Gary Fong Lightsphere

[MICKEY88]

Who has one,?

which do you have, clear or cloud ,

do you like it...recommend it...

I recently purchased the clear, a few weeks ago.

I'm now buying a different flash,

I will be able to use both flashes wirelessly, for portraits and such..would you recommend a second clear, or a cloud,

the new flash and LIGHTSPHERE, will be my primary flash,,,,

I realize the cloud is better for closeup portraits, and the clear for action, large groups, but which would be better for most shooting...

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I use the original cloud version and the flexible clear version. I like the cloud version better. It gives warmer skin tone almost like using a faded 81A filter.

 

[MICKEY88]

I use the original cloud version and the flexible clear version. I like the cloud version better. It gives warmer skin tone almost like using a faded 81A filter.

unfortunately the new flash takes a different size than my 5600 flash, otherwise it would be an easy decision. I'd get the cloud so I have one of each.. perhaps I'll just get the cloud anyway, and just change flash depending on the situation...

I just need to find someone to calibrate the 5600 for me..

I just bought the Sigma flash after hearing you talk about it..

 

[Kelly Grannell]

depending on your clients' skin tone. Brian Roman, for example, he got a reddish skin complexion. If I use the cloudy version, his skin turn all red as if he's been baking under the sun for years on end. Same goes with non-light-coloured Asian (Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, most Philipino), they will all turn too dark. For dark-skinned clients, I HAVE to use the clear one. there is no two ways about it.

 

[Disneyfreak92]

I have the clear one, which I used for my sister-in-law's wedding. I bought it based on Kelly's suggestion. At the time, I didn't realize that there was a cloud version, so I have no experience with that one. But I am glad that I got the clear considering what Kelly just said, because I had a blond-haired, blue-eyed bride who had been tanning and a red-haired, blue-eyed groom, who had a lot of pink in his skin tone, and the wedding colors were red and ivory, with a red wall at the front of the church. It was plenty warm enough! And I love the diffuser. Thanks again Kelly for the suggestion!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

No problem! I'm going start a surprise thread about... KODAK !!!

 

[boBQuincy]

I use two models of LumiQuest's SoftBox diffusers on my Canon 220EX (too small for the LightSphere) and can say I wouldn't use a flash without a diffuser if I had a choice.
The difference is as remarkable as LightSphere's website shows.


boB

 

[MICKEY88]

depending on your clients' skin tone. Brian Roman, for example, he got a reddish skin complexion. If I use the cloudy version, his skin turn all red as if he's been baking under the sun for years on end. Same goes with non-light-coloured Asian (Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, most Philipino), they will all turn too dark. For dark-skinned clients, I HAVE to use the clear one. there is no two ways about it.

even if you spot meter the face and lock exposure ???

or set your flash for 1 or 1.5 + exposure...???

 

[MICKEY88]

I use two models of LumiQuest's SoftBox diffusers on my Canon 220EX (too small for the LightSphere) and can say I wouldn't use a flash without a diffuser if I had a choice.
The difference is as remarkable as LightSphere's website shows.


boB

I know a diffuser is a must, I've used various types over the past 30 years,

lumiquest pocketbounce,

stofen omni bounce


etc...

and as I stated in my original post I have the clear LlightSphere, just wondering what others prefer, clear or cloud...

 

[Kelly Grannell]

even if you spot meter the face and lock exposure ???

or set your flash for 1 or 1.5 + exposure...???

Well, once you use GF Diffuser you'll need to set it by about + 2/3 stop anyway. But yes, even if you spot meter the face and lock exposure you will still have the warmer tone than if you do the same with the clear version.

 

[MICKEY88]

Well, once you use GF Diffuser you'll need to set it by about + 2/3 stop anyway. But yes, even if you spot meter the face and lock exposure you will still have the warmer tone than if you do the same with the clear version.

that's interesting, with ttl metering the camera should automatically compensate for the diffuser...,

in my prior post I was referring to having to compensate for darker skinned people, before I started using diffusers I learned that spot metering and locking exposure or setting my flash for 1 or 1.5 + exposure, was the best way to get proper exposure on my subjects face...

 

[Kelly Grannell]

For some reason that I can't explain the TTL doesn't compensate the diffuser enough. For brighter surrounding, you'll need 1/3 stop addition, darker area 2/3 stop addition. If you use Sigma 18-125 lens, for indoors you'll need 1/3 stop compensation too.

 

[MICKEY88]

For some reason that I can't explain the TTL doesn't compensate the diffuser enough. For brighter surrounding, you'll need 1/3 stop addition, darker area 2/3 stop addition. If you use Sigma 18-125 lens, for indoors you'll need 1/3 stop compensation too.

that's interesting sounds like I need to do some experimenting before I shoot a wedding in September,

thanks for the info,, as always

 

[JR6ooo4]

that's interesting, with ttl metering the camera should automatically compensate for the diffuser...,

in my prior post I was referring to having to compensate for darker skinned people, before I started using diffusers I learned that spot metering and locking exposure or setting my flash for 1 or 1.5 + exposure, was the best way to get proper exposure on my subjects face...

I don't understand how TTL metering could know if a flash diffuser is attached or not. Can someone explain that.
Thanks
Mikeeee

 

[Kelly Grannell]

The pre-flash will allow the TTL to compensate that (supposedly). But it never works properly.