When do you use a softbox vs. a dome diffuser?

I saw a comparison and the softbox gave soft shadows as the name implies, of course. The bounce dome, the plastic square cap that sits on top of the flash, gave hard shadows.

When would you use the dome one? When would you want the harsher shadows? They look almost like the shadows with a regular flash.

Can you provide the link? Although I don't use a dome type device I was under the impression most domes, caps, etc are intended to help achieve soft light. It must be a special product to create hard light.

small modifier = hard shadows

Most will say that all those on flash attachments are basically the same as a bare flash, except you burn more battery because of the loss of the "diffuser".

nes_matt wrote in post #12159268
small modifier = hard shadows

Most will say that all those on flash attachments are basically the same as a bare flash, except you burn more battery because of the loss of the "diffuser".

What he says.

I use a dome diffuser to keep extra batteries in on a bookshelf. Otherwise they are pretty much useless.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12159444
I use a dome diffuser to keep extra batteries in on a bookshelf. Otherwise they are pretty much useless.

i have the omnibounce as well as the lightsphere. my opinion is the omnibounce is pretty much useless... the lightsphere seems to work pretty well though in some applications

dhilo2 wrote in post #12159473
i have the omnibounce as well as the lightsphere. my opinion is the omnibounce is pretty much useless... the lightsphere seems to work pretty well though in some applications

I have both, and one is pretty much as worthless as the other when you actually do some tests with it. I really wanted the fong to work, but unless you are in a room with white ceilings and walls it doesnt help. And if you have those, you dont need it anyway.

Soft light, means a gradual transition from shadow to highlight.
The only way to accomplish that is with a light source that is larger than the subject, relatively speaking.

Most often the formula is the light source should be within 1 to 1.5 times its diagonal (diameter) of the subject.

With small diffusion domes on a speelite that's impossible. Thus hard light.

nes_matt wrote in post #12159268
small modifier = hard shadows

Most will say that all those on flash attachments are basically the same as a bare flash, except you burn more battery because of the loss of the "diffuser".

Yes. I was always figured anything you put on the flash is "supposed" to give you softer light. If someone wants hard shadows then just use a bare flash. I missed the point about soft vs hard and different sizes of device.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12159486
I really wanted the fong to work, but unless you are in a room with white ceilings and walls it doesnt help. And if you have those, you dont need it anyway.

I hear what you're saying. I half agree with you on that. The white ceilings/walls are completely necessary like you said but still helpful to have the fong to get direct lighting on your subject as opposed to getting diminished off walls.

I looked at his demonstration video and saw he was using it outside and I still dont understand how to use the domes that go on top of the diffuser. I tried it with the dome inverted as well as regular and barely got any light off of them.

The only reason for using a diffuser outside is to waste batteries.
Occasionally, I'll add one if I'm really close to the subject and want to make sure that the flash isn't too strong for fill.