Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

The GF "Universal" Lightsphere broke when placed for the 3rd time on my SB-900. The system, which tries (and fails in my experience) to accommodate flashes of very different sizes using rubber bands and velcro _fails_ on the large Nikon SB-900. I tried to fit it tightly and it just shattered. No excessive pressure, nothing. Broken. In my opinion it is _not_ compatible with the SB-900, claims to the contrary by Gary Fong not withstanding. I have no idea how well it works on smaller flash heads, or the smallest ones where I might be concerned about the security of the rubber band+velcro system for securing the supposedly universal device.

With that said, the two times I did use it before it broke I was pleased with the images compared to bounce+flash-card, especially in portrait mode. The direct light is good and the bounce + fill works well. The theory is good. In my experience the implementation is not adequate for serious work.

If you can (somehow) baby your gear in the field, the Gary Fong lightsphere might give you good results. That isn't me; I need to rely on my equipment and the universal ligthsphere fails badly with my SB-900 set. Even still, there is a gap that lets unmodified flash through to the subject. Not cool. I will either go back to card+bounce, try the Honl modifiers or something else. For me, the Gary Fong "Univeral" lightsphere is an Epic Fail.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

Very easy to use... I never take it off of my camera... I photograph newborn babies and it is useful to in almost every sitting.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

The Gary Fung diffuser is a great way to eliminate background shadows when using a flash unit. The only drawback is that its bulky and also sometimes falls off when knocked off, and because it is not made from very sturdy plastic it can be easily destroyed if trampled. Other than that its a great product.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

This product really works to diffuse and soften the effects of using a flash unit. The only drawback is that it is a little bulky to carry and can be knocked off in a crowd setting.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

I shot some with this gary fong product work great . the ISO shooting @ 800 is wild but work great.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

This is the third Gary Fong diffuser that I've purchased. It's of good quality and produces a very pleasant effect when taking portraits and family photos with flash. The only issue is its a bit bulky, but I bought it anyways because of mixed reviews for the new collapsible version. I am very happy with the image quality I get with this diffuser. One thing to note is that this particular model comes with a mounting system that will fit almost any flash, whereas some of the other Gary Fong products are specific to flash units. Because I have a few speedlites this is an important feature because I can use this one interchangeably on all of them.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

I got this item to bounce overall light from my 430 EX11 for a marathon shoot with pets to avoid startling the pet and also to avoid the "demon eyes" the often occurs when photographing animals with flash- and it worked just fine.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

there should be some info. on best ways to use the
product..i.e. various positions of lite sphere.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

I just love the lightsphere. It softens the light so nicely when shooting portraits. The universal lightsphere is cool because it fits any flash but it's not as quick to get on as the style that fits just one flash. It is a bit bulky but totally worth it to haul around.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

for the amount of money it's worth, the difference it made in softening and diffusing light was not worth it... i can tell a difference but definitely not worth [$] for a piece of plasticsidenote, it's very eye-catching. it's annoying having everyone ask what it is

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

I recently used the lightsphere for a wedding. Easy to use, not much of a learning curve. The lightshpere really makes your flash images softer and less harsh due to the flash. I can't imagine not using it where I would need a flash. Great product!

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

I needed to take some indoor shots but setting up proper lighting wasn't feasible. This did the job very well. It eliminated shadows and gave me great, well-lit shots.

It's a little weird, very clunky to transport, and the method of attachment is dorky.

NOTE: the rubber band goes on your flash to add grip; then you tighten the lightsphere at that point for a no-slip connection. I had to find that out via an online search because there were no instructions included with the lightsphere.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

Haven't found a good way to carry it yet.

But the results are incredible.

I've got some other diffusers, but they don't hold a candle to this one. It's my new favorite.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

The dvd that accompany's the Cloud is very helpful in showing how to use it to get maximum benefit. I used it to take indoor pictures of family at Christmas and it worked great. Much better than direct/bounce flash.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

A wonderful diffuser. I can now fully understand why many wedding photographers love this item

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

Softens and effectively distributes bounce flash. Because the dome creates a fuller dispersion of light than other forms of bounce gear, the light is pleasant and natural. The only drawback is its bulk. Still, its advantages outweigh the minor inconvenience of leaving enough room in your bag for this appliance, which slips on and off easily. Makes me want to use my strobe more often!

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

I recently used this at a wedding where there were high ceilings, dark walls, and absolutely NOWHERE to bounce a flash. Though the light was still a little harsh when fired directly at guests, it was much better than using bare direct flash for walkaround shots, and the photos were at least salvageable during post-processing. When possible, taking off the dome and using it as a fill/diffuser while still bouncing the flash gives the best results. All in all, though, even when used direct it can save some otherwise impossible shots.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

Well, this was a good purchase. If the lighting is great in the room, you don't need it. But how often does that happen?

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

Nice diffuser - good results.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

First use was with flash on-camera (I'm still a rookie). Eliminated harsh light; gave a softer effect. I have attached two photos from that first time use, which was also the first time I used my DSLR.

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

I have to admit this thing is really big but you can throw away all your other diffusers. I was amazed with the quality of the light output. The DVD that came with mine really opened my eyes to what this thing can do. I never use my SB-800 without it now. The only problem I had was with it's size. I ended up buying a much larger backpack so I could always have it with me. My thinking is that if you need it but left it at home why have it?!? I like it so well that I am considering buying another one for my SB-600 as well. That way I can use both at the same time for accent lighting...

Comments about Gary Fong Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal System Cloud:

Incredible light, on my NISSIN Flash It works great but could have a longer velcro strap which I am sure Gary is on top of it!