Poll Results: Your Favorite Diffuser for Canon 580 for Wedding Photography

[Baadil]

Hi,

Following are the result I collect from the poll selections as well as from the comments.


Bare Flash - 2
Bare Flash with Bracket - 3
Flip flash - 3
Flip Card - 14
Gary Fong - 17
Other - 35

Comments:

Lumiquest ProMax - 10
Bracket - 6
Bounce Card - 5
Sto Fen - 4
Flip Card - 2
Gary fong - 2
Bare Flash - 1
Tupperware - 1
Micro Apollo - 1
Westcott Softbox - 1
Umbrella - 1

Thanks.

[adblink]

see this is what I dont understand, everyone knocks the lightsphere, but it recieved the most votes? are people voting for it because they like the videos they have seen but don't actually own one?

for people like me who are trying to decide what one to buy, it makes things confusing! The poll says different things then some of the comments Ive read

[Titus213]

see this is what I dont understand, everyone knocks the lightsphere, but it recieved the most votes? are people voting for it because they like the videos they have seen but don't actually own one?

for people like me who are trying to decide what one to buy, it makes things confusing! The poll says different things then some of the comments Ive read

Polls don't tell much but numbers. I would venture to guess that most wedding shooters have more than one diffuser type in the bag. I would also bet that most of them don't have an LSII that they use regularly.

[Baadil]

hmmm. Even after the poll, I am still confused what most of the wedding Pros use. I wonder if it is some secret that only Wedding Protog Cult members are priv to know. :-)

[Wilt]

hmmm. Even after the poll, I am still confused what most of the wedding Pros use. I wonder if it is some secret that only Wedding Protog Cult members are priv to know. :-)

Each pro has a technique that works for them, that brings money to put food on the table...and they might not know whether or not a BETTER technique would work!

A 'pro' is someone PAID, not necessarily someone who is an EXPERT about all technical aspects pertaining to their work! (Reminds me of the 'pro' in the film days who had no clue as to the purpose of a skylight filter.)

You see some 'pros' using the Fong LS, and you also hear of other pros who were disgusted with the thing falling off and rolling around the floor during the ceremony...maybe the first group simply has not learned the shortfalls of the Fong LS yet!

[e r y k]

imo a lot of people overlook just a simple bounce card made with a 3x5.

[tim]

hmmm. Even after the poll, I am still confused what most of the wedding Pros use. I wonder if it is some secret that only Wedding Protog Cult members are priv to know. :-)

You could try asking in the wedding forum...

I'm a full time wedding photographer, I own most of the diffusers in the list. I mostly use walls as diffusers, or off camera lighting pointing into an umbrella. Inside I use the pull out card on the 580EX. Outside in bright light I use direct flash, I need all the power I can get then.

[Hinson]

The best (albeit not the most professional looking) flash modifier I've seen is the 'abetterbouncecard.' (abetterbouncecard.com). It does a great job, is adjustable and costs only a buck or two and 15 minutes of your time.

Hinson

[Baadil]

Thanks Tim.

Main problem I run into is that most wedding halls etc I go to do not have white wall etc or they are too far/high to be of any use. Also, probably like most places, lighting is pretty bad and multi-temp. This is why I am trying to find out what people (who get paid to do this) use. Also, in most cases it would be hard to be able to use umbrellas etc unless they are for formals.

What do you use for umbrella, a camera flash or a studio flash? I have a set of AB800 but I am not sure if taking that into weddings would be of any use.

Thanks.

You could try asking in the wedding forum...

I'm a full time wedding photographer, I own most of the diffusers in the list. I mostly use walls as diffusers, or off camera lighting pointing into an umbrella. Inside I use the pull out card on the 580EX. Outside in bright light I use direct flash, I need all the power I can get then.

[Baadil]

Thank you for your comments. This is exactly what I am looking for. I am not asking everyone necessarily what is best but instead what is best that work for them. From that I can derive what is best out there. I am sure there are differences in how each photog does his/her work but in the end I think everyone's goal is to have nice lighting resulting in nice captures.

Each pro has a technique that works for them, that brings money to put food on the table...and they might not know whether or not a BETTER technique would work!

A 'pro' is someone PAID, not necessarily someone who is an EXPERT about all technical aspects pertaining to their work! (Reminds me of the 'pro' in the film days who had no clue as to the purpose of a skylight filter.)

You see some 'pros' using the Fong LS, and you also hear of other pros who were disgusted with the thing falling off and rolling around the floor during the ceremony...maybe the first group simply has not learned the shortfalls of the Fong LS yet!

[tim]

Thanks Tim.

Main problem I run into is that most wedding halls etc I go to do not have white wall etc or they are too far/high to be of any use. Also, probably like most places, lighting is pretty bad and multi-temp. This is why I am trying to find out what people (who get paid to do this) use. Also, in most cases it would be hard to be able to use umbrellas etc unless they are for formals.

What do you use for umbrella, a camera flash or a studio flash? I have a set of AB800 but I am not sure if taking that into weddings would be of any use.


If I can't bounce I use high ISO and undiffused fill flash. Remember you can bounce off anything, a person in a while shirt works fine.

For my off camera flash I usually use a 550EX with a CP-E3 battery pack on a tripod with an umbrella. Tomorrow will be my first attempt at lighting an entire reception hall using strobes bounced off the ceiling.

[Baadil]

I would love to know how your lighting goes tomorrow and setup/room size etc. Good luck :-)

If I can't bounce I use high ISO and undiffused fill flash. Remember you can bounce off anything, a person in a while shirt works fine.

For my off camera flash I usually use a 550EX with a CP-E3 battery pack on a tripod with an umbrella. Tomorrow will be my first attempt at lighting an entire reception hall using strobes bounced off the ceiling.