Gary Fong LS2P1 Lightsphere II Size 1 (Clear) Review

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(More customer reviews)I consider myself a pretty tough grader and it isn't often that I give a product 5 stars. However, the Lightsphere deserves every one of them.
Used within certain limits, the Lightsphere does indeed provide soft, even lighting from a basic on-camera flash. I use mine with a Nikon SB600 and couldn't be happier with it.
There are models available for many different flashes so be sure to get the right one. There is also a universal model available that works very well if you have a variety of flashes. Check the Gary Fong website for more details and some demos.
For many years I simply mounted my flash and bounced the light off the ceiling or nearby wall. For the most part the results that I got were pleasing. However, the Lightsphere takes the bounce approach a step further and ensures a softer, more diffuse light that makes portraits appear to have been shot with a much more sophisticated and larger lighting system.
Oh, yeah. I did mention that the product must be used within certain limits, so let me explain.
The most obvious limit is the flash unit itself. A more powerful flash will allow the shooter to use a smaller aperture to increase depth of field if desired. It will also allow for greater bounce distance (a high ceiling comes to mind) and the use of a lower ISO setting permits your camera to produce the highest (technical) quality images of which it is capable.
One importatnt thing to bear in mind is that there is simply no way that a device the size of the Lightsphere can provide the same quality light as a softbox or umbrella. The laws of physics just don't work that way. The larger the light source (and the closer to the subject) the softer the light. Be that as it may, the Lightsphere does indeed soften and diffuse the light to give a decent imitation of a much larger light source.
If you're finding that your flash shots, even bounced, are still a bit harsh, give this product a try. Chances are you'll never again shoot flash without it.

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Light Sphere II Cloud. All other diffusers "point" the light somewhere like a flashlight. Light Sphere is the only diffuser that lights up the entire room, softening your images tremendously.Light up the entire room and eliminate unwanted shadows. Light Spheres were reffered to as the \'Best Diffusion" we\'ve ever tested by \'Professional Photographer Magazine." And \'By far the best diffusion" as tested by \'Nikonians" Use the cloud colored Light Sphere II to create the warmest softest light possible from your on-camera flash. Studio quality light, that you can carry in your gear bag, makes the Cloud Light Sphere the perfect diffuser for portrait photographers and wedding photojournalists. This soft flattering light is the same light you are accustomed to finding in your studio when using a soft box, panel or large umbrella. If you shoot outside of your studio - you will love the Cloud Light Sphere.FIT: Light Sphere II models come in four different sizes. See the provided sizing chart for your flash model. Since Light Sphere II models require no attachment accessories or pieces, you can easily and quickly pop the Light Sphere II on and off your flash. Light Sphere II has numerous accessories and there are numerous kits available.

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Gary Fong The Puffer Pop-up Flash Diffuser + Accessory Kit for Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax Flashes Review

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(More customer reviews)The Puffer diffuser is exactly as described. I own a Nikon D40 and it was a little tight fitting it onto the hotshoe mount, but with a little finesse it slipped on fine. It diffuses nicely. The cleaning kit is fine, too.

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Kit includes:♦ 1) Gary Fong Puffer Pop-Up Flash Diffuser♦ 2) Precision Design Deluxe 6-Piece Lens & Digital SLR Camera Cleaning Kit♦ 3) Digital Camera LCD Monitor Screen Protectors♦ 4) Precision Design Spudz Microfiber Cleaning ClothThe Gary Fong Puffer Pop-Up Flash Diffuser is for use on almost any SLR camera that has a hot shoe and pop-up flash. It has a convex, dimpled white diffuser front that softens and disperses the light from your camera's pop-up flash. The Puffer mounts in the hot-shoe slot of digital cameras with a pop-up flash, greatly softening the quality of light. It's great for portraits, grabshots of people and closeups of objects (great for ebay photos!) The height of the Puffer is adjustable -- its twin prongs fit into any of the eight sets of holes at the rear of the diffuser. So, no matter what model hot shoe camera, or height of its pop-up flash -- the Puffer adapts.
This 6-piece cleaning kit contains everything you'll ever need to properly clean your lenses, including a Hurricane Air Blower, Lens Cleaning Tissues, Lens Cloth, Lens Cleaning Liquid, Brush and Cotton Swabs.

Reduce glare, enhance your view, and prevent scratching with this set of LCD screen protectors.

This 6x6-inch Microfiber Lens Cloth from Precision Design will remove smudges and other surface grime from your delicate optics. The attached water-resistant neoprene pouch keeps the cloth dry and protected from dust, dirt and other contaminants that could otherwise lead to scratches. And for added convenience, the pouch features a simple clip that makes transportation a snap.

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Gary Fong GFLSC01 LightSphere Collapsible Diffuser Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a big fan of Gary Fong's lightsphere diffusion system despite what people may think of him or the stares I get occassionaly when using his product. It's the only lighting accessory that gives me the look I want, for either close range portraits, macro lighting in a pinch, or for use in small to medium rooms. That said, it has been inconvenient storing and carrying this accessory in the field due to its bulk. Lightsphere II solves this do a degree with its semi-malleable structure that allows for some foreceful folding. Not a solution, but one way to overcome its size.
With the release of the lightsphere collapsable, I wondered if this could retire my 2 year old lightsphere II. Was is it time for an upgrade? Yes and no. Read on for my impressions.
First, the bad:
1) The older lightsphere II is actually smaller than the collapsible in its expanded form. The lightsphere II is smaller because it does not need to collapse like an accordion, allowing it to have thinner and fewer walls, giving it a more curved, bell shape. The sphere II is also mostly transluscent, making it feel smaller because it's less visually intrusive than its cloudy big brother.
2) The lightsphere II is fitted to your particular flash model. This is very valuable for me because I never struggle fitting the accessory, as it comes on and off with ease, one handed, and stays on securely. It takes effort and practice to get the collpapsible on and off quickly, requiring me to use both hands while setting the camera on a table. Perhaps it's more an issue of technique and practice, but it's important to note I never initially had this problem with the lightsphere II. This is a double edged sword however as the sphere II can't fit on various sized speedlites, so if you need it to fit across various sizes, you will have to overlook the fit issue.
3) Light loss is greater on the collapsable compared to the lightsphere II. I estimate it to be around 1-2 stops of light, most likely due to the cloudy material vs. clear on the lightsphere II. While I understand its the nature of the beast using a diffuser, it's light I never could afford to give up when I used the lightsphere II.
4) The lightsphere collapsible is made from a material that is not only more flexible than the lightsphere II, but also stickier for some reason. It's not by any means going to stick to an object or your hands, but I noticed lint sticking to its surfaces having stored it in my cargo pocket. Nothing a quick rinse in a water faucet wouldn't fix, but lint never found its way onto my lightsphere II when carried in the same "linty" pocket.
5) I paid $39.99 for the lightsphere II 2 years ago. At [...], the collapsible is not going to break the bank, but I'm not neccessarily *getting* 50% more by *paying* 50% more if you get my drift. It's arguable however, how much the collapsible feature and one-size-fits-all approach are worth to each individual.
Now, the Good:
1) Same, even, wrap-around light as the lightsphere II. As long as you understand the limitations of light loss with the collapsible, you will essentially get the same, beautiful effect you are used to with other lightspheres. The cloudy material seems to give softer light for close portrait work and was a nice surprise I will surely take advantage of.
2) When collapsed, it folds into a disc about 1 1/2 inches thick. Although easier to store in the bottom of a bag or in a mesh pocket outside your backpack, I still don't like the fact it's noticeable larger in diamter than the sphere II. However a "can of tuna" is always easier to carry around than a tupperware bowl ;) Note: This collapsible factor will probably be THE reason why folks should look to upgrade or choose this product over previous lightspheres.
Final Thoughts:
In conclusion, I am pleased with the lightsphere collapsible's performance, but having a real hard time with of ease of use and dissappointed with light loss. It's not letting me do anything I couldn't before with my old sphere, and frankly, I'm dissappointed about needing two hands to install the diffuser instead of one. However, I don't want to minimize the fact its easier to carry along to a shoot, making this a must buy for those who prize portability but still need soft, diffused light the sphere is capable of in a pinch. Given how much I use Gary Fong's diffuser and how well it performs at diffusing light, the lightsphere collapsible will serve as a compliment to my lightsphere II, rather than a replacement. Both have a permanent place in my gear bag and will see use for years to come.

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Gary Fong introduces the Lightsphere Collapsible, the new evolution of the famed Lightsphere series of diffusers! The Lightsphere Collapsible is made from soft vinyl making this Lightsphere flexible yet durable. The Lightsphere Collapsible boasts the first mounting system of its kind. It utilizes patent pending sizing ribs to provide an equally tight fit to several sizes of flashes without the need for straps or bands and collapses down to a 1 1/2 inch thick ring allowing for easy storage.The Inverted Dome, which works with all exisiting accessories, is included with the purchase. The light output is equivalent to a half cloud.

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Gary Fong LSUPRO Lightsphere Universal PRO Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)Despite the picture on Amazon, there is no CD included - there is a note about documentation being updated and eco-friendly on a website. Unfortunately, the tutorials are hosted on YouTube and FaceBook and are unavailable to corporate users who typically live behind a firewall which blocks such things. It's unfortunate that not even a cheat-sheet paper is included. These seem to be semi-pro level products, but the support is not. For $159, they should still be including the CD.
Having said that, the parts are made well and fit well on the flash. The mounting is ingenious and works perfectly on my Olympus FL-50R flashes - secure and not wobbly.
The results are as expected - if you haven't used a flash diffuser before, you will like it a lot and will probably never use straight flash again. I also own the Puffer - an excellent diffuser for pop-up flashes, so this kit helps out with the larger flashes, either on-camera or mounted on a tripod.

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GFLSUPRO Gary Fong Light Sphere Universal Pro Kit.The Light Sphere Universal Pro Kit consists of both the Cloud and Clear Diffusers, one Amber Dome, one Chrome Dome, one Accessory Universal Mounting Kit.

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Gary Fong LSUCLOUD Lightsphere Universal Cloud Review

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(More customer reviews)I wasn't really sure what to expect. I knew I needed a diffuser for my speedlite since I was going to be doing some night weddings soon. And really, that shadow right behind a person, that's bush league. That should never be there if someone is paying you.
Pulled it out of the box, and my first impression was: "sturdier than I thought it would be." Yes, for a piece of tupperware it's probably slightly on the expensive side. Under $40 is still a pretty chunk of change (and you should always equate what that really costs in your area of living. $40 = one dinner date (if you don't splurge), 6 fast food meals, 3.5 movie ticktes, 1 used video game, 1 decent shirt from the mall, 75 kg of food in Uganda, etc). But if it saves you time in post-production/ processing, then I think it's worth it. The flash, by being diffused, is not harsh. Allows for more crisp photos in darker situations. As with all lighting elements, if you're in a bigger room, then you don't want to be using a medium or long range lens with this, but a shorter range lens works quite well.
If you have problems with it fitting snug on - well, it fit fine on my speedlite. And if you're having problems with it fitting snug on, you can always pad either the flash or the lightsphere's prongs with a layer or several of black electrical tape. The rubber band made it snug on it's own on mine.
For the price, yes, I think it's worth it. Will I need this all the time? No. But that 10% when I do need something like this, I feel confident that it will work, and that I won't have to slave over a picture in Photoshop trying to make the best of a decent or bad situation.

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GFSUCLOUD Light Sphere Universal, Cloud. The latest offering from Gary Fong! Light Sphere Universal fits virtually all flashes including the Nikon SB-600 and SB-800 and Canon 430 and 540 models. LightSphere Universal features the patented "Grip” mounting system, so strong that it can support the entire weight of the camera and flash!

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Universal Translucent Dome Flash Diffuser Review

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(More customer reviews)This product works extremely well. It fits my canon flash and does a great diffusion job. I've tried a lot of other diffusers and I didn't want to pay more for the Gary Fong type. This one turned out to work really well and I saved some great money.

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Diffuser works great to reduce the harsh speedlight flash and shoot in portrait without annoying shadows. Includes white, amber and silver inverted dome covers. Universal fit for most speedlight flashes, velcro strap holds diffuser in place.

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