Gary Fong GFLSC01 Diffuser & SF58

[esophoria]

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I have a SF 58 Leica strobe which I use with my M9. I'm thinking of purchasing the Gary Fong GFLSC01 LightSphere Collapsible Diffuser...... does anyone know if this diffuser fits on the SF58 unit.

 

Any experiences with using this diffuser?

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[erlingmm]

Don't know if the collapsible has the same fitting as the original LightSphere, but I use it on the SF58. It is a little tight, but it works fine.

[thompsonkirk]

Is anyone willing to offer a more detailed discussion/recommendation of diffusers?

 

I changed from SF24D to SF58 because the smaller unit was so harsh/contrasty – every wrinkle showed, highlights on faces became hot spots, & it was hard to bounce it without 3 hands. I tried the slightly frail & clumsy Leicagoodies SFILL & it did some good, but I still felt I needed to bounce.

 

With SF 58 I did an experiment with straight flash, the WA diffuser that folds down, the $29 Leica diffuser, & the little Impact Mini SoftBox that B&H sells for &8.50. All were progressively a little better, but just a little.

 

I just looked up the Fong unit on the Internet & was baffled by the multiple versions/options.

 

What sort of diffuser does nice lighting with SF 58, straight &/or bounced? Please advise. (Other than umbrellas – I can't handle that.)

 

Or maybe I should just accept the results I'm getting. I've had a bias against flash on Leicas & resisted them for just short of 40 years, but now that I'm a retired person & not an 'occasional artist,' I find I'm asked to photograph more poorly-lit events that require indoor bounce or outdoor fill.

 

Kirk

 

PS, I've already read the Sean Reid articles on flash & on SF 58 specifically, but he didn't say much about diffusion.)

[glenerrolrd]

I like the Gary Fong diffusers primarily for fill flash . When you can balance the ambient (e.g.have enough ambient to make that possible without ghosting double images ) ..the GF products increase the size of the light source and soften the effect .

 

The disadvantages are that you lose a lot of the flash power by diffusing it and that bouncing the light around isn t all that easy . But for event type of work where you are often inside 12 ft I find it quite easy to work with.