Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted)
- No Longer Available
The Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Flash Diffusion System (Frosted) will fit selected Canon, Metz, Nikon, Olympus & Sunpak Flash Units. It is a large, round, soft and flexible diffuser that slips over the front of the flash. The inside of the Lightsphere is completely textured to make the light dispersion even more "soft" than it would be otherwise. And because of this design, it is possible to make the material more translucent, keeping the unit from losing a lot of light while actually increasing the diffusion and softness of light.
An opaque color has been added to the inside of the Cloud version, and this "frosted" version creates an even softer effect, which makes it ideal for close-ups, portraits, and event photography.
The included inverted dome allows you to softly diffuse direct light with a large, soft source without creating flare on the front of your lens.
- Especially ideal for vertical flash shots where the flash coverage is still similar to horizontal shots, due to the large rounded shape of the diffuser. Minimizes the need for a flash-flip bracket.
- Easily fits into a camera bag.
- The C3 model is compatible with:
-
- Canon 380EX, 420EZ & 430EX
- Metz 36AF, 40MZ2, 54MZ-3, 54MZ-4
- Minolta 3500xi, 5200, 5400
- Nikon SB-24, 25, 26, 28, 28DX
- Olympus FL40, FL50 & G40
- Sunpak MZ440AF
Note: This diffuser is not compatible with Canon Speedlite 430EX II. The Lightsphere P3/C3 however, will fit
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 59 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
90%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Lightweight (30)
- Easy to use (28)
- Softens light (16)
- Durable (15)
- Strong construction (12)
Cons
- Heavy / bulky (16)
- Flimsy design (3)
- Heavy (3)
Best Uses
- Fill flash (22)
- Portraits (16)
- Lighting (12)
- Shooting indoors (11)
- Photography (10)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Semi-professional (9), Pro photographer (6), Semi-pro photographer (6), Tech savvy (6), Enthusiast (5)
Most Liked Positive Review
Amazing Light
I can not even begin to tell you how great this product is.Can you imagine having studio quality light coming from youron camera flash? Well that is what you get with theLightsphere II. I ...Read complete review
I can not even begin to tell you how great this product is.Can you imagine having studio quality light coming from youron camera flash? Well that is what you get with theLightsphere II. I have used this on hundreds of weddings andcommercial assignments and have never been disappointed. Thequality of the soft round light you get is great. I shoot sunset portraits of our couples almost every day onthe beaches of Maui and I always use the Lightsphere II. With the dome on and pointed right at the couple the lightis soft and there are no hot spots to worry about or retouchlater.Shooting inside just point it straight up without the domeand the light that comes from the Lightsphere creates asoftbox type light straight on and with the bounce lightfilling the rest in it is a winning combination.Something so simple has made my shooting so much easier andhas made my images so much better.I have several and even use them for lighting interiors. Iscatter several flashes around the room at strategiclocations and you can do all the work of a whole studiolight pack with heads and umbrellas with your Light spheres. Why not simplify if you can. With 4 flash units and 4Lightspheres you can do miracles.One tip is for easy traveling put the dome at the bottom ofa lens compartment of your camera bag then the Lightsphereon top of the dome and the lens inside the Lightsphere andyour Lightsphere will take up almost no room in your bag.I would say this is a must have for every camera bag. Giveit a try. I am sure you will be amazed and the images you get.
Expertise: Commercial photographer for 27 years including being one of Nike's main shooters for over 15 years. Wedding photographer for over 9 years.
Problems Encountered: Earlier models used to fall off some times but the newattachment solved this problem. You get so many questionsabout what is that on your flash that it can be a bitdistracting.
Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Umbrellas on stands, light boxes
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Won't stay on my 430EX
I love the technical abilities of the diffuser, but have been sooo frustrated that the thing falls off all the time. It is true what others have said that combined with how dorky you ...Read complete review
I love the technical abilities of the diffuser, but have been sooo frustrated that the thing falls off all the time. It is true what others have said that combined with how dorky you look with it attached you look even worse chasing it around after it falls off an rolls across the floor. I was a victim of this 3 times today as I shot.
Again..effective at producing quality diffusion..when it is ON.
One more thing, it is a very flexible material, i.e., will look asymmetrical very easily if it is squished, therein making it even MORE difficult to keep the lid on. So, you have a lid popping off AND a diffuser falling off.
<--Still searching for a solution on keeping this thing on.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 59 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Owned a lightsphere C1 for my Olympus FL-36 and upgraded flash to FL-50 and lightsphere C3. It is kind of difficult getting the C3 on the FL-50 flash but works well once installed.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Such a simple thing but makes the world of difference with photography. A must have.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Excellent diffusion, gives soft shadows and doesn't decrease light output. I had problems with it falling off of 430ex any time it was bumped slightly, although it stayed on quite well when not moved. Great for indoor, especially if you can get some ceiling bounce. Outdoor it adds some light, but not as consistent. Very durable and looks pretty good too.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
The lightsphere is awesome in situations where you need to use a flash but don't want your photos to look like you've used a flash. Softens the light very well and makes lighting look natural. Only drawback is that I think it feels a little loose on the flash. I kept waiting for it to fall off. But it is definitely a great addition to my camera bag!
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
This product is so easy to use and you will get great results! Even a rookie photog will be amazed at the final product!
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
These people that say it falls off, just dont put it on right. You have to Push it on farther than you think you have to. Google it if you need to but I pushed my 430EXII through the lip on the inside and now it is secure and wont fall off. I am a professional photographer and I have been using the C3 Lightsphere and it is amazing. Instantly you can tell a difference in color balance, shadows, and softer light. Yea it may be bulky but not nearly as bulky as a "Mini" softbox. And no, no one will make fun of you having it on your flash. It is an amazing tool and does everything it says it does. When properly attached and used it makes a world of difference.
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
In no time flat I was taking quality pictures with the lightsphere. I've used bounce cards, bubble wrap, and sto-fen for years, and finally decided to try the lightsphere. I still prefer a large bounce card for efficiency, but the lightsphere is more portable (meaning it won't get destroyed in my bag). The quality of the light is nice and soft at about 5-15 feet from subject, however it gets harsh if you get too close. The lightsphere does eat up a lot of light, requiring you to shoot at ISO 400 or 800, and wait while the flash recycles.
Some people complain about the lightsphere looking like tupperware and the comments they get from clients/friends. Speaking from experience, the comments are not nearly as bad as when using a bubble wrap diffuser (the free diy lightsphere).
I'm using a Canon 30D, and Canon 430EX. My only complaint is that it's kind of difficult to install on my flash, and the dome is kind of hard to attach as well. Maybe I just need more practice. I have had it fall off a couple times, but it's usually because it gets bumped.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
After a little googling I discovered that you are supposed to pull the lip inside the Lightsphere II over the head of the flash. Nice snug fit now!
Pros
- Durable
Cons
- Bulky
- Heavy
- Weak Output
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Gary Fong's products are a chinese food tupperware design, bulky, does not stick with the external flash properly, people laugh at your funny flash, and awkward taking pictures because you have to change directions of your flash angles. The picture result using the amber dome can be done the same thing using photoshops warm tone. The invert dome does pretty okay when taking pictures, but this can be done with superb picture result using the mini-soft box which is way a lot cheaper than buying gary fong's stuff and it looks good on your flash...all i can say is that this is a waste of investment...spend on mini-soft box! You won't be disappointed.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
- Quality Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Shooting Outdoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
I have used my lightsphere to photograph a wedding reception and some senior photos. It is amazing how much it softens the light and creates a much more interesting portrait. I would highly recommend.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
Cons
- Flimsy Design
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Used this with my new 430EX II speedlight, photos turned out good, but some major flaws:
Pros: * Photos looked great, backlit very nice.
* Softens shadows nicely as said it does.
Cons:
* Horrible mounting design, falls off!
* If I bump into anything lightly or angle
to the side it comes loose.
* No type of mounting strap or anything inside!
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Quality Construction
Cons
- Still pricey for plastic
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
- Shooting Outdoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Fill and flash softener when there are no walls or ceilings to bounce. Then I decided that I just won't take it off for flash much. I really like it.
Pros
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Works alright. Dunno if I'd buy it again. Falls off easily.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
- Quality Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
- Shooting Outdoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
I initially tried the Gary Fong Lightsphere universal mount for my Canon 430ex speedlight and it was not very happy with it's stability so I ordered the C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome specifically designed for my flash. This diffuser is easy to mount and stays put when I am shooting events where I need to move my camera quickly.
It works great as fill light indoors and outdoors- especially when the lighting is direct and the shadows are harsh.
Pros
- Improves Performance
Cons
- Flimsy Design
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
- Shooting Outdoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Great product, but expensive. Shift color temp to warm.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
I had seen a fellow photographer using this in connection with a wedding. It looks ridiculous but the flash diffusion is fantastic! It does exactly what it promises and I am very satisfied with the results.
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
- Shooting Outdoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Nice soft light for indoor use. Also great for fill flash outdoors. Heavy and can fall off easily.
Pros
- Beautiful Light
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
- Quality Construction
Cons
- Falls Off Tape it
Best Uses
- No available light
- Shooting Indoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Out of the box, it ROCKED. Gary is a photographer's photographer.Thank you kind sir.michaeljamesstudios[@]
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Provides a ver nice diffused lighting. Much better than a single small diffuser over the flash, as it also bounces the light as well.
Used for portraits when I can't haul location equipment around, and essential for wedding photography.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
Cons
- Flimsy Design
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
Comments about Gary Fong C3 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Cloud Diffusion System (Frosted):
Works great to give a uniform light. Top does not stay on as weel as it should.
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Flash Accessories
- Price: $19.95
- GBP 12.61
What's in the Box
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
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