Gary Fong Lightsphere flash diffuser

*Lance B* · 02-28-2009, 04:24 AM

I posted a similar thread over at DPR, but I thought it would be most beneficial here for those looking for a fantastic flash diffuser that works brilliantly. IMO, it is so good it is almost foolproof, the light is even, with no harsh shadows. I am so happy with the results that I am no longer concerned about using flash and will use it more now that my results are so good. It is basically as good as having a portable studio on your flash!

The beauty of the GFL is that it uses bounce *and* a small amount of frontal fill which eliminates any shadows but *doesn't* put harsh lighing on the subject themselves. The only thing you may have to do (probably partly due to the cloudy version that I have) is to boost up the flash to +1 EV and maybe also the camera to +0.3 to + 0.7 EV as the GFL does rob you of some power. I am sure that they say that the clear does not rob you of as much power.

May I also suggest the "chrome dome" as a valuable extra as this seems to give more light output.

Here is the thread at DPR:

Gary Fong Lightsphere sample photos: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Photos are all taken with the K20D + DA*16-50 f2.8 + AF540FGZ with Gary Fong Lightsphere attached:

levelred · 02-28-2009, 05:59 AM

rrrrrgh... i didn't want to spend that much on a diffuser but it does seems worth it...

vievetrick · 02-28-2009, 07:25 AM

Lance, long time no see

great to hear from you. I have this and am really not found of using it but have a big event tonight and thinking of giving it another shot. My biggest concern is the fact that on the 540 the weight with the GFL on it does not stay in the up position. What are you using to make it stay? Also are you using it in M mode or another. I will be at a hall that I have shot several times with success as the ceilings are white and using the sto-fen or nothing have provided decent results.

*Lance B* · 03-01-2009, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by vievetrick

Lance, long time no see great to hear from you. I have this and am really not found of using it but have a big event tonight and thinking of giving it another shot. My biggest concern is the fact that on the 540 the weight with the GFL on it does not stay in the up position. What are you using to make it stay? Also are you using it in M mode or another. I will be at a hall that I have shot several times with success as the ceilings are white and using the sto-fen or nothing have provided decent results.

Hi Pat,

Nice to be back. :-)

I generally use it in the straight up position or the straigth ahead position, so there is not the tendency to drop. I also generally use Av mode and PTTL on the flash.

I have found inconsistent results with the Stofen, but the Lightspherte seems to work very well. I did use A Better Bounce Card method which was *very* successful with exposure but still a little harsh compared to the Lightsphere.

Better bounce card here:
ABetterBounceCard.com

Idanz0r · 03-01-2009, 06:42 AM

Lance, do you know which Lightsphere fits EF530 Super?

*HermanLee* · 03-01-2009, 11:04 AM

Hi Lance,

Congrats on your brand spanking new Lightsphere.
It looks very good. Very different than bouncing the flash.

I was thinking to get this one also but I saw my friend had it on his Canon and it looks pretty big so I'm still not sure yet.
BTW, do you happen to know how it is compared to the Gary Fong Whaletail?
It looks more compact, but does it give similar effect like Lightsphere?

Thanks,

*Lance B* · 03-01-2009, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by HermanLee

Hi Lance,

Congrats on your brand spanking new Lightsphere.
It looks very good. Very different than bouncing the flash.

I was thinking to get this one also but I saw my friend had it on his Canon and it looks pretty big so I'm still not sure yet.
BTW, do you happen to know how it is compared to the Gary Fong Whaletail?
It looks more compact, but does it give similar effect like Lightsphere?

Thanks,

Hi Herman,

Thanks for the good wishes.

I *think* the Whaletail is as good, or maybe even better from the video I saw *after* I purchased the Lightsphere, than the Lightsphere and is much smaller.

If I were to buy again, I would consider the Whaletail over the Lightsphere.

Cheers,
Lance

*Lance B* · 03-01-2009, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Idanz0r

Lance, do you know which Lightsphere fits EF530 Super?

You can use the Universal Fit system, like I purchased, or you can look it up on his site, here:

Lightsphere-2 CLEAR

You may want to look at his Whaletail as well. It looks as though it might be as good, or better, but in a much smaller package:

WhaleTail Flash Diffuser

vievetrick · 03-01-2009, 07:37 PM

Thanks Lance for the reply. I have the LS and have to say even in the straigh up position I have found it is top heavy and falls forward with a slight movement. I have to play a little more. Thanks again and glad to see you here.

*calicojack* · 03-02-2009, 05:52 AM

Every photo I've seen of the GF LS shows it on a flash with the head rotated 90`. The 360's head doesn't rotate. Will it work OK without rotating? I understand that in portrait mode I wouldn't be able to point it to the ceiling when the flash is mounted on the camera. I routinely use a Stroboframe flip bracket and if I stop mid flip, I could make it point up.

I also keep reading about how the weight of the LS is enough to make the flash head tilt down on it's own. How heavy is this anyway?
Brian

*Lance B* · 03-02-2009, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by vievetrick

Thanks Lance for the reply. I have the LS and have to say even in the straigh up position I have found it is top heavy and falls forward with a slight movement. I have to play a little more. Thanks again and glad to see you here.

Pat,

I always use the flash in either the fully upright mode for bounce or the straight on mode where it can't drop further. When in the upright mode, the head of the flash should be rotated 90 degrees so that the short end of the flash faces the front and the long ends face the side. This way, the flash will not drop when you move the camera and it is also an easier job to go to portrait orientation as you just move the head to vertical again.

Here is how it should look for bounce mode. When going to portrait mode, you just tilt the head and it is in the same position for portraits:

This is *not* the way to have it:

*Lance B* · 03-02-2009, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by calicojack

Every photo I've seen of the GF LS shows it on a flash with the head rotated 90`. The 360's head doesn't rotate. Will it work OK without rotating? I understand that in portrait mode I wouldn't be able to point it to the ceiling when the flash is mounted on the camera. I routinely use a Stroboframe flip bracket and if I stop mid flip, I could make it point up.

I also keep reading about how the weight of the LS is enough to make the flash head tilt down on it's own. How heavy is this anyway?
Brian

I have both the 360 and the 540. My 360 seems to be *much* stiffer in the tilt mechanism than the 540 and therefore it doesn't have the tendency to sag under the weight of the GFL.

You will just have to use the GFL in the normal vertical mode for bounce and with portraits, you will have to point the flash head at the subject. The GFL works well enough in this mode to still give a soft and even enough light. I will try to give the 360 a few test shots using these methods.

*calicojack* · 03-02-2009, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by Lance B

I have both the 360 and the 540. My 360 seems to be *much* stiffer in the tilt mechanism than the 540 and therefore it doesn't have the tendency to sag under the weight of the GFL.

You will just have to use the GFL in the normal vertical mode for bounce and with portraits, you will have to point the flash head at the subject. The GFL works well enough in this mode to still give a soft and even enough light. I will try to give the 360 a few test shots using these methods.

Thanks. I appreciate your efforts to provide useage info on the 360. (Especially since the post before this one you said that "This is *not* the way to have it:" showing the 540 straight on.) If I understand correctly, you are saying that pointing the top of the LS still gives enough diffusion to soften the flash and the remainder of the "bowl" will give enough to give a bounce effect to the photo.
Brian

This sounds almost too good to be true.

P.S. Do you know if the chrome dome will still work with the LS straight on?

vievetrick · 03-02-2009, 07:11 AM

Thanks Lance. I have to get one of those straps mine did not come with one of those. I assume your did. I got it from a shop new so would think It would have come with one. I will have to find something simular to work.

*calicojack* · 03-02-2009, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by vievetrick

Thanks Lance. I have to get one of those straps mine did not come with one of those. I assume your did. I got it from a shop new so would think It would have come with one. I will have to find something simular to work.

If I read it correctly, the strap is part of the "universal fit" light sphere.