Gary Fong Collapsible lightsphere / BBJ imports

[Hamish Gill]

Firstly, Praise for BBJ Imports!
ordered my Gary Fong Collapsible Lightsphere yesterday with the cheap delivery option ... it arrived this morning!! good work bbj imports ... i do like a bit of good service!

http://www.bbjimports.com/


I have been using Gary Fongs products for maybe 3 years now ...
I used to have one of the original lightspheres ...
all the claims about increase of quality of flash photography are as far as i am concerned entirely true!

I had 2 complaints about the original
1, it was awkward to transport... try as i might i could never get it in my camera bag in any sensible configuration
2, it came in different sizes

i had to buy one that fit my sb600 ... i havent upgraded to a sb900 yet ... but when i do i was going to need to buy a new lightsphere ... well thankfully (???) my dog got its teeth in to the original lightsphere which meant i needed a new one!
the new collapsible lightsphere is universal meaning it will fit on my (now very tatty) sb600 and will also fit on the sb900 when i get it...

so yeah, this new version has solved both of my complaints about the original... Happy days!

I can thoroughly recommend these things!
they make flash photography very easy ...
and if you still struggle have a look at one of the many Gary Fong tutorial vids on his website

http://www.garyfongestore.com/featured-products/lightsphere-collapsible.html

just be warned .... everyone will ask you the same inevitable question: "Why have you got Tupperware on top of your camera"

 

[Pete Askew]

I have a wedding photographer friend who also swears by them. Mind, Vic has an even bigger light sphere that he's been experimenting with lately. And, apparently, you don't even need to squeeze it into you bag!

Look forward to seeing some shots with it.

 

[Vic Shaw]

I bet this shop is on a hill, because with them prices they can see you coming that's for sure! I find the prices a little extreme for what they are and I don't want to seem a tight git but come on! with a little thought you can pretty much make your own light modifier from anything. I've made one from a napkin on a beach restaurant in Goa. The question I would ask is 'Why haven't you got a piece of Tupperware on top of your camera?'

Pete the new(?) light source is a little small though due to the distance from subject, although it can be made larger with a large blanket of cloud. Also the stick I cobbled together to move it when I got it back the end had burnt off, go figure!



Vic

 

[Mark Grant]

Looks good Hamish, I am still using a Stofen Omni bounce on my Canon 550 flash, had it for years and it really makes a difference
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/flash-diffusers-sto-fen/b3107-m237

Might try one of these Gary Fong products, looks well designed and if it can stay on the flash I wont lose it. Can never find my stofen when I need it.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I take your point Vic, but what we have here is something that is actually designed and made to do the job I need it to and do it well ... Anything else would be a bodge job, and when working for up to 12 hours straight you don't want to be worrying about a bodge job that could fall off or fail ... you need somthing you can rely on to work everytime and for a long time .. And that for me is worth the ££...
Of course I would have prefered to be in the US, or have the time to wait for one from the US, and pay half the money ... But I have work coming up and need one asap! So there!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Looks good Hamish, I am still using a Stofen Omni bounce on my Canon 550 flash, had it for years and it really makes a difference
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/flash-diffusers-sto-fen/b3107-m237

Might try one of these Gary Fong products, looks well designed and if it can stay on the flash I wont lose it. Can never find my stofen when I need it.

They fit very well mark ... And even the collapsible one is hard to loose!
In terms of comparison to the stofen... It makes the stiffen look like it doesn't work!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

i must admit, just ordered a lightsphere and really looking forward to it, and I'm sure it's going to be great to use, But you are right though vic. 60 quid is coming out of my pocket for one of them. I do understand that having some bodge job on your flash doesn't flatter anyone but alternatively does the job, but yet the price for what it is, I do struggle to come to terms with.....maybe I'll comment again after I've tried it out...

 

[Vic Shaw]

I just think it's rather excessive for what it is...next time you go into the kitchen look at a washing liquid/powder bottle made from plastic, moulded and printed are you paying 70 quid for that 10 for the liquid and 70 for the bottle? sometimes I think as consumers we have to stop being taken for a ride.

It just winds me up a little some times ( and lets not start the phone debate )

 

[Darren Bradley]

I also own and frequently use a Gary Fong collapsible light sphere. I love it and it's very practical. But I don't understand why everything is so much more expensive in the UK. 70 pounds?!? I paid 45 dollars for mine!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I bought one of the original Fong ones to do a mates wedding - I think it delivered

Used sto-fen before that, and that's a nice cheap flash diffuser - but I have to say the Fong unit was better, especially outdoors for fill flash.

The old unit is a big clumsy - it's like having a tupperware bowl in your camera bag!

The new collapsable unit looks great - nice one Hamish

Only ever shot the one wedding, so it's 'not really my bag baby' - but here's a few samples with the Fong unit providing the fill flash diffusion - Canon 1D2 and 550EX

 

[Pete Askew]

Well it certainly did the job there Chris. A nice set of shots with a delicate touch to the FF.