Anyone have a Gary Fong Flash Diffuser?

[kimi_boo]

I just ordered the clear one. The folks in my camera club swear by them. :)

Here is a video with a link.

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

[NMarti]

Kimi
I don't but my fed-x girl at work does. We talk photography every time she comes in and she swears by it. Said she wouldn't do a portrait shot without it. She has some outstanding shots using just a sheet for a background and the Fong thing and there are no shadows or harsh light in any of them. I have been thinking of ordering one too but don't do a lot of portrait shots so not sure I can justify it.

[ChristineV]

Kimi, what kind of camera do you have? I have been wanting one of these but hadn't had a chance to look yet. It is nice to have recommendations. I have a Canon Rebel xt but did not see it listed on the chart.

Nancy, I really don't like direct flash on anything I take a picture of. I am wondering if it wouldn't work really well in a non portait setting?

[kimi_boo]

Girls... go and watch the video and look at some to the shots posted. It really sells itself. Of course I would never have known about it except for the photography club. They all have one, so of course I couldn't be outdone. I just had to have one too. :p

I hate the harsh shadow you get with the direct flash. This should take care of it. :) At this point I figure... whats another $50 with all the money I have spent on this hobby so far. :eek:

Edit: Christine I have a Nikon D80 with the 600 flash but the girl in our group that shoots for the newspaper has a Canon and she let me play with hers so I would think there should be one to fit your camera.

[LeeOtsubo]

I know it's not as much fun as buying a new gizmo but have you tried these tricks (http://home.comcast.net/~dougsmit/bounceflashtoys.html) for diffusers? For me, half the fun is trying to figure out how this stuff works and I think you can get the same effect by cutting off a milk carton.

I also assume you've tried just bouncing the flash? A white business card "kicker" can do wonders for a bounced flash. Just my US$0.02 worth.

[ChristineV]

Lee .. Thanks! I will have a look at the link you posted! I am a bargain kinda girl!

[NMarti]

Lee
Yes I have actually used the milk jug with pretty good results. I have also used a piece of vellum that I just tape over the front of the flash with equally good results.

[deedeeO]

It is in my budget for next month. No questions, I am getting it.....I am tired of dealing with harsh shadows:mad:

This is the one I'm getting: Gary Fong Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Flash Diffusion Pro Combo System

Here is the link......http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/495457-REG/Gary_Fong_LS2_PRO_4_Lightsphere_II_P4_.html

Sorry..

[kimi_boo]

Denise, I couldn't get your link to work. :(

I didn't order the combo you will have to tell me how cool it all is.

[Byron Gale]

Kimi,

Here's another guy with a cheap-o solution...

www.abetterbouncecard.com (http://www.abetterbouncecard.com)

Byron

[genevh]

Before you order the Lightsphere, you might want to check out the new Whale Tail (http://store.garyfonginc.com/wt.html) by Gary Fong.

[deedeeO]

Before you order the Lightsphere, you might want to check out the new Whale Tail (http://store.garyfonginc.com/wt.html) by Gary Fong.

I've looked at those too. I think I just can't get pass on how they look???? Plus, I think that the whaletail is very beneficial to indoor studio photography and I do more outdoor photography...thus the bounce/rebound factor essentially becomes nonexistant. For fun at my last photoshoot, I got the cheapie $14.95 plastic thingy that fits over the flash on the 580EX. And compared to straight flash, it made a huge difference. (I also did the same using a tissue..heehee).

[Diana]

Have any of you who mentioned you're getting a Gary Fong diffuser gotten yours and tried it out yet. I'd love to hear a review and see some sample photos.

Diana

[genevh]

I sprang for the Whale Tail Reporter. I also have one of those $14.95 plastic things you stick over your flash, also, and was never completely satisfied with the results. With what little I have played with the Whale Tail, though, so far I like it. I think these two photos show the differences the most:

With regular flash:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1v0d4sD4BCapCnDwRY42x9XWbNOWT_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1v0d4sD4BCapCnDwRY42x9XWbNOWT)

With the Whale Tail:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/15HXuPDj5MBQKV2xouXJzCdSujavi0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=15HXuPDj5MBQKV2xouXJzCdSujavi0)


The second one is completely accurate with regards to the actual colors of the furniture and the wall in our living room. You can also clearly see the overall softening of the shadows using the diffuser as compared to not using it, and how the light has made it into even the darker, shadowy areas, and opened them up to where you can actually see what is there without the harsh shadows over everything in the background.

I haven't gotten anyone to sit down yet for me and let me take the time to try various angles, etc. yet, but so far I am liking what I see.

[Diana]

Thanks, Gene. I'd like to see more examples. I'm sure I'm getting one from all the good reports I've heard, I just can't decide which one.

By the way, is that spray bottle by the sofa to punish cats that get on the furniture?;)

Anyone have any of the other diffuser models to report on?

Diana

[ChristineV]

Thanks for the before and after! There is a big difference to me.

Gene, what kind of camera do you have? I have emailed customer service about whether it can be used with a Canon Rebel xt and they never got back to me. :confused:

[genevh]

Diana:

That's exactly what that bottle is for. We have 3 cats. It also chases our one that likes to keep climbing across the archway between our kitchen and living room. That cat's got a climbing gear like none we've seen.

Christine:

I use a Nikon D70s with an SB600 flash unit. If you go to Gary Fong's website (http://store.garyfonginc.com/)and watch the demonstrations he has there on the diffusers he sells, you will notice he uses a Canon. The mounting apparatus that comes with them is generic and designed to attach to just about any flash unit, so I'm sure it would work with yours. And if you do watch the videos, you'll see he holds up his camera with just the Whale tail.....that really works. I've tried it! :eek:

Although I wouldn't want to make a habit of carrying the camera around like that, the mount is secure.

[ChristineV]

Thanks for the info Gene! I may just add this to my Christmas list!

Do you use the gel colors and if so, what do you use them for? Effect?

[kimi_boo]

Diana, I have the Lightsphere.

My niece was here earlier and I was using it. I had seen you post so I took one with it off. I just watched the instruction video yesterday so I am still having some issues. I have found it works better with my 50mm lens than with my 18-200. :o But it does seem to give a nice soft glow effect. :)

Here are my images. Nothing done, straight out of the camera.

Without:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1oVVZP6w3UCqY3HTMecQ6XSeai0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1oVVZP6w3UCqY3HTMecQ6XSeai0)

With:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1uVOI0YLWvfGOOPh1whJUbvQdfmWOA_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1uVOI0YLWvfGOOPh1whJUbvQdfmWOA)

[deedeeO]

Kimi,
In addition to using the lightsphere, esp indoors, have you tried bouncing the flash off the ceiling?? This was something I heard about a few weeks back....apparently it is very effective for indoor photography.....

[Diana]

Thanks, Kimi, for posting those with/without photos. I'm glad you mentioned about the telephoto issue. Now I can't decide if I want the Lightsphere or the Whale Tail.:confused:

Diana

[genevh]

Here's the same shots using the gel filters. Keep in mind, though, that the flash unit is still mounted on the camera when I took these. I don't have the extra flash units to do what they did in the demo video. But I can see myself using the type of flash setup that was demonstrated. It looks quite easy to work with and very portable.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1usw2hwFWWf7jFrJTBZA5kZDGiLQ0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1usw2hwFWWf7jFrJTBZA5kZDGiLQ0)

And I did adjust my exposure a bit in LR. They were a bit dark otherwise. Other than that, straight out of the camera. And the infamous cat trainer is still there. Although it doesn't seem to actually effect any training...just chases them off and gets things wet. But it can be great fun at times! :p

Edit: All the pics I have posted here were done with my 17-70 mm lens at 35mm equivalent.

[kimi_boo]

Kimi,
In addition to using the lightsphere, esp indoors, have you tried bouncing the flash off the ceiling?? This was something I heard about a few weeks back....apparently it is very effective for indoor photography.....

Denise, I have 11+ ceilings, they are not white but beige. Every time I have tried.... my image is too dark. In the video, he kept talking about using your lowest F stop with the ceiling bounce. On my big lens I don't have a very low stop. Tried it with my 50mm today and my images are still too dark. :(

I need to watch it again. I must be missing something.

I just didn't have the cash to spring for the whale tail but I am sure it must do a better job.

[ChristineV]

Thanks again for the samples Gene!

Too funny about the cat. The water bottle reminds me of when we had out cat, Alvin. We had a water squirt bottle too BUT when we started squirting the bottle at him he would come up and put his mouth on the nozzel and drink the water while we were squirting it in his mouth :cool: It was way too funny!

[Diana]

Gene, have you tried the whale tail and bouncing the flash off the ceiling?

Diana

[snidely]

Hey Kimi,
you saidDenise, I have 11+ ceilings, they are not white but beige. Every time I have tried.... my image is too dark. In the video, he kept talking about using your lowest F stop with the ceiling bounce. On my big lens I don't have a very low stop. Tried it with my 50mm today and my images are still too dark.
I need to watch it again. I must be missing something.

There's no reason to think you're missing something. Eleven feet is a whole lot higher than eight feet and beige is a whole lot beigier (?) than white. Not everything works every time in every location.

This flash-diffuser business is just one more example of this folk wisdom I just made up: What works the best is what's right, right? I've been using the "cut-off isopropyl alcohol bottle diffuser" with pretty good results. I'm not sure how much longer "pretty good" will be "good enough", though. I love new equipment:)

Have fun,
Steve

[genevh]

Yes, I've tried a lot with bouncing the flash off the ceiling, both with a diffuser ($14.95 SB Supreme (http://www.adorama.com/SBM0105.html)) and without one, with mixed results. And never really 100% satisfied with what the results I got, even when they turned out OK.

My ceilings at the house are cathedral type, starting at 8' on the far edge to 10' in the middle. Maybe I just never could get the angles figured out, not sure there. And when we were down at my daughter's, her ceilings are low, 7' I think, and a lot of my shots still turned out a bit dark unless I went with a higher ISO, which starts to generate noise.

So, after seeing this thread, and checking out Gary Fong a little and his diffusers, and also after viewing several threads on the "do it yourself" diffusers (which, incidentally the best one I saw compared his stuff with Gary's), I decided to go with the whale tail.

I do confess, I like gadgets, and will admit it can be a weakness. :o

[SoCalCameraPro]

Kimi, what kind of camera do you have? I have been wanting one of these but hadn't had a chance to look yet. It is nice to have recommendations. I have a Canon Rebel xt but did not see it listed on the chart.


Christine, It's not the camera, but the flash that you need to look for. The diffuser fits over the flash. There is a size chart at:

>> http://garyfong.helpserve.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=34 <<

Kind of a long address, so be sure to copy everything between the >> <<

If you have trouble, just tell me the flash that you use, and I'll help you figure out the size. Also, I have a few videos on my blog where I talk about how to use the Gary Fong diffusers.

[SoCalCameraPro]

Denise, I have 11+ ceilings, they are not white but beige. Every time I have tried.... my image is too dark. In the video, he kept talking about using your lowest F stop with the ceiling bounce. On my big lens I don't have a very low stop. Tried it with my 50mm today and my images are still too dark. :(

I need to watch it again. I must be missing something.

I just didn't have the cash to spring for the whale tail but I am sure it must do a better job.

For the 11ft+ ceilings, you should take the inverted dome off and tilt the Lightsphere at about 45 degrees. Put the flash on TTL, open the aperture and much as you can, then drag the shutter -- may 1/30. Don't worry about motion blur. If your flash is on TTL (eTTL of Canon, iTTL for Nikon) the burst of light wil be 1/10000 of faster.

I have a few videos on the use of the Gary Fong diffusres on my blog - see my sig.

[kimi_boo]

I will check the videos tomorrow. I have to say I have been very happy with my diffuser. :D

Has anyone seen his wedding pictures. Magnificent!!
http://www.garyfonginc.com/weddingmailing.html

[SoCalCameraPro]

If I can answer any questions, just let me know. I've done 175 weddings with the Lightspheres -- only about five with the Whaletail, since they've only been available since the end of March.