View Full Version : Gary Fong Lightsphere Diffuser.
I've been interested in this diffuser since I saw posts about it being in the development stage quite some time ago. It is now available in the UK so, I ordered one a couple of days ago, and it's now been delivered. This shot shows the Lightsphere mounted on the the 580EX and set up for macro shots. (Taken with the nifty fifty)
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/Macro_setup.jpg
Sorry, just another fly shot... but they're easy prey when you're looking for a subject. :shrug:
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/fly2.jpg
This shot was taken at 1/250th. at f20 (ISO 300) and allows a greater depth of field than would normally be possible without flash. Unfortunately, it's often difficult to avoid the harsh flash reflections from the harder shinier bits of most flies and bugs. The diffuser seems to have worked remarkably well in this shot in avoiding flash glare.
So far I'm very impressed with the diffuser which seems to be a well designed, well thought out bit of kit, and probably the best answer to diffusing flash mounted on the camera I've yet seen.
Interesting. So is it just a bowl in a cup on an attachment then? I've only ever seen them in profile, just wondered as it must be possible to cobble one together at home!
You perhaps could Spencer, although even allowing for the marketing BS hype, I suspect there's a lot of development gone into it. The end cap is removable and is an inverted dome. The dome is also more opaque than the rest of the diffuser, which has the effect of bouncing the flash back into the diffuser, the whole thing then lights up impressively, so your flash source is much larger than normal and goes a long way to reducing harsh shadows. There are grooved patterns cut into the dome and the body of the diffuser which are supposed to optimise light spread.
I wish I'd had one of these when I was doing wedding interior shots. It comes with an instructional CD which shows interior shots with and without it, and it's really most impressive.
More info here.
http://store.garyfonginc.com/liiido.html
And it set you back?
Just over 50 quid with the shipping. This was the only UK distributor I could find.
http://www.bbjimports.com/productinfo.html
You'd have to be carefull someone doesn't try to fill that with coffee :D
Hows the tripod head performing?
LOL. It's bloody fantastic Matt.... great bit of kit. I just need your 800mm to stick on it now. :'(
Well, you might get the opertunity if I can make it to Twycross.
I like the fact that you can put the flash on the top of the head, something manfrotto have missed on the 393.
I need to get one manufactured so I can do the same.
I like the fact that you can put the flash on the top of the head
That's a bonus I didn't expect. You can actually use that mount to mount a second camera, (just screws into the camera body or into the tripod collar) or just mount your camera there if you want more up and down vertical free movement.
You can get a second QR plate for that as well cant you CT ?
You can get a second QR plate for that as well cant you CT ?
Well it comes with three different sized Arca-Swiss plates. They're not QR, but yep you can get QR plates.
Sorry, i should have expressed myself better ! lol i believe there is an option to have a second QR fitted to the head, so can fit 2 cameras using QR plates ! :)
Sorry, i should have expressed myself better ! lol i believe there is an option to have a second QR fitted to the head, so can fit 2 cameras using QR plates ! :)
LOL I dunno mate, but that would make sense. All the plate would have to have would be a threaded tripod bush in the base.
LOL i am trying to find the article i saw showing it ! :)
hmmm, see, now, as soon as you said 'interiors' you sparked my inerest!
Wonder if one of these would be handy for work? Don't suppose you fancy doing a 3 shot compare of an interior for me do you? un-diffused, normal diffuser and lightsphere?
Understand if you're busy and all that.......
hmmm, see, now, as soon as you said 'interiors' you sparked my inerest!
Wonder if one of these would be handy for work? Don't suppose you fancy doing a 3 shot compare of an interior for me do you? un-diffused, normal diffuser and lightsphere?
Understand if you're busy and all that.......
I'll do it later mate... no probs. Gotta fight throught the traffic and pick Jab up. :shrug:
I'll do it later mate... no probs. Gotta fight throught the traffic and pick Jab up.
i think he means Jan ! ;)
thats a pretty mean looking set up right at the top page :o
I'll do it later mate... no probs. Gotta fight throught the traffic and pick Jan up. :shrug:
no hurry ced, I'm off to the wedding pre-party in a bit so wont be back til monday!
Mucho appreciated though!
thats a pretty mean looking set up right at the top page :o
When you see it setup like this it makes you think ! :)
http://www.dietmar-nill.de/project_images/doppel_g_1150105707.jpg
oh my, that is funky doodle dooo! who's kit is that? anyone from here?
BTW what you doing in the week Ian?
No its from Dietmar Nills website, the creator of the Gimbal head Cedric is using ! :)
As to what im doing in the week, it depends on work ! lol i can either be at home "working" or i could be in Edinburgh or Glasgow or London ! or anywhere in between ! lol
ah ok!
Pfft, I have the week off, and want to do something lol :P
Great setup.
One question though - How much does all that cost ?
I guessing by the time you've bought the Flash cord, brackets and diffuser you're not far away from the cost of a Macro flash?
Well i know the head isnt cheap ! lol but theres no additional brackets involved i think ! thats the way the head works ! the off camera cord is about 40 quid i think, the diffuser is 50, so is 95 quid for flash stuff, plus the *coff* small amount for the head ! which of course can be used for all sorts of photography not juts Macro ! :)
hmm doesn't the lens cost like 1k?
why don't you havew the flash on top of the cam?
One question though - How much does all that cost ?
Head is as i said not cheap ! £499.00 ! You would never need another head though by looks of it !
Off camera Flash cord £40.50
Lightsphere £50.00
580EX £289.00
Used Warehouseexpress for prices ! :)
MR14-EX Macrolite £329.00
MT24-EX Macro Flash £589.00
So if you already have the head and flash ! Its a lot cheaper than a dedicated macro flash ! :)
hmm doesn't the lens cost like 1k?
why don't you havew the flash on top of the cam?
Yep the lens is the Canon 180mm Macro L lens at £1019.00
thats the same as the 100-400L :o
Yep lol the L glass isnt cheap like any good quality lens ! :)
Hope CT doesnt mind me busting into his thread ! lol or ill get moderated ! LOL
well :P
Whats the focusing distance on a lens like that?
Double_Agent
14-07-2006, 16:09
Cant keep up witht he replies to this.
Is it just me or does this "DOME" not look like a dome off of one of those Solar lights for your garden......
Not saying it is, but its very cleverly designed and looks very similar.
Closest focussing is .48 metres apparently
thats close, with the 180 zoom :o
But it's expensive!! I was recently thinking about getting a macro lens, but 100-400L Is my next purchase, well I say purchase, but when CT lets me play with his, I'm going to run off with it ;)
Kidding btw :P
Double_Agent
14-07-2006, 16:14
Kidding btw :P
Lies I tell ya. Thats why we got the slimming post. He was identifying who could stand in the way of him so as to let him have a safe passage back to the car. :razz:
don't mean to thread hijack but can some recommend a cheap macro?
why don't you havew the flash on top of the cam?
The whole idea is to get the flash further forward and over the subject Dan,where it throws the light downwards and casts more natural and less hard shadows. In every day life we're used to light coming from above, whether it's from the sky or room lighting, which is why flash on camera produces that stark 'frightened deer in the headlights' look - it's totally unreal, which is why it's better to bounce the flash off the ceiling, which throws the shadows more downwards. Also, because the ceiling is now acting as a huge reflector, the light is much softer compared to being beamed at your subjects straight from the flash like a searchlight!
oooooooh I see, that actully makes uber sense :D
don't mean to thread hijack but can some recommend a cheap macro?
Sigma 105mm or Tamron 90mm are probably the cheapest full 1:1 Macro lenses, but I would recommend the Canon 100mm over both of them due to it having internal focus.
The Canon 100mm is roughly £380.
I took this today with one.
http://www.ph-digitalphotography-motorsports.com/macro/fly-1.jpg
hmmm, see, now, as soon as you said 'interiors' you sparked my inerest!
Wonder if one of these would be handy for work? Don't suppose you fancy doing a 3 shot compare of an interior for me do you? un-diffused, normal diffuser and lightsphere?
Here you go Spencer...
These three shots were taken hand held - couldn't be arsed to set up the tripod. All taken at 17mm. Metered for the room light and exposure for all three was 1/8 at f4.5, so probably not the sharpest. All jpegs, all 400 ISO. All shots were taken with the 580EX pointing straight up at the ceiling. None have been processed at all other than reduced to web size and sharpened.
1. 580EX WITHOUT WIDE ANGLE DIFFUSER.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/530/1-_580EX_-_No_Diffuser.jpg
Ugh!
2. 580EX WITH WIDE ANGLE DIFFUSER
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/530/2_-_580EX_with_diffuser.jpg
Better - in fact it's not bad at all.
3. 580EX WITH LIGHTSPHERE AND DOME FITTED.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/530/3_-_Lightsphere_with_dome.jpg
By far the nicer version for me, giving the least shadows and the most detail in the shot from the light thrown sideways from that large diffuser body. It's also slightly warmer, which is a tendency of the 'Cloud' (more opaque) version I opted for. In some of the baronial halls you probably have to paint with light, you might be better off with the 'normal' (clearer) version?
There is a 4th option actually, which is to use the Lightsphere without the dome but that's only recommended for unusually high ceilings.
You may not see enough difference in it for your purposes Spencer, but when I talk about wedding interiors, I'm talking about photographing people in close proximity to walls which show up harsh shadows, and try as you may, you can't always get the room you'd like between your subjects and those walls to lessen the shadows, which is where I think the lightsphere will really prove it's worth.
Hope that helps mate. :)
wow, that's really really impressive, it makes such a difference :D
Great setup.
One question though - How much does all that cost ?
I guessing by the time you've bought the Flash cord, brackets and diffuser you're not far away from the cost of a Macro flash?
Well, like most of us, I have to be pretty choosy where I spend the dosh. If money was no object then a macro flash would be great, but I chose to spend the money on the gimbal head having regard to the fact that it was going to have the most benefit to both my wildlife and macro photography. Once the head is set up properly then you can swing the camera to any position and rotate it to the portrait position, virtually with the touch of a finger. With really long lenses, then a gimbal head becomes an absolute necessity, so I'm thinking long term about where the dosh is best deployed. :)
I've already grabbed shots with this head which I'd have missed messing about with knobs and levers, so it's money well spent for me.
Cheers for that ced, much appreciated!
It does make quite a difference. I use the diffuser that came with the sb800 at the moment and it's fine for use in most situations, but I do get problem shadows if the room has big windows and I'm trying to balance the interior light with the windows as it means shorter exposures and more flash. I think I may have to get another flashgun too as I've been having problems with these bloody open plan living arrangements lol.
I now also know what you mean about the wedding interiors too! BIG problems with shadows on walls as I'm sure you'll see when I put up some shots out of the 400 odd I shot!
Thanks again (even though you have made me spend money!)
CT - I spose if you're going to use the tripod head for other stuff then it makes it worth doing :)
Thanks again (even though you have made me spend money!)
Sorry! :D
CT - I spose if you're going to use the tripod head for other stuff then it makes it worth doing :)
Yep... I just have no idea where the 600mm is coming from at the moment! :'(
How well does it work in portrait mode? I've got some stuff coming up and I'd rather not have to hire out all the studio lighting for it.
Pete
There's a fair bit about it on Gary Fongs site
HERE (http://store.garyfonginc.com/liiido.html)
I've heard lots of people say he's all hype. I'd prefer to hear it from somone I trust :)
How well does it work in portrait mode? I've got some stuff coming up and I'd rather not have to hire out all the studio lighting for it.
I took this shot the other morning in portrait mode. It must be an absolute 'worst case' scenario... Jan was about two feet from the wall, the flash was pointing vertically at the ceiling, and I was very close, using the 50mm 1.4. You can see how that huge diffuser body has filled in the face and avoided the dark eye sockets. You can also see how slight that shadow cast sideways behind her is, even at these short distances. The shot was taken with the dome in place. If I'd have removed the dome it would have had an even more killer effect on that shadow.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/Jan.jpg
I'm really chuffed with it. If I was buying it again I'd probably go for the clearer version rather than the cloudy one which tends to give rather warm skin tones for my taste, but I'd definitely get it again... it's the best on-camera solution I've yet come across.
So would you say its a cheap substitue for a studio setup? Obviously not a replacement, but for those times when you cba taking a whole studio on location would you say it'll do the job? Reason I ask is that I have a client who wants me to shoot some people against a white backdrop so they can cut the people out and paste them into their designs. Do you think it would cope without producing harsh shadows?
I think you'd need a multiple light set up Pete to do an as good or better job than the Fong. Obviously, the further you move your subects away from the white background, the less the shadows should be anyway.
Awesome. I think I'll order one tomorrow as I have two shoots next week that could benefit from it. The thing is can you convince a client that some crazy ass blob on your flash can replace a small studio? :)
LOL. I know what you mean.
I got mine from here... quick delivery!!
http://www.bbjimports.com/productinfo.html
Cool. Thanks for your help.
The thing is can you convince a client that some crazy ass blob on your flash can replace a small studio?
I think you could but that doesn't mean that it can. You can diffuse light as much as you want but it's never going to look anything like light comming from multiple sources
The yog pot thing will make an on camera flash about as good as you'll ever get it but it won't look anything like a real 2 or 3 head set up.
Great bit of kit to have though as there will always be times where a full set up just isn't possible.
I've just ordered the clear version as I have my first wedding next week (assistant photographer) so I'll be interested to see how it performs.
ffej1405
18-08-2006, 09:14
How does this compare to the Sto-Fen diffusers? Anyone done a comparison?
How does this compare to the Sto-Fen diffusers? Anyone done a comparison?
I haven't done a direct comparison, but I used two Stofens on separate flashguns for quite a while and I was never impressed with them. They do soften the light somewhat, but their effect on hard shadows is nowhere near as good as the Fong. Whilst the Stofens do diffuse the light, they effectively reduce the size of the flash source (which is the opposite effect of what you actually want) while the Fong substantially increases it.
Ok mine arrived. Great delivery. Just a few tests with it on my new 430ex and hmmm. Maybe its my room but it doesn't seem to do a huge amount. I'll post some pics in a bit.
I've just ordered the clear version as I have my first wedding next week (assistant photographer) so I'll be interested to see how it performs.
Tell you what Hacker get ready for some strange looks fella !! Used mine (Cloudy One) at the last wedding :eek: There huge !! people thought I'd got some kind of tupperware container stuck to my flash :D :thumbs:
Ok after a test using my newly found white background it does do something.
http://petemc.net/images/lightsphere2.jpg
From what I can see the fill-in flash is more balanced and theres less shadows on the right hand side of the image. I'm more chuffed with the fact that I found a portable white background lying round :D
Is your hat welded on, all your pics I've seen are you and that Hat!!!:thinking:
second looks more even on the background Pete...
im with on the hair dude...takes an age to wash my face now...
The shadows under your eyes seem considerably less & the skintones more neutral - looks good to me!
How much was it?
the lighsphere shot does look more natural pete, play about with it, see what you can do with it?
Yeah I will be as I have 2 shoots next week where I'll be using it.
http://petemc.net/images/lightsphere2-1.jpg
One on the left was with the flash pointed upwards and bounced off my ceiling. The right was with the lightsphere 2. See, no hat! :D They were before the white balance was corrected. That also helped.
busterboy
18-08-2006, 19:12
See, no hat! :D
Much better..;)
Is my eyesight failing me or are you wearing nail varnish..:nuts:
Much better..;)
Is my eyesight failing me or are you wearing nail varnish..:nuts:
Its your eyesight. It really really really is :p
busterboy
18-08-2006, 19:15
Its your eyesight. It really really really is :p
:thumbs: .. Glad thats sorted..:lol:
Looking good there Pete! :thumbs:
was that second one with the lightsphere bounced or direct? Looking good, regardless...
I'm thinking it probably is worth the 50 notes :thinking:
Oh, and nice shirt :thumbs:
was that second one with the lightsphere bounced or direct? Looking good, regardless...
I'm thinking it probably is worth the 50 notes :thinking:
Oh, and nice shirt :thumbs:
Yeah the lightsphere was also bounced. I put it on the flash after the first shot and didn't change the angle or anything. The shirt thanks you :D
The shirt thanks you :D
Collar needs ironed :p
Collar needs ironed :p
NoooooOo!
Tried the lightsphere as direct flash?
NoooooOo!
Tried the lightsphere as direct flash?
Not yet. Didn't think it was meant for that. Its going to take time for me to not feel silly using it though. :D
My Lightsphere has just turned up, very impressed with delivery as I only ordered yesterday although donkey brain here ordered the wrong one, I meant to order the clear but bought the cloud version instead.:bonk:
First impressions are that it is not as big as I expected and it doesn't look too outrageous and the DVD is very informative. I've taken some test shots, this is not a scientific test but I just wanted to get an idea of how it performed. I've got the house to myself at the moment so I had no willing volunteers so I stuck my D70 on the tripod as a subject, the camera was about a foot from the wall and I was shooting from about three feet away.
All shot with a Nikon D200, 18-70mm lens, Nikon SB600 flash, Manual setting 1/125th @ f/4.5.
Direct flash:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/HackerUK/Direct-flash.jpg
Direct flash with Stofen Onmi-bounce:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/HackerUK/Directstofen.jpg
Bounced Stofen:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/HackerUK/Bounced-stofen.jpg
Lightsphere:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/HackerUK/Lightsphere-no-dome.jpg
Vertical Lightsphere:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/HackerUK/Lightsphere-vertical.jpg
Considering how close I was I'm quite impressed with the results, I'll practice a bit more and I'm shooting some bands on Wednesday in the recording studio and then onto a gig so I'll be able to give it a proper test then.
Good innit! :) That's a pretty severe test with the subject so close to the wall and a close camera distance as well.
That's a pretty severe test with the subject so close to the wall and a close camera distance as well.
That is really what I wanted to test, if it is giving good/adequate results at that range I'm lookong forward to seeing the results from a real world test.
Thought you were supposed to put yourself in front of the camera for portrait assessment though ;)
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.