Should I use a diffuser at all?

OK, I confess. I let a camera salesman talk me into buying a Gary Fong Lightsphere. I've used it when I wanted a fill flash for outdoor portraits and have been generally pleased with the results. Since joining this forum, I've read the anit-Fong comments and now I'm wondering what the more experienced among you use instead. Any diffuser at all? Do you just dial back the flash? I don't always have something to bounce off of. I would appreciate your guidance.

If you don't have anything to bounce off of, the lightsphere doesn't give you light any better than straight-on flash, and wastes a ton of battery power to boot. Outdoors, I generally use an off-camera strobe in an umbrella, or sometimes just bare, depending on the situation. If you need on-camera fill, just use the flash bare.

Yes.

Plan ahead? Carry something & have someone hold it if your subject needs it. The results are worth it.
Angeline outdoors

A camera salesman selling Lightspheres? I thought you had to go to a web site as the means of being relieved of your money?! Ditch the Fong any time there are no nearby ceiling and walls to bounce light back to the subject, you are wasting light and battery power for no reason, if it is mounted in those circumstances.

'Soft light' is from 'large apparent source size', which is why umbrellas and softboxes provide soft light...they are large in comparison with the tiny flash lens. So using anything to serve as a larger surface apparent source is what you want to do, for softer light.

Thanks for your help. It is much appreciated.

James P wrote in post #6429451
OK, I confess. I let a camera salesman talk me into buying a Gary Fong Lightsphere. I've used it when I wanted a fill flash for outdoor portraits and have been generally pleased with the results. Since joining this forum, I've read the anit-Fong comments and now I'm wondering what the more experienced among you use instead. Any diffuser at all? Do you just dial back the flash? I don't always have something to bounce off of. I would appreciate your guidance.

None of the 'tupperware' diffusers (Fong's overpriced stuff, Stofen, etc.) are worth carrying in my camera case.

I use a LumiQuest Promax System kit instead. It is far more versatile than any of the 'tupperware', in that it is truly functional indoors or out (using the various configurations it is capable of), and it packs into a flat "wallet" that takes very little space in my camera case.

The Lightspheres are interesting things. I use it indoors for close-up portraits, and that's it. Outdoors, it doesn't work. For a small room with low ceilings, I actually think the Lightsphere does interesting things too. But it's usually good.

Let this be a warning to anyone who is being sold a bill of goods by a smooth talking salesman. I tried the Lightsphere and what the others in this forum say is true. Don't buy this over priced gimmick. It dosen't work as advertised. Take the time to learn how to use your flash settings, search the web for flash techniques, or ask someone here. You'll be a better photographer and $ 44 richer.

I use off camera flash, usually bounced into an umbrella, but sometimes direct if I need the power. If it's just fill I use direct undiffused flash.