Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

GREAT PRODUCT FOR ALL PURPOSE ILUMINATION SITUATIONS!!

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I have used this product primarily for events and weddings and it has consistently given me the best soft and full lighting. You would never know that there was a flash being used.

The only thing that is a bummer about it is that it can't be compactly stored.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

This product is great for photos

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Eacy to use and carry though bulky and poor construction. One star deducted for construction.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I ordered this product to use with my outdoor flash photography and its very good for my needs, but i think the price for it is way to high. 3 stars for price.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I have been using this for about six months now and I am very impressed with the wonderful soft light is produces. The amber reflector adds a natural warm tone to the subject.

I have used the chrome difusser a few times but I am not convinced it produces more light. Apart from that I fully endorse this product.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Works great. Evens out the light as advertised. Wish I could have had this tool years a ago.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I use this kit with my Canon 50D and Metz 58AF-2. This is a very fine portable modifier system, albeit a tad more expensive that the alternatives. The lightsphere really shines (no pun intended) for casual and event photography, as it is very portable and delivers a very soft light to the subject.

Attaching the LS to your flash takes some patience at first. If you want to prevent it from falling off, you need to place the included rubber band around the flash head. Then the bottom tabs slip over the rubber band, which is difficult until you get the hang of it. Finally, you tighten the velcro strap to secure it on the flash head. Once you get used to the process, it's no big deal.

After attaching the LS to the speedlight, you point the bell straight up (actually perpendicular to your subject) to get the diffusion effect. Be warned: when you do this you lose a lot of light. I conducted some control tests in flash manual mode, in a room with a white 8-foot ceiling, shooting against a featureless light wall, and noted the location of the histogram peak on my 50D's image preview. Here are my results:

* compared to a bare flash pointed at the wall, the LS with no accessory dome reduced light output by 4 EV. (I lose about 3 EV with my 30" umbrella and the bare flash)

* Same result with the white dome. I saw no difference in the histogram

* Here's the surprise: same result with the chrome dome. The quality of light was different (harsher), but the amount of light was the same.

* With the amber dome, the light output was reduced by another 2/3 EV

Lest you conclude that the chrome dome is useless, it's not. I conducted another test outside at night, and found in that setting that the chrome dome increased the light output by about 1/2 EV. I fashioned a aluminum foil plug for the top of the chrome dome, and increased the light by another 1/2 EV. My conclusion is that this dome is useful outside and probably in rooms with very high or black ceilings.

If you're quite a distance from your subject, enough that using the LS in the vertical position does not give you enough light, you can point the bell at the subject, but then you're really just getting a bare bulb effect, with the attendant shadows. Adding the white dome in this case gives you a softer effect, but there are still noticeable shadows. I suspect this would be useful for outdoor fill flash. Haven't tried that yet.

I really like being able to use the amber dome for shooting under incandescent light to blend the white balance of the flash light with the ambient light. My first set of shots indoors with the camera white balance set at 3300K came close, but I still had to adjust in Lightroom to get a realistic skin tone. Still experimenting!

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Diffuses and spread the light beautifully. Well worth the space it takes in my bag!!

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I use the Gary Fong lightsphere to shoot outdoor portraits when studio lighting isn't practical. Gary Fong + my strobe flash = awesome diffused lighting every time. Also works great when trying to shoot large groups.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Love the Lightsphere but the strap and bands are kinda cheap.. I was on a job and while putting the dome on my flash it broke and since it doesnt fit well on my SB-900 it but me in a bad spot on my assignment. So i spent some time reenforcing the strap with needle and thread to make it more sturdy.. I suggest you do the same.. Also dont like the fact that it is hard plastic and will not pack down in my bag.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

It produces nice soft light.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Although the kit isn't all that inexpensive, I was so frustrated with the previous flash diffusers I've bought that I decided to just take the leap. I really despise event photography based on the post production to make the light softer, but this kit literally cut my editing time in half (if not more). It's easy to use and very forgiving for depth within a shot. The light is just as soft and even for vertical shots (which are usually a problem) just by flipping the flash as shown on the enclosed instruction card. I mostly use the plain inverted dome, but the chrome and amber attachment have been incredibly useful as well.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I got to use the product for the first time last weekend. All I can say is wow. Its the best diffuser I have ever used. It cast and even light and its great that I can change the top for different lighting effects.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I read a review on here that talked about how hard it was to spend this much on "Tupperware". But just as the reviewer said, it is worth it! This is a great diffusing addition to your flash. It also creates a consistent color in your photos for less editing. Great tool.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

gives your flash that extra help it needs to difuse light in certain occasions. works great

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

wonderful effects, easy to use, intuitive.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Good light distribution. Works very well in landscape but in portrait mode it still casts a little bit of shadows on your subject. It's really big to fit in my bag, actually it doesn't fit in my bag because of the size of the thing. It's too pricey though for a simple construction and material.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I usually use this a portrait photography, convinate with canon 580 EXII is a excelent math.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I use the Lightsphere for both outdoor fill as well as indoor receptions. The ease of connecting and use have made it indispensable in my bag. The light is even without hotspots and high ceilings no longer a bounce problem.

One its best features is the rapid switch from horizontal to vertical.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

GREAT PRODUCT FOR ALL PURPOSE ILUMINATION SITUATIONS!!

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I have used this product primarily for events and weddings and it has consistently given me the best soft and full lighting. You would never know that there was a flash being used.

The only thing that is a bummer about it is that it can't be compactly stored.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

This product is great for photos

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Eacy to use and carry though bulky and poor construction. One star deducted for construction.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I ordered this product to use with my outdoor flash photography and its very good for my needs, but i think the price for it is way to high. 3 stars for price.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I have been using this for about six months now and I am very impressed with the wonderful soft light is produces. The amber reflector adds a natural warm tone to the subject.

I have used the chrome difusser a few times but I am not convinced it produces more light. Apart from that I fully endorse this product.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Works great. Evens out the light as advertised. Wish I could have had this tool years a ago.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I use this kit with my Canon 50D and Metz 58AF-2. This is a very fine portable modifier system, albeit a tad more expensive that the alternatives. The lightsphere really shines (no pun intended) for casual and event photography, as it is very portable and delivers a very soft light to the subject.

Attaching the LS to your flash takes some patience at first. If you want to prevent it from falling off, you need to place the included rubber band around the flash head. Then the bottom tabs slip over the rubber band, which is difficult until you get the hang of it. Finally, you tighten the velcro strap to secure it on the flash head. Once you get used to the process, it's no big deal.

After attaching the LS to the speedlight, you point the bell straight up (actually perpendicular to your subject) to get the diffusion effect. Be warned: when you do this you lose a lot of light. I conducted some control tests in flash manual mode, in a room with a white 8-foot ceiling, shooting against a featureless light wall, and noted the location of the histogram peak on my 50D's image preview. Here are my results:

* compared to a bare flash pointed at the wall, the LS with no accessory dome reduced light output by 4 EV. (I lose about 3 EV with my 30" umbrella and the bare flash)

* Same result with the white dome. I saw no difference in the histogram

* Here's the surprise: same result with the chrome dome. The quality of light was different (harsher), but the amount of light was the same.

* With the amber dome, the light output was reduced by another 2/3 EV

Lest you conclude that the chrome dome is useless, it's not. I conducted another test outside at night, and found in that setting that the chrome dome increased the light output by about 1/2 EV. I fashioned a aluminum foil plug for the top of the chrome dome, and increased the light by another 1/2 EV. My conclusion is that this dome is useful outside and probably in rooms with very high or black ceilings.

If you're quite a distance from your subject, enough that using the LS in the vertical position does not give you enough light, you can point the bell at the subject, but then you're really just getting a bare bulb effect, with the attendant shadows. Adding the white dome in this case gives you a softer effect, but there are still noticeable shadows. I suspect this would be useful for outdoor fill flash. Haven't tried that yet.

I really like being able to use the amber dome for shooting under incandescent light to blend the white balance of the flash light with the ambient light. My first set of shots indoors with the camera white balance set at 3300K came close, but I still had to adjust in Lightroom to get a realistic skin tone. Still experimenting!

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Diffuses and spread the light beautifully. Well worth the space it takes in my bag!!

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I use the Gary Fong lightsphere to shoot outdoor portraits when studio lighting isn't practical. Gary Fong + my strobe flash = awesome diffused lighting every time. Also works great when trying to shoot large groups.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Love the Lightsphere but the strap and bands are kinda cheap.. I was on a job and while putting the dome on my flash it broke and since it doesnt fit well on my SB-900 it but me in a bad spot on my assignment. So i spent some time reenforcing the strap with needle and thread to make it more sturdy.. I suggest you do the same.. Also dont like the fact that it is hard plastic and will not pack down in my bag.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

It produces nice soft light.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Although the kit isn't all that inexpensive, I was so frustrated with the previous flash diffusers I've bought that I decided to just take the leap. I really despise event photography based on the post production to make the light softer, but this kit literally cut my editing time in half (if not more). It's easy to use and very forgiving for depth within a shot. The light is just as soft and even for vertical shots (which are usually a problem) just by flipping the flash as shown on the enclosed instruction card. I mostly use the plain inverted dome, but the chrome and amber attachment have been incredibly useful as well.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I got to use the product for the first time last weekend. All I can say is wow. Its the best diffuser I have ever used. It cast and even light and its great that I can change the top for different lighting effects.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I read a review on here that talked about how hard it was to spend this much on "Tupperware". But just as the reviewer said, it is worth it! This is a great diffusing addition to your flash. It also creates a consistent color in your photos for less editing. Great tool.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

gives your flash that extra help it needs to difuse light in certain occasions. works great

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

wonderful effects, easy to use, intuitive.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

Good light distribution. Works very well in landscape but in portrait mode it still casts a little bit of shadows on your subject. It's really big to fit in my bag, actually it doesn't fit in my bag because of the size of the thing. It's too pricey though for a simple construction and material.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I usually use this a portrait photography, convinate with canon 580 EXII is a excelent math.

Comments about Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Basic Kit:

I use the Lightsphere for both outdoor fill as well as indoor receptions. The ease of connecting and use have made it indispensable in my bag. The light is even without hotspots and high ceilings no longer a bounce problem.

One its best features is the rapid switch from horizontal to vertical.