Has anyone used that Flash Clip being sold on eBay?

[pradeep1]

I seen this flash clip for the G3 being posted on this forum and seen it on eBay being sold here:

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=flashclip&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

Is it worth the money? I know user 'flashclip' will say yes, but I thought I'd get some other opinions and comments.

Thanks,

Pradeep

[yallcome]

Funny -- I use my finger sometimes to do this same thing, and have often wondered why someone hasn't come up with a solution like it. Makes sense to me. Will be interested to hear any users' comments though.

[pradeep1]

I've done the finger thing too. Maybe a sticky lucite tab would do the same?

[Deckyon]

I have used a little clear tape and a folded piece of tissue paper for the same thing...

[flashclip]

Well, of course you know what I will say, but you can check my ebay feedback. Most people just say great transaction, but here is a quote for you all:

"arcbiznet( 156) Oct-28-03 17:26:46 PST 2958421302 S
Praise : Great little innovative product. Works as promised. Thanks. "

And of course, here is a link for you all


http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=flashclip&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

[Cadenza]

pradeep1 wrote:

Is it worth the money? I know user 'flashclip' will say yes, but I thought I'd get some other opinions and comments.


My best guess is that this flashclip would bring an improvement, to
certain macro (but not super macro) shots, under an extremely
limited set of circumstances. Even the sample shots the ad (coin, toy)
are macro type shots.

The main reason being that the G3/G5's built-in flash has a very
limited range. Once you cover the light source with a diffusing
semitransparent layer, you are going to loose even more flash range.
You can adjust the flash output upwards until you're blue in the face,
but it is going to be significantly weaker.

While I don't mean to knock the extensive R&D and stylish design
process that went into creating the flashclip accessory being offered,
I should point out that the effect of this product can be easily
reproduced with a piece of paper and two pieces of tape in front of
the G3's built-in-flash.

Like this:

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~didi/cheapdiff/Cheapdiff.jpg

(You'll have to pretend my card reader is the G3, since I was using the
G3 to take this pic and didn't have another digicam handy.)

Here are some results for your comparison, of Grommit on a wingless
plane, in a improvised micro studio on my desk, using an 8.5x11"
sheet of paper:

(All samples resized, shot on "P" mode/Macro/Normal "0" flash output
setting when flash was used) (TOP straight out of camera; BOTTOM w/
Photoshop autocontrast)

Sample A - Grommit, NO flash, indoor light:

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~didi/cheapdiff/grommitNOF.jpg


Sample B - Grommit, Direct G3 Built-in Flash:
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~didi/cheapdiff/grommitBFDIR.jpg


Sample C - Grommit, Directed External Flash 420EX:

(Note flash light fall off, since Grommit was placed very
close to camera lens, in macro mode)

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~didi/cheapdiff/grommitXFDIR.jpg


Sample D- Grommit, Direct G3 Built-in Flash, w/ the paper and tape diffuser alternative:

(note considerable reduction in flash output in the non PS adjusted image)

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~didi/cheapdiff/grommitBFDF.jpg


Sample E - Grommit under ceiling bounced external flash:

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~didi/cheapdiff/grommitXFB.jpg


Bonus sample: Orange Mini DV tape, TOP direct built flash; BOTTOM with paper & tape diffuser; G3 auto mode

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~didi/cheapdiff/dvtapes.jpg


So in conclusion, what I think about the fastclip product without
having used it or seen one person is that it has a very limited
functionality, although it is slightly more elegant than a piece of
creased paper and two pieces of tape. However, because of its
size, it is probably also prone to be lost precisely at those times
when you might actually need it. Truth be told, if it had any promise,
Canon/Olympus/Nikon would have made an accessory based on
this concept by now.

It is also seems severely overpriced for what it is. R&D for my paper
and tape diffuser cost about $0.20 cents; its implementation and
usage were essentially free. You can't blame anyone for trying to
make a living and building a mail-order business, but still, it would
seem exorbitant to charge more than $3 for this product, shipping
included.

However, I am a professional reviewer (though not usually of photo
accessories), and if the marketing people of fastclip would like to send
me a review unit, I'll be happy to re-evaluate this product.

[pradeep1]

Thanks cadenza for your useful analysis. Flashclip, why don't you send a sample to cadenza and let him post a thorough review of it.

[flashclip]

Hope you received the email I sent... I've posted more samples on a new auction which can be found at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2962155090

The issue of distance keeps coming up, and while the shots of the keyboard and the dime were within macro range, here are the distances for the others:

The toy 2-3 feet

The lips - These shots are deceptive because they are of my wife, who was sitting in bed and I was standing at the end of the bed. She just didn't want her full picture published all over the internet... especially since she had just woken up. =) Distance was about 5 ft or just short of the length of the bed.

The newest shots are are 12 feet away.

[SC300T]

I bought one of these flash clips from this guy... My impressions are mainly positive, provided you know in advance what its limitations are.

1. Flash output is reduced. When manual flash power is selected, the overall light output with the internal flash alone set at 2/3 seems about equal to with the flash clip at 100% flash power.

2. Less harsh shadows. Subtle but shadows seem softer.

3. Color balance changes somewhat. Not necessarily because of the flashclip itself- but because the reduced flash output combines more of the natural (incadescent?/flourescent) light. Not a disadvantage, but something to make note of. For instance, using flash w/b setting in an incadescent lit room yields more of an orange look than with the flash by itself.

4. Hot spots reduced... Yes, hot spots are reduced by quite a bit. Also flash seems to fill the frame evenly in the corners, especially where the lens interacts with the flash output.

5. Red eye? Not sure on this, but seems a bit better. Eliminated? Not entirely eliminated.

6. It gives your pictures less of that "flash" look to them.


This flashclip seems best suited for moderately lit rooms where the flash is needed to help with some fill. Completely dark rooms and subjects at distances over about 10 feet (a guess) are probably beyond help of this device. By reducing and diffusing the light output on a closer shot (

[nmack]

jsut wondering - since i use the lensmate 52mm adapter; when i use the internal flash i get vignetting ont he lower right hand cornner. Does this flashclip solve that problem?

[pradeep1]

flashclip, your photos on your eBay listing are not loading.

[yallcome]

pradeep1 wrote:
flashclip, your photos on your eBay listing are not loading.

loading fine for me.

m2