Gary Fong Lightsphere Opinions

[cosine4]

I am thinking of buying a Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Cloud and was wanting to get some opinions first. Does anyone here use one? I am thinking that for the indoor character meet and greets that it might help to get a softer flash, this would be my main use for it (for now anyway). I know its not going to be a studio quality umbrella flash, I am just looking for something better than I have now which is just the frosted flip out plate that came on my Bower flash and the flip out bounce card.

I guess my big questions are:

1. Does it work as intended?

2. Is it durable and stay in place well?

3. Would/do you carry it around in your bag at the parks with you?


Thanks!

 

[ukcatfan]

Yes on all three.

 

[dan.k78]

1. Yes, sort of. In my experience, it did work, but I got almost the same result from a 99 cent piece of craft foam used as a bounce card.

2. Yes, it stayed on no problem.

3. No. This is more of a personal thing though. Personally, I don't like carrying around too much stuff if I can help it. I'd probably take faster glass (Sigma 30mm f/1.4) instead of external flashes and diffusers/bounce cards. But if you find it more productive for your style of photography (and vacation), then I say go for it.

 

[handicap18]

Yes to all three. I have carried one around the parks. I only used it at the character meals though.

I have 3, including the collapsable one. I like the collapsable one as it fits in my bag much much easier. I have 2 cloud and 1 clear. I like them all (yes I have 3 flashes).

 

[MICKEY88]

1. yes
2. yes.
3. it is on my camera at all times at WDW.


I have 2 Gary Fong Lightspheres, and one Lambency flash diffuser, which is a Chinese knockoff of the GAry Fong ,

I found the lambency universal with regular dome, amber dome, and chrome dome for under 20 dollars on ebay, they also have other color domes for balancing flash with other types of light, I'm planning on getting the other color domes, to play with color temps..

 

[cosine4]

I have 2 Gary Fong Lightspheres, and one Lambency flash diffuser, which is a Chinese knockoff of the GAry Fong ,

I found the lambency universal with regular dome, amber dome, and chrome dome for under 20 dollars on ebay, they also have other color domes for balancing flash with other types of light, I'm planning on getting the other color domes, to play with color temps..

Is the Lambency version as good of quality? Would you recommend it?

I have 3, including the collapsable one. I like the collapsable one as it fits in my bag much much easier. I have 2 cloud and 1 clear. I like them all (yes I have 3 flashes).

Do you have any problems with the collapsible one? It got some negative reviews of people who said that it didn't hold the domes well and was hard to put on / take off.



Also, thanks for all of the feedback!

 

[MICKEY88]

Is the Lambency version as good of quality? Would you recommend it?




Do you have any problems with the collapsible one? It got some negative reviews of people who said that it didn't hold the domes well and was hard to put on / take off.



Also, thanks for all of the feedback!

I would buy the lambency again in a heartbeat, I initially bought it, just to get the chromedome insert,

I just pulled them from my bag to do a side by side comparison and they appear to be identical in design and material..

 

[MICKEY88]

I would buy the lambency again in a heartbeat, I initially bought it, just to get the chromedome insert,

I just pulled them from my bag to do a side by side comparison and they appear to be identical in design and material..

if price isn't a major concern, you might want to check out the new

FlashRight diffuser, looks pretty interesting..

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Was looking at ebay on Mickey88's suggestion and I found the Lambency model with all the color diffuser discs for $19.99. I'm going to give that a shot. Thanks for the tip.

 

[MICKEY88]

Was looking at ebay on Mickey88's suggestion and I found the Lambency model with all the color diffuser discs for $19.99. I'm going to give that a shot. Thanks for the tip.

you are quite welcome

 

[wenrob]

if price isn't a major concern, you might want to check out the new

FlashRight diffuser, looks pretty interesting..

It looks VERY interesting but in a search all links lead back to the same one and on the youtube videos the guy never demonstrates it or answers questions even during his questions video, lol. Not a single sample pic either. Makes me suspicious. I wonder how many people have actually sent him the $99 without seeing any kind of results? It sounds like a dream come true, love the idea of the reflector for catch lights, slide in gels and being able to easily turn your camera for portrait orientation. Will be on the lookout for real user reviews.

 

[MICKEY88]

It looks VERY interesting but in a search all links lead back to the same one and on the youtube videos the guy never demonstrates it or answers questions even during his questions video, lol. Not a single sample pic either. Makes me suspicious. I wonder how many people have actually sent him the $99 without seeing any kind of results? It sounds like a dream come true, love the idea of the reflector for catch lights, slide in gels and being able to easily turn your camera for portrait orientation. Will be on the lookout for real user reviews.

that's odd, the page I saw had sample photos.. I'll try to find it and post a link

 

[wenrob]

that's odd, the page I saw had sample photos.. I'll try to find it and post a link

That would be great, thanks!

 

[MICKEY88]

http://colorright.com/flashrightsamples2/index.html

 

[handicap18]

Do you have any problems with the collapsible one? It got some negative reviews of people who said that it didn't hold the domes well and was hard to put on / take off.



Also, thanks for all of the feedback!

It is a little tough to get on and off, but thats not a bad thing. That means its on real secure. The dome doesn't fit as well as the older models I have, but once I get it on it stays on. I don't find it to be a "problem". I would buy another one.