Gary Fong Lightsphere -2

[Flossmoor40D]

Looking for a little insight from others who may have purchased this or a similar item. I just ordered the Canon Speedlite 430 EX II to use on my 40D. I am getting ready to take the 6 month portrait of our daughter Margot.

See below for what I did for her 4 month portrait.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3459235487_98eecfc4a4_o.jpg

The lighting for this shot was with some lights I found around the house, non-photo lights to say the least.

I am looking for softer better lighting for these types of portraits without spending $250+ on a starter studio setup.

Has anyone used the Gary Fong Lightsphere -2 (Clear, 1/2 Cloud or Cloud)? Any thoughts on the product?
If you bought one of these which one did you get (Clear, 1/2 Cloud or Cloud) and why?
Have you found a better product than this that is cheaper?

Thanks for the input.

Scott

[faisal]

I own a Lambency Flash diffuser (a rip off of the Lightsphere I suppose) and it's useless IMO. I'd take a bounce card over it. It's heavy, does not soften up the light enough, throws light behind which is wasted etc. I don't use it at all...

[Mark_48]

Just an idea before you go out and buy the Fong tupperware. Head over to Walmart (or similiar craft store) and get yourself a large sheet of white foam board. Set the foam board up roughly in the position where you had the lights for the above photo. Position your 430EXII so it's pointed at the foam board so its light is bounced off the foam board. If you have white ceilings or walls some of the bounced light may help fill in some of the shadows as well. Also placement of a second foam board on the right side of your subject could be used for bounce fill.

I have a Sto-Fen Omnibounce that works OK as long as there are walls and ceilings that can be bounced from.

[adam75south]

i'm actually a fan of the lightsphere. i think i'd only use it for on camera flash though, but i could see where it could be of some use off camera in certain situations.

[Rhys]

I have one of the tupperware Sto-Fen rip-offs. While it's good, I don't feel it's much better than the white card built into my 430EX or 580EX2.

[adam75south]

I have one of the tupperware Sto-Fen rip-offs. While it's good, I don't feel it's much better than the white card built into my 430EX or 580EX2.

this is true, white cards work great. problem is, you're out of luck in portrait orientation unless you make your own and put it on the side of the flash...and personally, on my flash bracket it would be more of a pain than the lightsphere.

[Mark_48]

Sto-Fen, white card, and the Fong all work fairly well as long as there is a bounceable ceiling or wall. The Fong may work better for diffusion when lacking a bounce surface as it enlarges the source a bit. I do like the white card for its ability to put catch lights in the subjects eyes. I kind of see using these devices when you're moving around alot and need mobility, such as a wedding or event. They are just tools you have to know when and where to use them.

Scott is looking to do inplace portraits and setting up a couple of large reflector boards might be less expensive as tupperware and as well have more control how the light falls on the subject. The flash could be left on camera and simply turn and tilt the head so its aimed at the foam board reflector which is on either side of the subject.

[Rhys]

this is true, white cards work great. problem is, you're out of luck in portrait orientation unless you make your own and put it on the side of the flash...and personally, on my flash bracket it would be more of a pain than the lightsphere.

I looked at my camera bag and decided I could either get a bigger bag to accommodate tupperware or I could go over to white notecards and skunchies. Those pack a lot flatter and if I lose them it's not all that expensive - a few cents as opposed to about $15 - $20 for a tupperware thing. Hence, I tend now to use notecards. The 4x6 variety are excellent. That's my experience anyway.

Regarding the Fongsphere and the Lambancy, there is a hack out there - put silver foil inside, on the back to reflect light forward rather than having it wasted over your head.

[Mark_48]

Regarding the Fongsphere and the Lambancy, there is a hack out there - put silver foil inside, on the back to reflect light forward rather than having it wasted over your head.

Yes, yes !!!
http://zapatopi.net/afdb/



Oops, wrong foil hack...... :)

Seriously.....
If you do that, wouldn't you defeat it's intended purpose of ceiling bounce where you gain the most diffusion?

[cdifoto]

The only on-camera Speedlite modifier I use is a catchlight card. Off-camera I use umbrellas.

[Rhys]

Yes, yes !!!

Seriously.....
If you do that, wouldn't you defeat it's intended purpose of ceiling bounce where you gain the most diffusion?

Not really - you don't need it on the top of the sphere, just the back of the curved portion so that instead of light shining over your shoulder, it goes forward and upward. You could always put a piece of white card inside for a white reflector if you wished.

[cdifoto]

Fong actually came up with and sells (sold?) a silver reflective insert for that very reason.

[adam75south]

Those pack a lot flatter and if I lose them it's not all that expensive - a few cents as opposed to about $15 - $20 for a tupperware thing. Hence, I tend now to use notecards. The 4x6 variety are excellent. That's my experience anyway.


i agree with saving money, but to be fair, the lightsphere doesn't take up that much space in a bag. it's flexible and the top pops off of it..and any small lens or rocket air blower fits right inside it. so don't let that deter you from buying it.

the main downsides are the limited uses...mainly good for quick diffused light during events and weddings. i also like to use mine when i don't have anything to bounce from. this is on the camera via flash bracket pointed straight up.

ISO 3200 f/4 1/50s
http://www.adammedders.com/photos/484381610_Q9uta-X2.jpg

[Flossmoor40D]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I picked up the Gary Fong today and will evaluate it over the next two weeks and decide whether or not to keep it.

[Mark_48]

Hey Adam,
If you're still hanging in there, I've been looking for a repair shop for a few MF film cameras and someone suggested http://www.archinalcamerarepair.com/ . Their location doesn't look too far from you and I'm wondering if you've ever heard of them. Likely you haven't had any film cameras worked on, but I thought I'd ask.

[adam75south]

sorry mark, haven't heard of them but i can already tell you they need a new web designer. i know exactly where that is though, i drive that part of hwy 75(south, now you all know the magic behind my screenname) at least once a week. wouldn't be nothin for me to stop in there and check the place out.

[cdifoto]

i agree with saving money, but to be fair, the lightsphere doesn't take up that much space in a bag. it's flexible and the top pops off of it..and any small lens or rocket air blower fits right inside it. so don't let that deter you from buying it.

the main downsides are the limited uses...mainly good for quick diffused light during events and weddings. i also like to use mine when i don't have anything to bounce from. this is on the camera via flash bracket pointed straight up.

ISO 3200 f/4 1/50s
http://www.adammedders.com/photos/484381610_Q9uta-X2.jpg
If you don't have anything to bounce from, the fongsphere really doesn't help. If you look at the shadows under their chins, you can see that it's no more diffused than direct flash would have been.

[Mark_48]

sorry mark, haven't heard of them but i can already tell you they need a new web designer. i know exactly where that is though, i drive that part of hwy 75(south, now you all know the magic behind my screenname) at least once a week. wouldn't be nothin for me to stop in there and check the place out.
Thanks, don't bother to stop unless you're curious as to what they've got for yourself. Maybe some of the studio equipment rental stuff might be handy for you sometime.