Gary Fong Lightsphere II cloud or clear???

tim wrote in post #8768113
Skip it, buy a book on lighting instead.

It's it funny how Curtis, Dave, Wilt, and I are all saying pretty much the same thing?

Hey what about me??...I was the first one that told him not to get one.

Geek Chic Photography wrote in post #8768788
Hey what about me??...I was the first one that told him not to get one.

Your name takes too long to type

I just use an empty milk gallon container, does wonders.

Flip a coin. Heads for cloudy, tails for clear. If you don't have a coin then don't by either.

thanks for all the reply's everyone, i appreciate it. sounds like its not something to bother with. I don't like direct flash period, always bounce flash anyways, but i wasnt sure if these things did anything really any better. sounds like not.

sounds like its a waste of money. i think i'll pass.

thanks for the guidance people.

Joel

jorl wrote in post #8769034
thanks for all the reply's everyone, i appreciate it. sounds like its not something to bother with. I don't like direct flash period, always bounce flash anyways, but i wasnt sure if these things did anything really any better. sounds like not.

sounds like its a waste of money. i think i'll pass.

thanks for the guidance people.


Joel

They are not valueless, they do work -- under the right circumstances. The trouble is that they are like snake oil in many users' minds, fixing lighting under all circumstances and perched on the flash even when they are actually counterproductive! We were trying to set expectations correctly, and also let you know that there are much less expensive ways to achieve the same results as spending $50 on these overpriced kitchen goods.

Why use the Fongs on an off camera cord anyway, they are made to stay on the hotshoe.

Shooting wrote in post #8771556
Why use the Fongs on an off camera cord anyway, they are made to stay on the hotshoe.

I used it on a bracket. It still caused side shadows in vertical orientation if I didnt.

Shooting wrote in post #8771556
Why use the Fongs on an off camera cord anyway, they are made to stay on the hotshoe.

you use off cam cord when you have it on a bracket. Weddings and events photographers use it this way.

jeromego wrote in post #8773268
you use off cam cord when you have it on a bracket. Weddings and events photographers use it this way.

That's true....thanks for the correction.

The below link shows how NOT to use a lightsphere inside...inside it is supposed to be pointed up, not at the person..

Keep watching and you will see it.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=IrLO-cp2IOc

Shooting wrote in post #8773932
That's true....thanks for the correction.

The below link shows how NOT to use a lightsphere inside...inside it is supposed to be pointed up, not at the person..

Keep watching and you will see it.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=IrLO-cp2IOc

Of course thats how you use it, but still doesnt make it very good.

Great. I just picked up a 550EX flash in Beijing (I hate small flash) and ordered a GFL from learning about it here. It's in Chicago waiting for me; now how to throw it away without the wife knowing I wasted the money. I havent used a hot-shoe flash since Vivitar 283 days, always bouncing off some wall or cieling. So this is crap, eh?

mcluckie wrote in post #8774351
Great. I just picked up a 550EX flash in Beijing (I hate small flash) and ordered a GFL from learning about it here. It's in Chicago waiting for me; now how to throw it away without the wife knowing I wasted the money. I havent used a hot-shoe flash since Vivitar 283 days, always bouncing off some wall or cieling. So this is crap, eh?

Not 'crap', it does work in the right circumstances. Just an overpriced bit of snake oil sold by a premier snake oil salesman, using some questionable illustrations of the 'value' of the product to lure customers.

Titus213 wrote in post #8767983
Best bet - get a Lumiquest ProMax System and a good bracket.

I agree. Take a look at Custom Brackets, especially if you use a grip on your camera.

Wilt wrote in post #8774364
Not 'crap', it does work in the right circumstances. ...

As Wilt has said, it does work in the right circumstances. If you were taking photos at an outdoor evening/night reception (where there's no ceiling to bounce) and you wanted to reduce the harsh lighting from direct "in-your-face" flash, most translucent flash modifiers will help. But like I said before, the LS is annoyingly BIG.