lightsphere cloud or clear?

[unix04]

i will be shooting at a wedding soon and i was asked to shoot at their reception. i was wondering if clear or cloud would be a better choice. the reception will be held indoors at a banquet hall. i am unsure about lighting, but im guessing it wont be too dark. [people gotta eat!] i will be shooting with a 24-70/2.8 and a 50/1.4. any suggestions?

[SkipD]

i will be shooting at a wedding soon and i was asked to shoot at their reception. i was wondering if clear or cloud would be a better choice. the reception will be held indoors at a banquet hall. i am unsure about lighting, but im guessing it wont be too dark. [people gotta eat!] i will be shooting with a 24-70/2.8 and a 50/1.4. any suggestions?NEITHER. You need nearby white walls and/or ceiling to make any of the 'tupperware' diffusers do any good for you. The surfaces are needed to bounce the light back toward your subject(s). Ballrooms with high ceilings and far-away walls just don't offer much to make the 'tupperware' work for you.

A much better, far more versatile, option for on-the-go flash use would be the LumiQuest Promax System (http://www.lumiquest.com/lq931.htm).

[Vascilli]

Bounce card, Sto-Fen, etc etc are cheaper and as good if not better.

[tim]

Neither. Instead learn about light and what the LightSphere is doing, and learn how to do similar things with less or no equipment.

[Curtis N]

I have the Lightsphere invisible model. It's quite a bit cheaper than the others and doesn't take up much room in my bag.

[alexg]

this is all you need...

http://abetterbouncecard.com/

oh ya, and please, learn about relative light source size and what makes light "soft" (not meant as an insult, but if you are wondering about tupperware diffusers, you probably don't have a clear understanding of how they work)

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/lighting-102-unit-21-apparent-light.html

[unix04]

tim, alexg... im all for learning. i just needed a quick fix for now, and i've heard good stuff about the lightsphere. i also have a homemade bounce card that works ok most of the time, but i wanted something more reliable and flexible. it seemed the lightspere could provide that based on suggestions from friends. i'd borrow theirs but they live out of state. i'll check out the promax system at the local store and see how it fares. thx for the suggestion skip.

[MinhThien]

Hey Unix for group shot take the Clear! and for 1 or 2 person take the Cloud! Gary Fong said "Buy them both!"

[MinhThien]

btw i see you got 430ex just like mine you should pick up the clear one for sure cause the 430ex doesn't have enough power like the 580ex!

[tim]

Tell us what you're planning on using the flash for (eg group shots, candids, etc) and the location (eg in a big ballroom, in a room with a low white ceiling, etc), and we'll tell you what to do. The Lightsphere isn't necessary, especially if you have a 430, the LS wastes light and you don't have a lot to spare. The 580 is only one stop more powerful but it takes battery packs which improve your recharge time.

[elysium]

Sadly, there is no quick fix. If you have not learnt the best way to get light from your flash, learn some more. Its impossible for anyone to give you the right answer, period.

To be honest, like most have said, ditch the idea of any plastic and go for a bounce card.

[angryhampster]

Hey Unix for group shot take the Clear! and for 1 or 2 person take the Cloud! Gary Fong said "Buy them both!"



Who's surprised? :lol:

[Wilt]

What the Adorama product information says:

"The Lightsphere-Photojournalist (PJ) is made of soft, transparent vinyl, and currently comes in two colors - CLEAR and CLOUD. The light quality transmitted through the CLEAR is somewhat cooler and a little more contrasty when compared to the CLOUD. The Lightsphere-CLEAR maximizes diffusion while minimizing light loss, allowing it to be used at greater distances. The CLEAR is highly recommended for photojournalistic assignments and general purpose photography.

The Lightsphere-CLOUD creates a more diffuse, softer, and somewhat warmer light. For this reason, it is well suited for "portrait style" lighting situations, where skin tones and flattering light are the primary focus.

Gary recommends, "Choose the CLEAR version for fast action, large groups and dimly lit scenes. Switch to the new CLOUD for the softest, warmest light yet. Great for close-ups, portraits, couples and intimate group shots."

So the question is if you believe what Gary says.

[MinhThien]

how about the Whale Tail guys? http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pho/889236435.html

is it better than Gary Fong Long?