Gary Fong lightsphere

[mercersmoments]

What do you guys think of this?

Is it worth the $$$

Anyone have it? Is it any good to use at weddings?

TIA

[serviceover]

What do you guys think of this?

Is it worth the $$$

Anyone have it? Is it any good to use at weddings?

TIA


I have the cloud, only use it for facial portrates. I does tend to through the light everywhere.

If I knew then what I know now....i wouldn't have bought it.

[cdifoto]

It's ok for small rooms. Useless anywhere else. A Sto-fen is a lot smaller & cheaper and does pretty much the same thing.

[Angel_LCD]

Take a look at this thread also : http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=424145&highlight=lightsphere

I got a "copy" of it and I´m happy with it ;) Much cheaper and same effect :)

[Bootlegger0173]

I have it and use it, but the price isn't very affordable. I use a card for most things and just use the sphere for indoor portraits. Does a great job for that, but shortens your range. Also, the one for the 430 won't fit the 580 withoug mods, so be sure that you buy the right one, if you get one.

[SuzyView]

If all else fails, and for just a few people or close-up, it is okay. I now use the lumiquest softbox for the 580 or 430.

[Double Negative]

Click (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/search.php)

[Curtis N]

It's a piece of translucent plastic with all the technology of a Tupperware bowl. Compare the price of a Tupperware bowl to what Fong charges and see if your brain's rip-off meter doesn't flashing a warning signal.

It throws the light in all directions. Do you want the light to go in all directions? Where do you want the light to go? I suggest you not whip out your credit card until you know the answer to those questions. Until you understand light, there is no piece of lighting equipment that will give you the results you want.

Fong's claims and sample shots on his website are so misleading they border on fraud. There is no magic bullet when it comes to light.

[brucep]

Curtis has a good point. The Stofen is far less cumbersome and lighter than any of Gary Fong's creations and they both will bounce a lot of light around a reflective room. Where there is no reflective surface (ceiling, wall, etc.... say on a beach at night or in a cave-like room), you need to increase the apparent size of your light source (with an umbrella or softbox) a tremendous amount to change the light quality. The Gary Fong WhaleTale Studio is much larger than the flashtube of a 580EX so it's the best I have for on-camera flash.

For "portable" candid shooting, multiple flash (http://tips.romanzolin.com/articles/article027.php=) gives great, "non-flashy" results.

[mercersmoments]

problem is, I bought the whole set

Got it cheap 2nd hand for $50AU so suppose its ok that its crap ! lol

[Curtis N]

The whole set of what?

[mercersmoments]

I got 2 spheres, a clear, a cloud, 3 cups (2 clear one yellow) and a silver dome

[Shooting]

I love mine.for weddings I use the clear. For processionals and you are kinda far away I take the dome off and point the flash 45 Degrees forward..the dome spreads the light enough and there is no dome stopping that it works perfect..I always use +1 at iso 400 indoors with it. In places where there are dark wood everywhere and nothing to reflect I use direct flash with a pre-flash for perfect exposures every time, but I use direct flash on a bracket..if the wedding place has high ceilings but white or off white I still use the lightsphere but clear one. The receptions are usually in smaller areas so I use the cloudy one with the chrome dome if there are high ceilings. I love the spreading of light it does..it bounces the light off of all the walls front, back and ceiling, good diffusion, lights up the entire room and with a FEC of+1 that I use, it can\'t beat because you lose about a stop using it. If there is a lot of tungsten lighting at the reception, I use the cloudy with the amber dome and set white balance to tungsten for great images. BTW, I shoot jpeg and have no problems with white balance adjustments if needed in CS3. If the wedding and reception areas are very dark I\'ll shoot raw so I can get and extra \"push\" of exposure in post processing.Lightsphere cloudy with amber dome, chrome dome or flash bracket for direct flash meets every need I come up against during a wedding.

[Double Negative]

I got 2 spheres, a clear, a cloud, 3 cups (2 clear one yellow) and a silver dome

The Donger saw you coming... :rolleyes:

[Wilt]

The Donger saw you coming... :rolleyes:

She was shrewd enough to pay nowhere near the asking price!...2nd hand for $50AU

If you are going to waste your money, it might as well be as little as possible! maybe we should recruit her to do a test series and post comparison photos for others to see what the various gadgets add (or not) to light modification.

[Bootlegger0173]

Not a bad bargain shopper, I'd say.

Just keep in mind that it is just a tool, and you have to find out when to use it and when to go to something else...

And when to chunk the whole flash setup back in the bag and just get awesome character shots.

[AmpedPhoto]

I like stofen, I have used the GF and and didn't like it at all. I did a golf terminate for my old work and the same lid fell of while I was driving around...damn piece of crap.

[cdifoto]

Flip it quick! Part it out on eBay and make a killing! :D

[Double Negative]

She was shrewd enough to pay nowhere near the asking price!...2nd hand for $50AU

Very true... ;)

[Titus213]

It's not a total loss in my opinion. The LSII has its uses. It works well around the house when I don't want to bother with a bracket and it is a whole lot cheaper than the Lumiquest ProMax with an off-shoe cord and bracket.

I will admit that mine gets less and less use as time goes on....perhaps I should sell it..