Gary Fong Lightsphere

[Gdad]

Just got it today and started fooling around a bit- but I kind of like it so far.

Anyone else using this or similar?

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

 

[MICKEY88]

I have 2 lightspheres, the best diffuser I've ever used..bought the first for my minolta flash, then I picked up a sigma flash as a backup, and had to get another lightsphere, for it since it took a different size,

my minolta flash recently died and rather than replacing it with the sony flash for 300 bucks I bought another sigma flash for 200, the sigmas do everything the minolta flash did,,,

fortunately the sigma head is a little smaller than the minolta so the lightsphere fits over the end, but not snugly, so I put velcro on the flash and the lightsphere to hold it all together

 

[garris3404]

Which version did you get (clear or cloud)? Which dome(s) did you get?

 

[Steve's Girl]

I've been looking at these, too. Keep us posted on how you like it.

 

[MICKEY88]

I have 2 of the clear, more of my shooting is groups or at a larger distance

 

[jann1033]

would someone be able to post 2 photos, one with and one without? guessing it is supposed to diffuse the light but would like to see an example of how it works if possible. Thanks

 

[MICKEY88]

check out this page from gary fongs website, it has a few sample pics..


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

 

[jann1033]

thanks that helped a lot

 

[wkrider]

I have been looking at the site....when you attach the dome to your flash do you take the existing plastic/glass cover off of the flash or keep it on with the dome as well?

 

[MICKEY88]

I have been looking at the site....when you attach the dome to your flash do you take the existing plastic/glass cover off of the flash or keep it on with the dome as well?

are you talking the normal front of the flash, or does your flash have a built in diffuser that folds down..


I do not use the fold down diffuser, that actually doesn't really soften the light as much as it makes it go in a wider pattern for wide angle lenses..

 

[Disneyfreak92]

I have one of the clear lightspheres. I LOVE it! It is just snug enough on my 430EX that velcro won't fit in between, but it still falls off if it gets bumped enough. But I have used it for weddings, and it is amazing what it does! I don't know what I would do without it! I just bought a 580EX, and for it, I took the plunge and got the Gary Fong Whaletail. I haven't received it yet, but I am anxious to try it out!

 

[MICKEY88]

I have one of the clear lightspheres. I LOVE it! It is just snug enough on my 430EX that velcro won't fit in between, but it still falls off if it gets bumped enough. But I have used it for weddings, and it is amazing what it does! I don't know what I would do without it! I just bought a 580EX, and for it, I took the plunge and got the Gary Fong Whaletail. I haven't received it yet, but I am anxious to try it out!

for the one that I used velcro, I didn't put it between the 2 pieces...I put the loop velcro around the outer edge of the lightsphere... and on the flash, then I hold the 2 pieces together with the hook velcro

 

[Disneyfreak92]

for the one that I used velcro, I didn't put it between the 2 pieces...I put the loop velcro around the outer edge of the lightsphere... and on the flash, then I hold the 2 pieces together with the hook velcro

Oh! I get it! Good idea. I might have to look into that. My DH always rolls his eyes when it falls off. (It doesn't happen THAT often. He's just being dramatic! )

 

[handicap18]

I have the cloud version. It is great. I think I may also get a clear one. This weekend I ended up shooting a wedding last second as a secondary photographer. I used the GF and many times the cloud was not bright enough. I was talking to a friend at work today who has both the clear and cloud top and I think I may go that route as well. One of each.

 

[MICKEY88]

Oh! I get it! Good idea. I might have to look into that. My DH always rolls his eyes when it falls off. (It doesn't happen THAT often. He's just being dramatic! )

the only problem is, you need the adhesive backed velcro for on the flash and diffuser, and the sew on velcro to hold them together, the only sew on that was wide enough at walmart was white, which works just fine, I'd just rather have black so it doesn't jump out at you...LOL

 

[MICKEY88]

I have the cloud version. It is great. I think I may also get a clear one. This weekend I ended up shooting a wedding last second as a secondary photographer. I used the GF and many times the cloud was not bright enough. I was talking to a friend at work today who has both the clear and cloud top and I think I may go that route as well. One of each.

what ISO were you shooting...

 

[handicap18]

what ISO were you shooting...

400 and 800. Outside was terrible. Shadows all over the place. Not a good time of day, but it is what we had to work with. Inside was tough too. The "Barn" was dark and no ceilings. Many times inside I just took the diffuser off. I don't like the look without it, but the images are better exposed.

Here are a few of the better ones:
This one I had to brighten up a bit in PSE:

This one I had to crop as there was a big ol' drain running down the side. Could have positioned them better too, but thats why I'm not a pro:

I like this one. Each of them holding their niece. You can see some of the shadow issues.

I think what I ended up doing starting just before I took this last pic was angle the flash in its normal position, but kept the diffuser on. This way it gave off a lot more light to help but still diffused it so it wasn't harsh at all.

 

[MICKEY88]

shadows aren't as bad as sunspots, when shooting outdoors...

I think a big part of the problem was metering ...the problem with weddings, too much white, the camera tends to underexpose, +1 or 2 exposure compensation would have helped..

on the bridge the background light was overpowering, again exposure comp would have helped..
in the doorway/window, flash kicking off of the building would tend to underexpose as well...

did you print out the little chart from the gary fong website, when shooting outdoors the flash should be aimed straight forward, for more coverage..

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

oh I love mine, got it in April and have used it for a few weddings! Love this diffuser, and I have used a bunch of others!

 

[handicap18]

shadows aren't as bad as sunspots, when shooting outdoors...

I think a big part of the problem was metering ...the problem with weddings, too much white, the camera tends to underexpose, +1 or 2 exposure compensation would have helped..

on the bridge the background light was overpowering, again exposure comp would have helped..
in the doorway/window, flash kicking off of the building would tend to underexpose as well...

did you print out the little chart from the gary fong website, when shooting outdoors the flash should be aimed straight forward, for more coverage..

Yea, sunspots sucked. I used center weight metering, maybe spot would have been better.

I don't have the chart, but I will head over there and print it out.

I also noticed on a few pics that I accidently switched to shutter priority, which may explain a few. Aperture priority is what I mostly used and prefer to use for these type of pics.

Thanks for the tips.