bouncing wouldn't work.

lfortier · March 12, 2012

Like everything else; in some situations, it's great, in others, not so much.

Zerodog · March 12, 2012

Yes it is one of the many good options for situations like this. I like my lumiquest contraption. I can't remember if it is a big bounce or a ultra soft. Softens the light a lot. Another interesting option is the flash bender. It is a huge bendable bounce card. There are so many products to choose from here. All of them work for given situations. None are perfect. All of them look goofy.

ecphotoman · March 12, 2012

Zerodog wrote: »

Yes it is one of the many good options for situations like this. I like my lumiquest contraption. I can't remember if it is a big bounce or a ultra soft. Softens the light a lot. Another interesting option is the flash bender. It is a huge bendable bounce card. There are so many products to choose from here. All of them work for given situations. None are perfect. All of them look goofy.

I've seen some like that on eBay from over seas on the cheap. Are they as good as the name brand modifiers?

ziggy53 · March 12, 2012

A much more "efficient" flash modifier, which works well in most situations, is a DIY scoop modifier. It works well in most situations, indoors and outdoors, and relies less on room characteristics than many other modifiers. You can make your own for less than $3USD each and it takes little time too.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3

All of the following used the above light scoop modifier:

ecphotoman · March 12, 2012

ziggy53 wrote: »

A much more "efficient" flash modifier, which works well in most situations, is a DIY scoop modifier. It works well in most situations, indoors and outdoors, and relies less on room characteristics than many other modifiers. You can make your own for less than $3USD each and it takes little time too.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3

All of the following used the above light scoop modifier:

You've shown me this one before and the light quality is quite impressive. Using it in a pro setting does anyone look at you funny when you use a home made modifier?

cmason · March 12, 2012

I really like my Lightsphere, but have learned that it is best used in a location where you can benefit from bounced flash. If the ceilings are too high (or no ceilings like outdoors), you will not get good results. Yes, it does offer the 'tupperware lid', but I have found that to be not very effective. When I am in situations where bounce does not work well, then a softbox or in a pinch even a simple 3x5 index card work very well.

waywardfool · March 12, 2012

ecphotoman wrote: »

You've shown me this one before and the light quality is quite impressive. Using it in a pro setting does anyone look at you funny when you use a home made modifier?

I use one similar to this. It can be made to look much more 'finished' than this example. On the one shown, I'd probably stitch the velco to the black sheet, before laminating to the white foam, instead of the staples -- they're a big part of it looking so homemade.

ziggy53 · March 12, 2012

ecphotoman wrote: »

You've shown me this one before and the light quality is quite impressive. Using it in a pro setting does anyone look at you funny when you use a home made modifier?

Most non-photographers also think that the LightSphere products look like Tupperware (which they do.)

I have had comments about using the scoop modifiers, but I just show people what I'm getting from the camera. I've had converts just from the comparison (with and without the scoop).

I use the scoop because it gives me the best results (when used correctly) and it really does look like it belongs on the equipment. The only time I look like an amateur is when my images are amateurish looking.

ecphotoman · March 12, 2012

ziggy53 wrote: »

Most non-photographers also think that the LightSphere products look like Tupperware (which they do.)

I have had comments about using the scoop modifiers, but I just show people what I'm getting from the camera. I've had converts just from the comparison (with and without the scoop).

I use the scoop because it gives me the best results (when used correctly) and it really does look like it belongs on the equipment. The only time I look like an amateur is when my images are amateurish looking.

Ok cool. I think ill try building one on my time off this week. Ziggy, I just ordered my first canon. I ended up springing for the 550D

Ed911 · March 13, 2012

Here's one that looks interesting...the better bounce card.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM

ziggy53 · March 13, 2012

Ed911 wrote: »

Here's one that looks interesting...the better bounce card.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM

In a bounce situation, using a white or cream ceiling or wall as a bounce surface, the Better Bounce Card and Demb Flip-It are 2 devices I can recommend. Of course, if you want to shoot upward or downward, that messes up the bounce geometry, and if you have dark surfaces or outdoors then bounce is not indicated.

The scoop modifier works in all of these situations, and in some circumstances it provides an excellent "feathering" of light from foreground to background:

The scoop is also highly effective at close range:

The LightSphere and bounce devices just cannot duplicate the versatility and efficiency of the scoop devices in many shooting scenarios.

VayCayMom · March 13, 2012

My biggest issue with the Fong diffuser and a few other "aftermarket" devices has been that they make my camera top heavy and they fall off.

ecphotoman · March 13, 2012

Have you guys seen this thing?
Its the lumiquest 80/20

http://www.lumiquest.com/store/products/LumiQuest-80%252d20.html

It is supposed to send 20% of the light direct and 80% up. Looks kinda cool.

Matthew Saville · March 13, 2012

All I can say is, it just cost me a few cents to put a ~8" triangle of white craft foam in EVERY ONE of my four or five camera bags. Oh and a black rubber band. That's really all you need, and it looks just fine as professionalism goes.

The one reason why I sometimes dig out the lightsphere is that because it is circular, I can point it in ANY direction and still get the same amount of "forward" light. All other card-type diffusers are at a disadvantage because they restrict how you are able to bounce your light. As someone who doesn't use a vertical grip and often rotates his camera to the left OR the right for vertical shots; I have found the lightsphere to be useful in those situations...

=Matt=

puzzledpaul · March 14, 2012

ecphotoman wrote: »

Using it in a pro setting does anyone look at you funny when you use a home made modifier?

Am not a pro and don't (normally) take pics similar to those here, but I have used scoop type modifiers in various situations.

I've made mine from juice cartons (with aluminised inner surfaces) ...and on a good day have even disguised the original artwork by spraying it with matt black paint, although the one I used at younger daughter's graduation ceremony was in 'natural' finish, as I'd forgotten to bring the 'deluxe' one

As I also use such (recycled) material for my 'contact' cards I give to people, I've always got a ready supply.

pp

ziggy53 · March 14, 2012

ecphotoman wrote: »

Have you guys seen this thing?
Its the lumiquest 80/20

http://www.lumiquest.com/store/products/LumiQuest-80%252d20.html

It is supposed to send 20% of the light direct and 80% up. Looks kinda cool.

The DIY better bounce card device has more configurability, yielding more versatility. Neither gives the all of the capabilities of the scoop modifiers.

ecphotoman · March 14, 2012

ziggy53 wrote: »

The DIY better bounce card device has more configurability, yielding more versatility. Neither gives the all of the capabilities of the scoop modifiers.

The store bought scoop costs 50 bucks lol and it looks home made anyway lol.

What kind of materials should I buy and are there plans/instructions on how to do it myself?

ziggy53 · March 14, 2012

ecphotoman wrote: »

The store bought scoop costs 50 bucks lol and it looks home made anyway lol.

What kind of materials should I buy and are there plans/instructions on how to do it myself?

Most fabric stores or fabric/craft departments will have the "Foamies" sheets and velcro. I bought my supplies at the local WMart.

Look at my first post in this thread, post #5, for the link to the instructions on how to put it together.

ecphotoman · March 14, 2012

ziggy53 wrote: »

Most fabric stores or fabric/craft departments will have the "Foamies" sheets and velcro. I bought my supplies at the local WMart.

Look at my first post in this thread, post #5, for the link to the instructions on how to put it together.

Awesome. Thanks Ziggy I appreciate that.

theNOIZ · March 15, 2012

I really like my Fong collapsible Lightsphere. It's good for certain occasions when bouncing produces too much light indoors. I use it on my 580EX II.

However, I always tell people it's the most expensive piece of Tupperware you'll ever own.

Gary fong lightsphere good to use?

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