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n9nf
08-03-2009, 08:34 PM
Has anyone tried using this brand name diffuser?
any personal reviews on this item ?
Would lov to hv one ... thanks
Rhys
08-03-2009, 09:27 PM
For a lot less money you can get a Lambancy diffuser which is the same thing. Or for even less, a circular tupperware pot.
photogreen
08-05-2009, 09:59 AM
Has anyone tried using this brand name diffuser?
any personal reviews on this item ?
Would lov to hv one ... thanks

Here is my review: Gary Fong WhaleTail (http://photo-tips-online.com/review/gary-fong-whaletail-flash-diffuser/)

http://photo-tips-online.com/review/gary-fong-whaletail-flash-diffuser/images/small/gary-fong-whaletail-flash-diffuser-1.jpghttp://photo-tips-online.com/review/gary-fong-whaletail-flash-diffuser/images/small/gary-fong-whaletail-flash-diffuser-3.jpg
Rhys
08-05-2009, 11:13 AM
LOL. That thing looks like a toilet with the seat up!
jekostas
08-05-2009, 11:22 AM
Yes, they work, and they work well.

Also, as Rhys said, yes, they're massively overpriced. You can cut tupperware to fit that'll do pretty well the same thing, or you can get soft cloth diffusers with a stretch base off of eBay for >$5 shipped that'll do the exact same thing.
BBPhoto
08-05-2009, 09:18 PM
100% percent in agreement here. They work well but I wouldn't pay for one. I've rigged things up for free that work equally well and there are other products out there that will give you 95% of the performance at a fraction of the cost.
n9nf
08-06-2009, 09:40 AM
thanks for them reply guys.
all the while been DIYing diffuser and also strobs.
So I thought, lets give this product a try since most photographers,
wedding photogs especially, been using this product.
Read few articles, reviews, and even watched VDO from GF himself.
Luckily, a friend of mine has this cloud thing.
maybe I should give it a try out first yah ... !! :D

thanks again. maybe I should post some photos too ... :)
cdifoto
08-06-2009, 09:51 AM
I don't know any serious photographer who uses that product, wedding or otherwise.
Csae
08-06-2009, 10:27 AM
I've seen a couple. Thought it silly, but for someone who doesn't have the time or tendency to mess around, pre-packaged goods at 15-20$ can still be considered cheap next to 1000s for a single light.
FLiPMaRC
08-06-2009, 10:29 AM
I don't know any serious photographer who uses that product, wedding or otherwise.

How about Gary Fong?? :p LOL! :D
cdifoto
08-06-2009, 10:44 AM
I've seen a couple. Thought it silly, but for someone who doesn't have the time or tendency to mess around, pre-packaged goods at 15-20$ can still be considered cheap next to 1000s for a single light.
The genuine article is around $100. If you really stop to think about what it's doing, you'll find that it's not even worth $10.
jekostas
08-06-2009, 11:39 AM
The genuine article is around $100. If you really stop to think about what it's doing, you'll find that it's not even worth $10.

More up here in the Great White North

Seriously, it's a $100 answer to a $2 question ($2 being the cost of a pack of index cards and a pack of rubber bands).

Though it looks... interesting? I hesitate to say "professional".
Rhys
08-06-2009, 01:16 PM
More up here in the Great White North

Seriously, it's a $100 answer to a $2 question ($2 being the cost of a pack of index cards and a pack of rubber bands).

Though it looks... interesting? I hesitate to say "professional".

My feeling exactly. It really doesn't matter what diffuser is used - the fact is that it's going to be a point source of light be the time you get more than a few feet away.
Mark_48
08-06-2009, 01:47 PM
My feeling exactly. It really doesn't matter what diffuser is used - the fact is that it's going to be a point source of light be the time you get more than a few feet away.
How is bouncing diffused flash off a ceiling or wall a point source, which is how most diffusers are intended to be used? A small amount of direct light will go forward to the subject to fill the shadows and also provide a hint of catchlight in the eyes. Of course if there's nothing to bounce from, it's not being used as intended and you're just throwing away photons and battery juice.
Csae
08-06-2009, 07:59 PM
More up here in the Great White North

Seriously, it's a $100 answer to a $2 question ($2 being the cost of a pack of index cards and a pack of rubber bands).

Though it looks... interesting? I hesitate to say "professional".

I prefer pringles, theres the tiny packs which are a cool snack and pretty solid.

I cut a slider so i can put in my gels, and i can cover the top with tracing paper for diffusion, if its small enough it doesn't really do much the way of a snoot, but i do have a larger one that acts as a snoot, with some straws locked in for a grid.

Seriously though 100$? I thought they were like 15-20... Where the hell, i guess i saw clones... but even at 20 i didn't really feel like investing.

http://www.speedlightprokit.com/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/PPS.jpg

That tickled my fancy for a bit, t'ill i saw it was 120$? Gezz, and its hella lot more then that gary thing.
n9nf
08-10-2009, 12:57 PM
apart from GF, saw some products from LumiQuest.
They're makin some kindda softbox for lightspeed.
I've already made those, DIY with hard cardbox and used
nylon like umbrella material to cover the front part.
An another one using blur plastic material.
how bout showin your DIY project with some sample to go with ... :D

I remembered takin this shot usin just tissue paper coverin the pop flash.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/3011811791_038be1b4d9.jpg