Why o' why

[mdmedicgod]

If the sto-fen is not effective outdoors then why do I see so many "Pros" use there sto-fens outside. I just something I noticed... Just curious

[blundar]

I use it primarily to spread the light out to avoid overly harsh lighting, and for fill flash when I use it outdoors. I preffer to use my Lumiquest mini softbox instead of my Sto-fen omnibounce.

[scottbergerphoto]

I mostly see pros use an index card rubber banded to the back of the flash with the flash at 45 degrees. You just want to fill some shadows. The Stofen does help you in one way: When you are very close, your flash can only shut down so fast. The flash regulates its intensity via flash duration. The Stofen robs 2 f stops and helps avoid overexposure.

[AjP]

I used omni only few times outside to make soft light, but not all the time. However I saw some photographers using it outside all the time too :) (don't know if they were beginner or...)

[cyclone]

I've seen this too and the only thing I can think of is that they just never take it off.

[chtgrubbs]

I've seen this too and the only thing I can think of is that they just never take it off.
Yup, it's glued on.

[Nabil-A]

I mostly see pros use an index card rubber banded to the back of the flash with the flash at 45 degrees. You just want to fill some shadows. The Stofen does help you in one way: When you are very close, your flash can only shut down so fast. The flash regulates its intensity via flash duration. The Stofen robs 2 f stops and helps avoid overexposure.

okay now im confused. I thought if you are using ettl then it doesnt as the flash meter will pick up the omni bounce and adjust its firing to overcome this 2 stops.

what gives?

[tim]

okay now im confused. I thought if you are using ettl then it doesnt as the flash meter will pick up the omni bounce and adjust its firing to overcome this 2 stops.

what gives?

I think the point of that post is that the flash has a minimum brightness it can flash at, and the stofen can reduce that. I'm not sure if I agree, but I think that's what they're saying.

[scottbergerphoto]

okay now im confused. I thought if you are using ettl then it doesnt as the flash meter will pick up the omni bounce and adjust its firing to overcome this 2 stops.

what gives?
You are correct. ETTL tries to corrrect for the loss of two stops to provide enough light when it needs it. In a situation where you are close to someone, like a public official, and you are trying to snap a shot from 2-3 feet away with flash, having enough light isn't an issue. The problem is too much light. The flash can only shut down so fast. For every f stop, there is a minimum and maximum distance. The omnibounce helps the system to get the flash output down below what the flash can do on its own.
(What Tim posted while I was typing ;) )

[Nabil-A]

Ywhen it needs it

So only if ETTL deems it is needed, the flash will overcome the 2stops, whereas if it isnt the omnibounce will help the system fire less than otherwise.

Wouldnt it just be better to stop down your lens to a smaller aperture to effectively reduce the range of your flash. (assuming you want the increased depth of field)?

Sorry im going to ammend my post... here is the ammendment.

So while one shoots with the omnibounce fitted closer to a subject than the minimum range of a flash unit, the omnibounce will allow for further reductions (power down / range of flash unit to suit), whereas if one is firing their flash within the min - max range of the flash unit, then the omnibounce achieves nothing apart from softening of light, which is much more prominent of a white bounced surface.

IS this correct?

[Nabil-A]

bump

[scottbergerphoto]

As I understand it, yes.

[tim]

I'm not sure about the omni softening the light. I've done experiements with straight flash, omnibounce, and lightsphere, and not seen a huge difference. I might have to do some more testing. When my next order arrives in a few days i'll have the Omnibounce, LightSphere 2, mini softbox, pocket bouncer, an umbrella, and who knows what else i've forgotten lying around, I might do some tests of each and different angles, bounced, in sunlight and out of it, etc. It might take a while to do, but would help me and probably others too.

[Nabil-A]

I'm not sure about the omni softening the light. I've done experiements with straight flash, omnibounce, and lightsphere, and not seen a huge difference. I might have to do some more testing. When my next order arrives in a few days i'll have the Omnibounce, LightSphere 2, mini softbox, pocket bouncer, an umbrella, and who knows what else i've forgotten lying around, I might do some tests of each and different angles, bounced, in sunlight and out of it, etc. It might take a while to do, but would help me and probably others too.

I can see some great value in that.... coupled with a link that scott posted some time ago to Noink related flash results... cant think of the link at the moment though..

Thanks for all your help Tim, Scott...

[scottbergerphoto]

I did a test last weekend comparing the Omnibounce straight on and 45 degtees, Lumiquest Pocket Bounce, and Quantum Q flash-bare bulb, reflector only and reflector with diffuser panel. I hope to report the results and post the images shortly. I did the same test in the past with film, and the Lumiquest beat the Omnibounce in distribution and quality of light. Of course it is very subjective. The advantage of the Omnibounce is that it is hard plastic and can easily be slipped in your pocket and back on the flash. The Pocket Bounce uses velcro and reqires a bit more care.

[Jon]

Sorry im going to ammend my post... here is the ammendment.

So while one shoots with the omnibounce fitted closer to a subject than the minimum range of a flash unit, the omnibounce will allow for further reductions (power down / range of flash unit to suit), whereas if one is firing their flash within the min - max range of the flash unit, then the omnibounce achieves nothing apart from softening of light, which is much more prominent of a white bounced surface.

IS this correct?

Sorta. In a confusing way. With the OmniBounce fitted, the maximum output the flash can put out for any given duration is reduced (the OmniBounce wastes some of the light by diffusing it). So, if you're closer than the normal closest range for the flash, that extra light loss will allow you to get a "good" exposure. If you're within the flash's stated range at a given setting, the OmniBounce will still be wasting some light, so you won't be able to get good coverage at the far end of the flash' "official" range. E-TTL will allow the flash to fire at full power, but it can't let if go beyond full power.

If the subject were all you were concerned about illuminating, stopping down (assuming you have the smaller aperture available) would be a viable alternative. But you may need that wider aperture to get the background reasonably well lit so you get better separation from the subject than a "black" background may provide.

[Todd Jacobsen]

I did a test last weekend comparing the Omnibounce straight on and 45 degtees, Lumiquest Pocket Bounce, and Quantum Q flash-bare bulb, reflector only and reflector with diffuser panel. I hope to report the results and post the images shortly. I did the same test in the past with film, and the Lumiquest beat the Omnibounce in distribution and quality of light. Of course it is very subjective. The advantage of the Omnibounce is that it is hard plastic and can easily be slipped in your pocket and back on the flash. The Pocket Bounce uses velcro and reqires a bit more care.

Scott,

It would be nice if you had the LSII. I found the LSII to provide adequate, but not superior light distribution.

I currently prefer in order:

Lumiquest Softbox
Lumiquest 80/20
Omnibounce (x2)
LSII
Omnibounce

For portablity, Omni x2 rules.

Based on your description of ETTL compensation, I believe I understand why there was an unexpected lack of light loss, but better distribution, with Omni x2.