> Chip, > > Had you actually read the instructions and used an Omnibounce you > would have > noted that it was designed to be used at 60 degrees. I have used this > product for more than a decade with great success. They also come > in colors > if you want to warm or cool the lighting or use them for black & > white flash > photography. Having used these with Vivitar 283s, 285s, Metz 40MZs, Canon > 380EX and 550EX flashes I HAVE NEVER had a poor exposure except by my own > fault. What I mean by that is do not assume light output is the same. You > lose about 1.5-2 stops but you will gain the most even lighting in a small > device. The nice part to it is that it may be a bit bulky but its > very easy > to put on and take off without any velcro, glue or other parts you need to > glue to your flash. I had the Lumiquest ProMax and although it > folded flat > it was a pain in the neck to use. > It took far longer to put on and looked ridiculous on the flash. > The 80-20 > for example relies on the fact you have a ceiling, hopefuly a > white one. If > not you need to play around with inserts to get the right > lighting. What a > pain! > Watch some of the events that many PJs attend and note that many use the > Omnibounce. You will almost never see a large LumiQuest. Reason being its > simple and very effective in diffusing light, great for those in your face > images in People and other magazines everyone seems to like. > Chip, I have to say being on this list for some time, your opinons > consistently talk up what you yourself own and always degrade what you do > not. Try using an Omnibounce for any length of time and I believe your > opinion would be different. > > Peter K >
Hi Peter, I actually read the instructions several times before I bought it and several times afterwards and have followed them carefully and fully understand the limitations of the Omnibounce flash diffuser. I have also tried to use the Omnibounce in different ways to control light in more useful ways, like stand mounted with umbrellas or large flat diffusers. The Omnibounce is a very compact, hard shell small surface area diffuser panel that has serious limitations for general purpose use when used with on camera flash. IMO the convenience of an easy to attach part is very attractive but the limitations of the Omnibounce outweigh this convenience. I too have had an Omnibounce for several years, through several different flash units even though it has serious limitations in real world use because sometimes it's the right tool. While I wrote straight up I didn't mean "straight up" but straight up on a 540EZ body which is at an angle somewhere between "straight up" and 45 degrees. On the Omnibounce I have for the 540EZ there is a rippled panel on the bottom that sheds some light on the subject when used in this position. This approximates the angle the instructions suggest and as I mention the Omnibounce does work well in space limited areas. The limitation of the Omnibounce as far as softening hard shadows caused by directed flash is simply that it lacks enough area to diffuse the light effectively when used straight on as another poster had suggested using it. There is some effect but it is very slight at best when used in the direct mode. If used at an angle as the directions suggest the Omnibounce works very well assuming that you have a relatively small enclosed room with minimal wall coverings, white walls and white ceiling. This is also on the instruction sheet as I recall. Typically the color of the walls influence the color of the reflected light if the room is small enough for an Omnibounce to truly work effectively, this is a problem for me as I shoot mainly chromes and cannot correct the color cast caused by this. For the a shooter using B&W or color print film the coloration of the light from the interior walls is less an issue. But the size of the room and the reflective area needed is still key to the successful use of the Omnibounce panel. The real limitation of the Omnibounce design is that outside of a small room with white walls and ceilings, say a hall or out of doors there is nothing to bounce the flash light of off to soften the light. The Omnibounce is worse than useless in this situation, all it does is suck up light and your batteries or power pack. A bounce type panel with a diffuser still works well in this situation as it does not rely on external surfaces to reflect light. I too can honestly say that "I HAVE NEVER had a poor exposure except by my own fault." This is the job of the photographer, to control light and exposure to capture the image he has visualized isn't it? I have no doubt that the exposure problems I have had while using an Ominbounce and every other product I have ever used were caused by my own devices. If you are honest with yourself you would recognize and acknowledge this fact. Never is a long time. I usually rely on the camera and flash to provide the correct lighting and using the exposure controls try to adjust the light for what I want to get out of the image. Sometimes I even break out the flash meter to confirm the flash exposure before shooting. But even this is not always perfect and sometimes gives surprising results. There is no glue involved mounting or using a Lumiquest panel. I can get a bounce panel out of the rear pocket of my bag unfolded and mounted in less than 15 seconds, less if I have to and the Omnibounce in about the same time as it needs to be stored in a covered pocket or inside the bag to remain secure during shoot and run carry. Both flash panels take two hands to install properly without over stressing the flash head or flash shoe while mounted on a body. As to the issue of a bounce type flash panel looking ridiculous I have never worried about the appearance of any of my equipment (save that it is clean and operational), all I am concerned about is getting the shot I want quickly and easily. I have seen the events that PJs attend and sometimes attend them too and I use a Lumiquest bounce panel as do many others shooting in the galleries. Just because someone uses a product doesn't mean it's being applied or used correctly. I see PJs using Ominbounce panels in both angled and straight ahead positions outdoors all the time and they just don't work well when used in this manner. PJs very often use what they have on hand even if it is not the right item for the job. Heck I like to use a big white index card with gaffer's tape or a rubber band sometimes because it works well and is sometimes all there is to use. I try many different types of equipment and techniques, some work for me and others don't. I take the time to consider what equipment I have had good experiences with under what conditions and apply this knowledge as I need it. If I share this information with others and they find it useful this is good and I am happy to help other photographers any way I can when I can. I have opinions born of experience and many failures and try to pass it on when I have something that I think can help. All the equipment I have rented, bought and sold are just tools I use and one tool just doesn't fit all jobs well. This is the reason I have many different tools Lumiquests and Omnibounce. If you are this limited in your thinking make due as best you can and be happy. I like to have good tools that allow me to get the shots I want. If this causes me to have a lot of stuff so be it. I like to have fun and try out many different things out. If you have some kind of problem with this look inward. By the way, I have never considered the event and street images in People magazine to be the standard of photographic excellence. Regards, Chip Louie P.S. Sorry all for the length * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
