Tried out a Sto-Fen rip-off

[Rhys]

I tried out a Sto-Fen rip-off yesterday at a presentation. What do you think?

I had the Sto-Fen rip-off angled at 45 degrees as per instructions. Aside from the fact I left the camera on 1600 ISO, it's not too bad.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2722528498_9f0fcdc548_b.jpg

[cdifoto]

They pretty much all do the same thing. I don't like 45 degrees though. I think it looks better at 90, the effects of which you can get just as well with a small catchlight card.

[Rhys]

They pretty much all do the same thing. I don't like 45 degrees though. I think it looks better at 90, the effects of which you can get just as well with a small catchlight card.

I'll have to have a go at the next session with the built-in white card on my 580.

For some strange reason, the display on my 580 was flashing all the time last night. It doesn't seem normal.

[cdifoto]

That's usually because the wide angle diffuser panel isn't pushed back in the whole way.

[Rhys]

Ah... Could well be... I was showing the built-in white card to somebody.

[GaryS]

I have a Sto-Fen ripoff, and I really like it..... I'm going to pick up a tungsten coloured one next time I stop in at the local shop.

[cdifoto]

Ah... Could well be... I was showing the built-in white card to somebody.
Yep. Push it in a little more so it's seated correctly and you won't get the blinkies anymore. It only does that when you're bouncing though...it won't blink head on.

[Nickcanada]

Nice work! ISO 1600 isn't so bad.

[Rhys]

And now a vertical shot - I simply rotated the flash head to get this one. Looks like brackets just aren;t worth the effort.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2722047425_6ed318ab60_b.jpg

[cdifoto]

You've still got a nasty side-shadow. Brackets are worth the effort if you don't want that. They're not worth the effort if you don't care.

Oh and a good bracket isn't extra effort anyway. A good bracket makes life easier, not more difficult.

[Mark_48]

Lookin' good Rhys!! The Sto-Fen is a good tool when used correctly which you seem to have done well. Gotta agree with Don about the side shadow. If the wall behind the gentleman was light colored the shadow would stand out quite a bit more. Treat yourself to an inexpensive bracket that flips the flash or the camera just to try out. The Stroboframe Folding Flip was my cheap way to venture into brackets. Its quality wasn't great, but it did show me the value of using a bracket. You can always ebay it if it doesn't do anything for you or keep it as a spare if you upgrade. Another plus to getting the flash away from the camera is less likelyhood of "red-eye" or "evil green-eye" like the dog has.

In addition to what Don said about the 580EX flashing display, the flash range scale bars will blink if the head is tilted down 7 degrees further than normal. This has caught me once in awhile.

[adam75south]

look at rhys shooting at ISO 1600. i'm so proud.

that first shot is just weird. what was going on?

[Rhys]

It was an auction for the Special Olympics. Somebody paid $500 for the dog.

[ander75it]

Me, I am using a Flip-It. It's like a catchcard, only you can rotate it as necessary. Not ugly, and effective, I just shot a wedding with it and no picture seems "flashed".

[Rhys]

hmm... I just looked here...

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/flipit/i/sample_studio.jpg

I can see a shadow with flip-it that seems the same as using my sto-fen.

[ander75it]

Much depends on how you orient the Flip It. If you have enough power to fire it mostly toward the ceiling while keeping a little for fill, you can get very soft / almost no shadows.
OTOH, the real world has shadows, and while I hate the deep shadows that a direct flash gives, soft shadows can give more 3D feel to a picture. If you want NO shadows in any situation, you can use a large bank. Me, I like the additional degree of control that the Flip It gives me over a card.
BTW, I am not associated with Joe Demb, but he is a really nice and helpful fellow and his product has a reasonable cost, and looks more professional than a card... And that is important as well.

[ander75it]

BTW, if you want to use a Stofen, at least cut out the top... What's the use of diffusing light that is going to the ceiling, which is already the best diffuser there is?
I tried this with a piece of tupperware which I cut so that it would more or less stay on the flash, leaving the top open... Works fine, but I cannot do a wedding with tupperware :D

[cdifoto]

I cannot do a wedding with tupperware :D
Neither can I, but I'm not above shameless plugs.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/gear/2007-11-13-007.jpg

[Rhys]

BTW, if you want to use a Stofen, at least cut out the top... What's the use of diffusing light that is going to the ceiling, which is already the best diffuser there is?
I tried this with a piece of tupperware which I cut so that it would more or less stay on the flash, leaving the top open... Works fine, but I cannot do a wedding with tupperware :D


I like the idea but would suggest that perhaps the solution might be to put a silver reflector on the back side of the Stofen.

[ander75it]

Yeah, that too.

[adam75south]

i like the lightsphere...kinda big though. but it seems to work well. i really like bounce cards too. problem with those are my flash bracket rotates the flash head 90 degrees so i'd be having to move the diffuser around as well. so the lightsphere works out well.

[cdifoto]

i like the lightsphere...kinda big though. but it seems to work well. i really like bounce cards too. problem with those are my flash bracket rotates the flash head 90 degrees so i'd be having to move the diffuser around as well. so the lightsphere works out well.
You can always put the card on a short side instead. Or get a real bracket. :D

[Mark_48]

No camera or flash rotation needed with Canon's latest entry into the DSLR market.

Targeted primarily at wedding, portrait, and event photographer's, Canon's newest DSLR camera in their lineup offers a 36x36 CMOS sensor delivering a full 16.8 Megapixel image in a square format (think Hasselblad).

Based on the proven design of Canon's award winning 5D DSLR, the EOS 55D will deliver images exceeding that of medium format film. An innovative design feature allows for user format and orientation selection. With the simple thumb push of a button the format can be square, cropped landscape orientation-36x24, or cropped portrait orientation-24x36. All of this done digitally so there's absolutely no need to rotate the camera. This is particularly advantageous, as the need for an ergonomically awkward bracket that rotates either the camera or flash is thus totally eliminated. This design concept is a digital adaptation of the rotating film backs of Mamiyas RB67 and RZ67 medium format cameras.

As typical of a MF camera design, the viewfinder is interchangeable with an available waist level, 45 or 90 degree prism viewfinder. Several focus screens offer the user a grid pattern, bright matte, or fine focus options.

All of Canon's current lenses, with the exception of the EF-S series, can be used with the 55D, as well as all of Canon's current Speedlites.

As of this time Canon has not issued a release date or expected list price for the 55D.

[Gopher]

Sweet camera idea, 55D. Any substance behind that rumor?

Rhys - ISO 1600 is a great selection for flash photography. Why would you want to use less unless it's just for fill.

Better for the flash to just supplement ambient, and if it takes ISO 1600 to bring in some of the ambient then a little grain beats flash burn. IMHO.

[cdifoto]

Sweet camera idea, 55D. Any substance behind that rumor?
Not a lick. That's just a really poorly Photoshopped Bronica. :D

[Rhys]

If only Canon would produce a 36x36 camera! Sadly it is but a dream. Square frame does mean no need to tilt the camera to 90 degrees for portraits :D

[Mark_48]

I should have labeled it Canonica Square D :D

[adam75south]

still woulda threw off a side shadow though.

[Mark_48]

still woulda threw off a side shadow though.

Not if you use a bracket to put the flash over the camera where it should be. Just doesn't have to rotate which is the advantage.

Like the Hasselblad below....