Lightsphere ll

Has anyone here used Gary Fongs lighsphere ll. What are your opinions?

I use it and it's great!

I used it before. I was great for small areas, and light work, but for weddings, it's a battery drainer I use the FlipIt! now... works just as good.

For indoors, one or two subjects, works great. Outdoors, not so good.

I use mine for all my senior portraits, all outdoors and it works wonderful!

Love my lightsphere, I mainly use it inside in small rooms.

Love mine even outdoors.
I can take easily 500 shots on a set of batteries without problems.
It does suck up light! and it is not so great for portraits orientation of the camera unless you have a white ceiling and can bounce the flash off it...
If not it creates shadow off set that run parrallel to the subject.
The shadow is however very diffuse.
I have tried a few diffusers and find that the lightsphere is a good one

oh ya one more thing....it is not easy to pack it in your camera bag

I use it and love it ... it's very versatile and has yet to do me wrong.

It's a useful tool for beginners. Once you know what you're doing it's not so useful.

Very useful for beginners, but in a small room, when all else fails, it does work well. If you are just starting with flash photography, buy a good book or link to one of the tutorials here. I think Curtis has a few. There are pros who buy pro gear that make the Lightsphere results look amateurish, but IMO, setting up pro gear is an art and can't be replicated at home without careful study. If you are just taking pictures and wanting better lighting than just shooting your flash forward, the Lightsphere is a useful tool. I have the one that is open, not the dome. It is kind of silly looking, actually, but the kids get a kick out of it.

It's yet another tool your should have available ... sometimes I use it, sometimes I bounce with the white card out and sometimes I use the amber coloured Sto-Fen Omnibounce ... all depending on the room.

It's good to have lots of options.

Thanks everyone. It might not be the ultimate but it definitely sounds like it is worth a try.

I would really love to see some comparison shots of the Lightsphere II vs. direct flash outdoors. Anyone got any? Just call me skeptical.

What else have you tried?

When I first got it I used it a lot...now it makes a great funnel for just about anything...

Which way is the best way to slip in Mr. Fong on my 580 speedlite? Do you guyz squeez the sides and make a hollow and slip it on whichever way it goes?

Is this a brain teaser? Have fun.