opinions of using rouge flashbender? hideous to use on camera?

So part of my two 600rt/st-e3 purchase from a local person he threw in two of these: http://www.rogueflash.​com …nder-2-large-soft-box-kit

the flashbender softbox setup.

I put it on the flash just to try it out.... walked around and my wife said no way in hell are you ever using that near me in public.

So... is this thing being advertised as a on camera flash modifier not um... "asthetically pleasing" and what is your opinions of the actual use.

A friend of my brothers is a photographer and has just the large flashbender and he will use it in situations where bounce flash is not practical and he said it really does a good job and had shown me some examples and I thought the results were much better than direct flash.

But... for the actual use... good to go?, worthless?... eye candy kinda um... not pleasing.

help me out here.

No simple answer, it depends on how close you are to your subject.

Nonnit wrote in post #17511899
No simple answer, it depends on how close you are to your subject.

4-10'

I know it's not a great modifier... I figured I'd give it a try since it came with my flashes. Not sure when or where I'd use it but the look my wife gave me walkign around the kitchen was priceless haha.

honestly, at those distances it's not going to make a lot of difference. I messed about with small on-camera bounce cards and softboxes and whatnot and really, the effects are so small at all but the closest distances it's just a waste of time.

I understand you already have it. For those thinking about one, for that price you could get a cheap light stand and a 30" square softbox.

I have two of these. I don't use them much, but they are pretty nifty and pack up small http://www.ebay.com …ain_0&hash=item​3ce384a439

Failing that, just find a big surface (wall/ side of a van / ceiling /whatever ) to bounce off of.

I use the large flashbender for quick portraits outside. Obviously it won't make much of a difference for a group portrait for a headshot it really does make a difference, assuming your using a standard zoom and not a telephoto. I use the flashbender with the front diffuser outside and indoors (assuming I can't just bounce the flash) I'll use it without the diffusion panel for a less harsh fill light.

For a headshot with a standard zoom you're talking about shooting from 3 feet away. In that case, yeah, it'll make a difference. 4 - 10 feel as the op said... at the 4' end you'd see some small differences. But by 10 feet forget it, at least as far as my experience with these things. Maybe I just did something wrong, but from my experience of trying to use it to light my daughter (probably around 6-10 feet) it really didn't do a huge amount.

Talley, you already own this thing. just take some shots with and without and see what you think.

agreed with the comments that at 5 feet or less it will provide a "bigger" light source for direct flash.

the other benefit of these things it to completely shield the subject from the flash head when bouncing indoors. This works on camera or off. I don't have the flash bender but use a homemade "black foamie thing" and a "white foamie thing" as needed.

that's a nice shot, but i don't think there is much (if any) difference between that and bare. Notice the shadow under the nose, it's pretty hard and the catchlight is tiny.

Now to me that is an example of it basically making zero difference -- the highlights in her eyes are pinpoints and the shadows have pretty defined edges. This was exactly what I was getting.

If other people look at that and say it's noticeably softer than a bare head then we just have difference frames of reference.

I think I'll end up using it more as a snoot and/or barrier to bounce flash with so the subject doesn't get direct flash. the snoot would work nice for bouncing from direct side and/or little behind subject.

and yes I do own it...

but the main question is... is it too hideous of a look to use it haha.

Rouge Flashbender is Susan Stripling and Cliff Mautner go to "off camera flash" and you can view they speak about it here: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=uLPfobjNeY4. I have thought about pick one up but not yet.

Tigerkn wrote in post #17511962
Rouge Flashbender is Susan Stripling and Cliff Mautner go to "off camera flash" and you can view they speak about it here: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=uLPfobjNeY4. I have thought about pick one up but not yet.

thanks for the input. I had thought of picking one up before but never committed. Now I have two and haven't used them yet but just trying to get past the "huge thing above my head attached to camera" look.

Talley wrote in post #17511958
but the main question is... is it too hideous of a look to use it haha.

really it should be about the results... but yeah, personally for me, yes

Tigerkn wrote in post #17511962
Rouge Flashbender is Susan Stripling and Cliff Mautner go to "off camera flash" and you can view they speak about it here: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=uLPfobjNeY4. I have thought about pick one up but not yet.

She is talking about using it to get diffuse light for group shots. Sorry but that is just nonsense.