The best SB-800 flash diffuser...?

[Stolky]

Does anyone have any recommendations for me?

"Gary Fong's Lightsphere II" (..??) - sounded/looked good when surfing around the web...

...then there's those two standard ones (1. Material w. black rim & half-circle shape. 2. plastic boxy-shaped cup) you see on FleeBay heaps (..not sure of names?)

Where is best to buy (sites? - online I guess..). What prices etc?

Anyone want to offload something decent?

Thanks, Mark

[gstark]

You can only buy it from one place, to my knowledge ... Gary Fong's website.

People here occasionally arrange a group purchase which can save some shipping costs ....

But consider things like portable soft boxes, and other diffusers. Poon has both, and they're very inexpensive: his "sock" is about $3, and surprisingly effective.

I'll probably have a few at our dinner in a week or so; I'm waiting to see what turns up in our box of goodies tomorrow.

And you don't mention the flash unit you'll be using it on ....

[Oz_Beachside]

you can have my white ceiling, but the shippings are ridiculous...

bounce if you can.

google "a better bounce card" that concept if pretty effective, and cheap.

[Mr Darcy]

And you don't mention the flash unit you'll be using it on ....

Hey Gary,

What part of

SB-800 flash

in the title did you miss?

[gstark]

And you don't mention the flash unit you'll be using it on ....

Hey Gary,

What part of

SB-800 flash

in the title did you miss?

All of it, I guess. Thanx.

[Reschsmooth]

I have one of these and it is good, very portable (folds up flat) and still allows the SB800 head to move about - it isn't too heavy such that it weighs the head down. I got it for the best price imaginable.

[PiroStitch]

Ceiling, walls, even a piece of paper tied to the SB800 makes for a good diffuser The Lightsphere PJ II is good but impractical and bulky. Advantage of the former option is that it's free too

[Laurie]

I love my Lightsphere PJ II however as Piro pointed out, it is rather bulky and cumbersome, taking up a lot of bag space is also a problem. can be squished or a small (read: 50mm) lens can be placed in it.

the whale tail just looks ridiculous

[photograham]

The Gary Fong Lightsphere is available here in Australia at http://www.qualitycamera.com.au/, and if you are in Melbourne, Kirks Cameras in Ringwood also have some in stock. Yes, it is a bit bulky, but I find the results very good. The Gary Fong website also has some video of how it works.

[gstark]

And in a late breaking story, the Lambency Flash Diffuser is now available from Mr Poon, in models to suit Canon, Nikon, and even the Sigma flash heads.

These are copies of the Fong units, of the later soft versions, and apparently I'll have one in the next day or so .... and they'll be $22 shipped from HK.

[Glen]

Tell Mr Lambency he is dreaming at $22, doesn't he know that Lighspheres sell for $85 in Aus

[gstark]

Tell Mr Lambency he is dreaming at $22, doesn't he know that Lighspheres sell for $85 in Aus

Glen, you're saying I should double the price then?

Why not, at $44, "Buy one, and get one free" ??

[adam]

I use a demb jumbo It's a hinged bounce card with a piece of plastic infront.

I've read discussions on this "Lambency", that it's very very similar to the Gary Fong lightsphere! Please don't raise the price! It's an "imitation" for a reason! (low cost! ) which I hope works just as well

[wendellt]

make your own

make a cardboard box tape iot to flash

furhter the tracing paper is from the head the more difussion

i seen a guy make a square strip flash out of a corn flakes box results are awesome just looks silly

[MCWB]

These are copies of the Fong units, of the later soft versions, and apparently I'll have one in the next day or so .... and they'll be $22 shipped from HK.

Oh China, what won't you copy!

[gstark]

These are copies of the Fong units, of the later soft versions, and apparently I'll have one in the next day or so .... and they'll be $22 shipped from HK.

Oh China, what won't you copy!

You, Trent.

Or me.

And for that may we be truly thankful

[seeto.centric]

haha
omg.. i cant remember if it was here or elsewhere i posted about the LS2PJ.
but yes, i bought mine when it first came out. it has since increased in price by at least $20.

as graham pointed out, Quality Camera Sales sell the LS2PJ. afaik, they are the sole importer/distributor of them in aust. i bought mine from there, and also my sensor swiping kit.
expect top quality service from Stu

stolky, how about the bundled diffusion dome? (shouldve came with your SB800)
i just use that now.. LS2PJ is, as others pointed out, too bulky/cumbersome.
whenever i want diffused flash, i go the bundled diffuser. if i dont need it, it goes in my back pocket. handy. compact. light. sturdy.

-j

[aloysius]

has anyone used the lambency jobbie? or know of any reviews? I cant find much on them. Im quite interested just for times when i cant find a cieling to bounce off.

[Onyx]

Well I remember the one Wendell's got had quite a workout during the AW dinner... but more so as a vaseline filter than for flash bounce use.

[Matt. K]

The Gary Fong Lightsphere is over-rated and over -priced. The small light sock is just as effective. more convenient, easier to carry and much much cheaper. The only real benefit of the lightsphere is that it is very useful with fisheye lenses because it throws the light 360 degrees. It is rare that you will find this useful.

[Geoff]

The Gary Fong Lightsphere is over-rated and over -priced. The small light sock is just as effective. more convenient, easier to carry and much much cheaper. The only real benefit of the lightsphere is that it is very useful with fisheye lenses because it throws the light 360 degrees. It is rare that you will find this useful.

Matt - I have used both, and disagree with you. I think the Gary Fong lightsphere IS overpriced but I do believe it's better than the sock.

[aloysius]

The Gary Fong Lightsphere is over-rated and over -priced. The small light sock is just as effective. more convenient, easier to carry and much much cheaper. The only real benefit of the lightsphere is that it is very useful with fisheye lenses because it throws the light 360 degrees. It is rare that you will find this useful.

Matt - I have used both, and disagree with you. I think the Gary Fong lightsphere IS overpriced but I do believe it's better than the sock.

aaah...but has anyone used the cheapo lightsphere and able to compare it to a fonG?

[Steffen]

Matt - I have used both, and disagree with you. I think the Gary Fong lightsphere IS overpriced but I do believe it's better than the sock.

I agree Geoff. I find the sock useless. The diffusion cap that comes with the SB800 works better IMO by throwing more light around against walls and ceilings. The sock is just too small (surface-wise) to provide soft light.

The LS pointing up works just as well as any bounce flash off the ceiling. The LS with tampon pointing forward works better than the sock or Nikon cap, but it's still no lightbox. Unless you do macro, in which case it can work great, esp off camera.

Just my humble opinion, of course.

Cheers
Steffen. PS I'd expect the LS clone to be just as good.

[gstark]

The Gary Fong Lightsphere is over-rated and over -priced. The small light sock is just as effective. more convenient, easier to carry and much much cheaper. The only real benefit of the lightsphere is that it is very useful with fisheye lenses because it throws the light 360 degrees. It is rare that you will find this useful.

Matt - I have used both, and disagree with you. I think the Gary Fong lightsphere IS overpriced but I do believe it's better than the sock.

The sock sells for about PP3; the Lightsphere around PP80. The Lambency is around PP28

Is the LS that much better? I don't believe it is.

One other point that's not been canvassed is the weight of the LS, and the affect of that weight on the SB800: It causes the SB800's joints to prematurely "fail", and that is not a satisfactor outcome at all.

[Geoff]

Valid points Gary.

[Matt. K]

I agree with the comment made here about the SB800 supplied diffuser...it is 90% as effective as the Gary Fong thingy. I think I'll do some controlled tests.

[xorl]

If you want soft light it doesn't matter whether you use the Fong or SB-800 diffuser - it's no substitute for using a larger light source. The Fong diffuser is only effectively slightly larger that the SB-800 diffuser and won't make much difference if you use it to directly light your subject (unless you are in very close - ick).

I find the main purpose of the little flash diffusers is to simulate a "bare bulb" effect. It will throw somewhat harsh light in all directions - this can be useful, but generally not where most people use it.

If you want soft diffuse light you will be better off shooting through or off an umbrella, using a soft box, scrim or simply bouncing off a wall - no plastic diffuser required.

Alternatively you could use the diffuser and set up a gobo to prevent the light from directly hitting your subject. This way your subject will only be illuminated by the soft room bounce light.

[petermmc]

This one is worth checking out

http://www.abetterbouncecard.com

Although he takes a while to get to the point, there is some useful information about bounce flash and hot spots. If you have the patience check it out.

Peter Mc

[Reschsmooth]

If you want soft light it doesn't matter whether you use the Fong or SB-800 diffuser - it's no substitute for using a larger light source. The Fong diffuser is only effectively slightly larger that the SB-800 diffuser and won't make much difference if you use it to directly light your subject (unless you are in very close - ick).

I think this is the crux of it. The way I see it (and I don't see everything correctly), you can either try to use a brolly or soft box (which can be very awkward when the SB800 is on camera) to create a larger light source or bounce the flash off 1 or more walls (thereby creating an even larger, but significantly less powerful lightsource). TTL on SB800 and aperture adjustment can correct this, of course, however, I would imagine you would have significant limitations based on flash-wall-subject distances, flash power/recycling times, wall/ceiling colours, etc.

[Mr Darcy]

(which can be very awkward when the SB800 is on camera)

Take the SB800 off camera. Use a cable, or the built in flash to trigger it. Even if your camera does not support CLS, you can use SU - 4 mode to fire it from any flash. Just dial down the output of the triggering flash so its not noticeable in the photo or use an IR filter over the head.
.

[blackD200]

what about these --> Flash Diffuser / Softbox

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Flash-Diffuser-S ... dZViewItem

Anyone tried them - looks like a cheapo, sligthly smaller version of the Lumniquest.

Would you use the sb800 diffusion dome inside one of these things to really soften the light. -- prob too much diffusion...

[xorl]

Would you use the sb800 diffusion dome inside one of these things to really soften the light. -- prob too much diffusion...

This particular diffuser still looks very small (just like the Fong diffuser).

When using the SB-800 with a light modifier you generally wouldn't use the little plastic diffuser. I would just zoom the SB-800 head to cover the modifier as appropriate.

The SB-800 can easily be used off camera without a cable since it can be triggered optically. If you have a D70 or above you can even have fully automatic operation via iTTL.

If you are stuck trying to diffuse an on camera SB-800 I would recommend bouncing the light off a neutral coloured wall, foam core, cardboard, or even someone wearing a white t-shirt... .