As outside model photoshooter, who likes to go as lightweight as possible, to be able to move easely from location to location, THIS is the reason why I come to your channel Markus! Thanks for all the effort you put in your videos, showing us what works and doesn't work!
@@BoReynolds I did, I don't want to mark videos as played without watching them in full though, so I can check only titles and thumbnails - and none of them hint at Markus.
THIS is why I love your channel Markus. Because you preach the value of a product rather than the price. So many TH-camrs are out of touch with how expensive some of these products can be for regular photographers. But you put it out there and tell it like it is.
Thank Markus for this PRACTICAL video about on-flash diffusers. As of today, November 24, 2024, out of 15 diffuser videos I've watched, yours is the BEST. It's because it covers all the LATEST versions of on-flash diffusers. It helps me make an informed decision of what to buy.
Markus You Did a video a little while back and you showed briefly an AD 100 mounted to the camera. Can you do a video showing how you did that and what is needed to do that ? Ty Dan
I have been using the Gary Fong dome for years. For direct and bounce flash. On lower white ceilings it cannot be beat by anything. It is more like a lamp shade in that it disperses light all around. Mounted on camera for most uses. It will mount on ad200 with rectangular lens and works great on there also.
thankyou thankyou thankyou Markus, in about 30 second, you clearly demonstrated why domes in 98% of situations are useless for softening light.... and yet you see sooo many photographers out there using them, literally all the time (even outdoors 🤦♂️🤦♂️). And how they in many situations produce that horrible downlight
I enjoy seeing people with flashes out, as you know that they at least have learned that you can't just use f/1.2 and be done with great photo. And seeing people with domes is funny, as you know that they believe that magically light spread around you will soften the light outdoors. Lighting requires learning, acquiring skill and then to master it. And yet we see too often people just not getting it.
Rogue Flashbender Large size is amazing for on camera flash. The spread of light is great for events. Easy to fold. The XL is way too big. My favorite modifier for party/corporate events. I wouldnt know how to handheld a heavy camera with 1 hand and handheld a light in the other for hours long...and undoable for crowded places. Shutterdrag shots are also not doable with 1 hand. For short sessions i would def need to buy that ad200 modifier. I already got the handhold handle. Perfect setup for low key and quick great lighting! Great video as always. Keep it up. 📸🕵️😎😀
i used to think that the Rogue Flashbender is mostly soft and convinence, But the result from you are making me think twice ! Now I need to find something to make my on camera flash look more softer yet convinence to carry. Nice work markus !
I got one of those flashbenders and indeed they are heavy and fiddly. I also have a smaller version, which is less heavy, but of course smaller, and it's hard to get them to reliably stay on the flash head, and the softness of the light seems to depend a lot on how you bend them. Haven't used them much, but they're better than nothing.
Great breakdown of portable flash diffusers and their real-world performance, Markus! 🎥 The comparison of shadows was super insightful-especially seeing how size impacts softness.
Thank so much for this review, @MarkusPix! I see soooo many photographers with the dome and it is very helpful to see the small softbox comparisons. Lets agree that this is a no-dome zone 😜
I am one of those people who has the godox magnetic dome and bring it with me in my bag everywhere I bring my V1. I am usually using the dome with ceiling bounce for just a bit of front light as bounce off the ceiling, I might have to rethink that since you've shown it's not much better than my V1 bare. 🙃I might do what a lot of my friends have done for indoor event photography which is get a like Aperture MC11 or small flat bi color light and use it in the off hand moving it to light your subject Always love your insight Markus just giving it to us straight with no BS even if it wasn't something I wanted to hear as a dome user 🤣
Lovely review. Love your channel. I find, better than a dome or any attachment, is a reflector. Failing that, I've had great success with tiny/small on camera flash which works great outdoors for adding lovely catch lights in eyes and shadow fill. This works wonders on sunny or even cloudier days BUT Remember FILL is the idea, don't overpower. Point it straight at the model or use the flash slightly tilted up - experiment. I let the camera do the rest (TTL / flash compensation and adjust to suit). Softens shadows under eye, fills in face and adds a lovely catch light for backlit subjects. So many great options these days! Agree that all these "modifiers" are too good to be true and aren't worth it. Knowing your gear and experimenting is best.
hey there! loved the video as always, personally the "round thing" might have been my fave, simply 'cause I can use a carabiner to attach it to the outside of my backpack/harness. thanks for your amazing work!
Thank you for your guidance. Your breakdown with the mannequin and the wall truly made the difference for me. I carry a variant of the pop up 24 inch from angler. Great quality! Thanks again!!
Does the angler work exactly like the flip? What mount does the angler have and diffusion? I was literally looking at it last night on Amazon as an option for the flip because it's not sold on Amazon. Is the flip just rebranded, or a similar system? If this doesn't get deleted before you respond. Thanks for sharing your experience and insight.
Your videos are so so good, you put so much time and effort into them. Iv purchased so many modifiers that in reality I should have saved my money and bought the sppedbox 24, I didn’t buy it because it’s expensive but the old saying Buy cheap you buy twice. Thanks again for the video’s. They are great 👍
i love the efforts gone in making this video. i am sure only you and your wife do all this work... Definitely, that little softbox is workable.. i would like a softbox that works on both AD100 & AD200
Yes, correct. I've used the AD-S7 modifiers for many assignments and had great success plus the portability. On sports jobs I use the small 4.75" modifiers and mostly that is it. Thanks for the review on the smaller shoe mount modifiers. I'm looking for something to use for macro work that one of these may fit.
@MarkusPix you're changing photography through your experimentations and results. I think it's easier to follow trends without really thinking about it and questioning the gear. I've had many eye-opening moments through your videos, especially when comparing them to other people on this platform who tend to recommend specific brands or gear that you've evaluated and found to be not always the best. I know I've said this before, but I deeply appreciate what you do. You invest your resources, time, and effort into experimenting with gear, putting together your results, and sharing them with us. Thank you!
This video is so incredibly helpful. I'm trying to up my game on OCF but I'm also lazy and don't want to carry a whole bunch of equipment. 😂You saved me probably 20 hours of research and hundreds of dollars with this video trying to figure out what I should buy! Not all heroes wear capes! 🦸♀️ 🦸♂️ The both of you are great! Many Thanks!! 😊
Thanks for the very interesting test. I use the RoundFlash Dish along with the AD100. It is very similar to the Godox RS18, which is also a very nice diffuser.
2:54 I see so many people pointing their flash up with the bounce card out in the open or towards a black ceiling. Even worse is the bounce card is tiny compared to that Godox one.
I use the flashbender to have less specular light and I use it mainly on events specially when shooting groups and the light pattern is much better than what you can get from a fresnel head of a flash and I can shape it or make a snoot out of it. Recently I have a smaller and cheap bounce modifier with a silver side and white on the other side, it's lighter and does the job of lessening specular highlights and a bit wider spread of light. I also use a silicone dome diffuser on an AD200 with a fresnel head just to have a better light pattern and less specular. The fresnel head on an AD200 gives off a weird light pattern. I don't use small modifiers to get a softer light but to lessen the specular highlights and to spread the light more even or better light pattern than what you get from a fresnel head. If I want a soft light I will use a larger modifier, but I've learned how to use hard light especially outdoors even when the sun is high. I'm planning to get an AD100 and maybe I can use it without any modifier. 😁
Hi Markus, I've always liked using the dome diffuser. After watching the above video I did some testing. Using the dome straight up or back to bounce, pretty much gives me the same result as aiming the flash the same way. Of course, I prefer removing the dome. Also, I looked around on TH-cam to see if anybody seriously endorsed the dome. I found several people who said good things about it. But there was no evidence. I do appreciate that you don't just say something and stop there. You show the evidence. Now, one less thing to pack when I photograph an event. Thanks.
I take a lot of flower and weed photos year around. The responses are the most demonstrative are dead plants. I expect cockleburs, burdocks and dead marigolds are so exciting is that no one would see beauty in dead, dead, dead. I just go out late afternoon, get the settings as close to perfect as possible then either use pop up flash on my d300 or d700 set at the minimum power for fill flash. On the d3 or d500 add a flash with one of those tiny soft boxes. The secret weapon is using one of those four foot flash cords move the flash behind the plant for backlighting. I watch your video with the baby flash boxes and want to say: Get some Velcro taped to the flash otherwise they will not stay on. I used the popup on my d7100 I burned it out three years ago. I had to retire the poor baby when the buttons quit working😥. Another trick with using flash as fill is to cup your fingers over the end as a reflector. Works much better than direct but you wind up with a very, very warm light. Sometimes it works great more often just yucky. Ted
A lot of people will already have a speedlite or at least an AD200 so this is definitely a great video! I still need that dang softbox for the bulb of the AD200 but I can never find it in stock 😭. One thing I’d like to add, and I know you all may not see this on Markus’ channel, but I’ve fallen in love with the Godox Lux Master Retro with the softbox that you can order for it. The light is so clean and best part is it comes out of a bare bulb into the softbox. I also have the dome but I’m finding myself using the softbox more than the dome. It’s so easy to carry but the biggest issue is price. That little light saber is expensive for what it is. You can buy an AD200 for less than the Lux Master Retro so as far as budget, not friendly. Is it worth the price though? Probably not. I bought it bcuz I could afford it and also wanted something smaller than a speedlite that I can hold in my hand with a small dome or softbox and it’s been fantastic! I’ve easily gotten my money’s worth with it. Just wanted to add about the Godox Lux Master Retro. I love that dinky light saber.
I've got a similar one as the lil one in the beginning, except mine has velcro windows on each side for a bit more creativity being able to bounce and shape light. You can even use them line the bounce cards. It's trial and error, but I've gotten surprisingly good results, but I use them mostly for night time portraits with Japan cityscapes in the background.
Thanks Markus. I appreciate your content. Particularly videos like this, but my situation is of a beginner that's more academic than practical application at this point. What experience I do have, is more on the video side, than photo, and video is likely to be more of a priority for me, but I would like to learn more about the photo side as well. I'm also planning on traveling and being as light weight and minimalistic as reasonable. If I'm being honest, as curious as I am, and as much as I would like to, I'm not sure how immediate or important flash photography is to my plans. It maybe something more for the future, and intially limited. Although, I've kind of been digging on the idea of maybe starting with a Godox TT350 and/or an AD100, and using the 20" SMDV flip, or the similar Angler that I think you've also shown, and I think there was a third company that was also basically the same thing. My question is could the SMDV flip, or whatever, also be compatible to use with video, or constant lights? If video is a priority, that would make it more useful were it capable of doing both, and then which lights for which modifiers would be applicable?
Hi Ritchie, this is not just a photography channel but also video, audio, lighting and movie making. I worked in Hollywood for 20 years and share lots of the tricks. To answer your question, yes with the right adapter, the flip can be used for video lights around 60w. !00w would be too hot since it has an inner diffuser. I have all kinds of videos on this channel about video lighting- check out the lights and lighting playlist. Here are some examples th-cam.com/video/7G4FC3wwcXQ/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/tqT7samSjsw/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/WFW9Ej9Ukhk/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/NVYCnqFiqdA/w-d-xo.html and
@MarkusPix ha! Thanks bro. I am familiar and have been watching, seen several of your videos, and seen at least one of those already. Like I said, I'm more planning right now, than doing, but I just have small LED type lights for now, which may be good enough for my purposes. I'll have to take a closer look at those links, but I personally just haven't come across which light, to which adapter, etc. works, but like I said it's kind of just academic at this point, so I probably haven't looked that hard. It just seemed like those different flip soft boxes were more designed to be compatible for speedlight and strobes, and didn't know the practicality or safety of gerry rigging a different kind of light to them, but I also don't know yet that I even need that. I'm kind of just having fun investigating gear, and musing over the what ifs, and don't really have the money right now anyways.
I was surprised that I only saw one diffuser from the old Roundflash line (the one you said looks like a fancy hat) in the comparison. I expected the one that turned your speedlight into a ring flash and would've loved to hear your opinion on them.
Boy do I wish I'd seen this 4 years ago during the Covid shut-down. My new hobby at the time was "buying portable light-weight gear" because back then, I was was 76, now I'm 80 and like to shoot outside. And now I know just how gullible I was: I'VE GOT G.A.S.! (= "Gear Acquisition Syndrome", as someone called it!) I own so many of these pieces just shown. Thankfully, I do have the Favorites, all except the SMDV Flip 20 soft box...which I will be getting now that I've seen it fully demonstrated. Love the softness of that shadow! Thank you, again, Markus...excellent review!
Thank for a great video. I think I want to get the SMDV Flip for my Godox V1 Pro. I just can’t decide between the SMDV Flip 20, 24 or 32. I want something portable, but I want as good portrait light as possible. Difficult decision, bigger light gives softer light, but bigger softbox is more hassle to carry around.
My vote: AD-S9 and QF35 are winners for size expanded, size collapsed, sturdiness, and efficiency of setup. I don't need any softboxes beyond these when shooting outdoors, as even 22 inches of QF35 give such a soft light AND are enough to have a problem with ANY breeze and it's not always possible to find enough heavy things to keep the lightstand standing, never mind anything bigger.
Great, only thing missing is those MagMods for comparison. I just been use a cheap small umbrella more and more. I've been wondering what if I use a small light stand with a ankle weights at the bottom ,so it not so combersome as sand bags, to walk around with and plop down to shoot off some snaps so I don't have to hold the light. Dang - ankle weights are so expensive her in EU. Markus, thanks, I get so many ideas from your channel.
I would think spray painting it would make more sense. But since paint doesn't normally stick to silicone, a few extra steps would have to be taken. The surface would have to be roughed up first with a fine grit sandpaper, then a primer applied specifically intended for silicone and flexible surfaces like XIM UMA Bonder Primer or Silicone Adhesion Promoters. Then the spray paint would have to be specially made for plastics or rubber-like materials like Krylon Fusion, applied in light, even coats, allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
@@MarkusPix Yikes, that's a lot of work. Will just get the small softbox(es). Thank you very much for replying by the way. Wishing you an awesome week ahead.
Thank you. After your ghostly appearance at CC a ventured into the tropical blue waters of your channel. Liked both videos so far! --Do you think the larger diffusers here, like the 17" one, are compatible with the Godox Speedlite V860III ...?
I did a lot of experimenting with speed light diffusers back in 2004-2005. from a baseline of assisted wedding pro Monte Zucker who introduced and taught off camera flash to thousands of other PPofA pros in the early 1970s using direct undiffused first generation Graflex battery operated flash. What made Monte technique different and very effective was ALWAYS having fill, on a bracket, centered 16" directly above the lens as the shadowless as possible (from POV of lens) foundation. The reason I mention that in the context of diffusion is because of a separate Flll flash is used how hard of soft the lighting appears can be controlled with fill, instead of relying on there being white walls and ceiling create "spill fill" from a single off axis key light. Try this experiment. Put drape white and black towels over a chair, Set aperrture to f/8. Center an undiffused Fill flash centered over the camera and raise its power until you see texture in the black towel. Next turn on the off axis key light, also undiffused and raise power until white tower is 1/3 stop under clipping and texture is retained. Regardless of the camera sensor range that 1-2-3 approach will fit range from black to white to it. Put any complexion face in the car and. it will be reproduced as seen by eye because lighting ratio matches sensor range. From that baseline starting with more fill will create a lighter softer look in the midtowns but will require a curves adjustment when edit to pull the black back down. For a darker, harder look? Less fill that the baseline will result in nothing but noise in the shadows so technically the better approach is fill for detail in the black towel at captured then pull the shadows and midtowns down with curves. Less noise that way. Next from the baseline add diffusers and see how they affect results. These are the DIY ones I found to be a good balance between effectiveness and logistics with a dual flash, fill on bracket strategy. photo.nova.org/DIY01 They cost about $3 to make and it takes about 15 min. They work by spitting the light in about half forward and half spill off the ceiling .
As outside model photoshooter, who likes to go as lightweight as possible, to be able to move easely from location to location, THIS is the reason why I come to your channel Markus!
Thanks for all the effort you put in your videos, showing us what works and doesn't work!
It's fun for me 😄
Hey Johan, what diffuser are you leaning on using out in the field from this video?
The video you did with Camera Conspiracies was funny as hell!
What video? Link please
@@emrah2024 th-cam.com/video/slWxDILgJ8o/w-d-xo.html
@@emrah2024 th-cam.com/video/slWxDILgJ8o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=LdinImzaTLx4FXr9
Which one? Is there something new? I don't see anything with Markus on Kasey's channel in the last week or two.
@@BoReynolds I did, I don't want to mark videos as played without watching them in full though, so I can check only titles and thumbnails - and none of them hint at Markus.
THIS is why I love your channel Markus. Because you preach the value of a product rather than the price. So many TH-camrs are out of touch with how expensive some of these products can be for regular photographers. But you put it out there and tell it like it is.
Thank Markus for this PRACTICAL video about on-flash diffusers. As of today, November 24, 2024, out of 15 diffuser videos I've watched, yours is the BEST. It's because it covers all the LATEST versions of on-flash diffusers. It helps me make an informed decision of what to buy.
Markus
You
Did a video a little while back and you showed briefly an AD 100 mounted to the camera. Can you do a video showing how you did that and what is needed to do that ?
Ty
Dan
Thank you so much for taking the time to Show all these modifiers’ effects and comparing them side by side. Very educational.
I have been using the Gary Fong dome for years. For direct and bounce flash. On lower white ceilings it cannot be beat by anything. It is more like a lamp shade in that it disperses light all around. Mounted on camera for most uses. It will mount on ad200 with rectangular lens and works great on there also.
thankyou thankyou thankyou Markus, in about 30 second, you clearly demonstrated why domes in 98% of situations are useless for softening light.... and yet you see sooo many photographers out there using them, literally all the time (even outdoors 🤦♂️🤦♂️).
And how they in many situations produce that horrible downlight
markusrothkranz.com/diotseverywhere.jpg
I enjoy seeing people with flashes out, as you know that they at least have learned that you can't just use f/1.2 and be done with great photo.
And seeing people with domes is funny, as you know that they believe that magically light spread around you will soften the light outdoors.
Lighting requires learning, acquiring skill and then to master it. And yet we see too often people just not getting it.
Rogue Flashbender Large size is amazing for on camera flash. The spread of light is great for events. Easy to fold. The XL is way too big.
My favorite modifier for party/corporate events.
I wouldnt know how to handheld a heavy camera with 1 hand and handheld a light in the other for hours long...and undoable for crowded places. Shutterdrag shots are also not doable with 1 hand.
For short sessions i would def need to buy that ad200 modifier. I already got the handhold handle.
Perfect setup for low key and quick great lighting!
Great video as always. Keep it up. 📸🕵️😎😀
Great video Markus! Really informative and helpful. Thank you
Amazing video! It's probably going to go viral. The best comparison in the galaxy!! Always such an idol... Thanks Markus!!
i used to think that the Rogue Flashbender is mostly soft and convinence,
But the result from you are making me think twice !
Now I need to find something to make my on camera flash look more softer yet convinence to carry.
Nice work markus !
I got one of those flashbenders and indeed they are heavy and fiddly. I also have a smaller version, which is less heavy, but of course smaller, and it's hard to get them to reliably stay on the flash head, and the softness of the light seems to depend a lot on how you bend them. Haven't used them much, but they're better than nothing.
Hey man!! Your examples are the Best!!!! 😎!!!
www.markusrothkranz.com/elvis_thankya.gif
The only reviewer we need
More power MarkusPix
Godbless you
Great breakdown of portable flash diffusers and their real-world performance, Markus! 🎥 The comparison of shadows was super insightful-especially seeing how size impacts softness.
Thank so much for this review, @MarkusPix! I see soooo many photographers with the dome and it is very helpful to see the small softbox comparisons. Lets agree that this is a no-dome zone 😜
Thanks Markus, your experiences and advices are valuable to whole photographers community!
I appreciate that!
I always thought the dome was good but never did my own testing like this. This is great. Thanks!
That SMVD looks handy as heck.
I am one of those people who has the godox magnetic dome and bring it with me in my bag everywhere I bring my V1. I am usually using the dome with ceiling bounce for just a bit of front light as bounce off the ceiling, I might have to rethink that since you've shown it's not much better than my V1 bare. 🙃I might do what a lot of my friends have done for indoor event photography which is get a like Aperture MC11 or small flat bi color light and use it in the off hand moving it to light your subject
Always love your insight Markus just giving it to us straight with no BS even if it wasn't something I wanted to hear as a dome user 🤣
Always learning from your very light weight videos thanks for bringing lights on lightweight modifiers.
The SMDV Flipboxes are the best invention to come along. Excellent customer service. Ask for Tony.👍👍👍
Thank you! The bendable one I bought years ago is the one you tossed away as worst! Wish I had known.
Great informative video Markus, very helpful indeed 💯👍
this was phenomenal! no nonsense, straight to it! lol I love this
Results from the mlcs1625 is extremely impressive for what it is.
Wow, Project Farm level review and information geared to a photography topic! Incredibly in-depth and informative. Thank you very much, Markus.
I took your advise from a previous video, the AD100 and the Glow 24. Best purchase I have ever made. Thanks for doing these types of videos.
😊
Love the ad- s7 on the ad200 which it was your videos which get me away from the speed light to off camera studio light cheers 🍻
Yes it is my favorite way of using the AD200
Always like the practical aspect of your videos!
Just the video i was hoping would come out! Perfect! Thank you!
This guy looks like he came straight out of the Mötley Crüe movie, lol. Great stuff!
Funny you should say that th-cam.com/video/FsDLn9ySY9w/w-d-xo.html
Great video, thanks for sharing that valuable information detailing the pros and cons of those different lighting options! 😎👍
Lovely review. Love your channel.
I find, better than a dome or any attachment, is a reflector. Failing that, I've had great success with tiny/small on camera flash which works great outdoors for adding lovely catch lights in eyes and shadow fill. This works wonders on sunny or even cloudier days BUT Remember FILL is the idea, don't overpower. Point it straight at the model or use the flash slightly tilted up - experiment. I let the camera do the rest (TTL / flash compensation and adjust to suit). Softens shadows under eye, fills in face and adds a lovely catch light for backlit subjects. So many great options these days!
Agree that all these "modifiers" are too good to be true and aren't worth it. Knowing your gear and experimenting is best.
For my line of work the silicone diffuser for AD100 is very interesting. Gonna give it a try and report the results.
Amazing video…so much good info delivered so well
hey there! loved the video as always, personally the "round thing" might have been my fave, simply 'cause I can use a carabiner to attach it to the outside of my backpack/harness. thanks for your amazing work!
Oooh another awesomely useful video?! Must be almost Christmas!
Not living in the US so inb4 people comment: Thanksgiving isn’t a thing for me
Thank you for your guidance. Your breakdown with the mannequin and the wall truly made the difference for me. I carry a variant of the pop up 24 inch from angler. Great quality! Thanks again!!
Does the angler work exactly like the flip? What mount does the angler have and diffusion? I was literally looking at it last night on Amazon as an option for the flip because it's not sold on Amazon. Is the flip just rebranded, or a similar system? If this doesn't get deleted before you respond. Thanks for sharing your experience and insight.
Yes the angler works just like the SMDV. Its not rebranded, but it does take the same adapters.
Your videos are so so good, you put so much time and effort into them. Iv purchased so many modifiers that in reality I should have saved my money and bought the sppedbox 24, I didn’t buy it because it’s expensive but the old saying Buy cheap you buy twice. Thanks again for the video’s. They are great 👍
SDMV 20' Flip it is then!!! Ordering now!!
i love the efforts gone in making this video. i am sure only you and your wife do all this work... Definitely, that little softbox is workable.. i would like a softbox that works on both AD100 & AD200
I enjoy doing this 😊
Yes, correct. I've used the AD-S7 modifiers for many assignments and had great success plus the portability. On sports jobs I use the small 4.75" modifiers and mostly that is it. Thanks for the review on the smaller shoe mount modifiers. I'm looking for something to use for macro work that one of these may fit.
Very interesting results, especially for the dome, since it has been used by many wedding photographers
They think because its a milky surface that it diffuses light. It does. In all directions 😆 Sheep. So many sheep 😅
@MarkusPix you're changing photography through your experimentations and results. I think it's easier to follow trends without really thinking about it and questioning the gear.
I've had many eye-opening moments through your videos, especially when comparing them to other people on this platform who tend to recommend specific brands or gear that you've evaluated and found to be not always the best.
I know I've said this before, but I deeply appreciate what you do. You invest your resources, time, and effort into experimenting with gear, putting together your results, and sharing them with us. Thank you!
I think the funny round hat is supposed to be some kind of diffused beauty dish 😂
Thanks Markus, you are better than brand loyalists from Magmod
I generally avoid loyalist cliques who look for validation to back up their choices
this litterally came at the perfect time. thank you so much!
This video is so incredibly helpful. I'm trying to up my game on OCF but I'm also lazy and don't want to carry a whole bunch of equipment. 😂You saved me probably 20 hours of research and hundreds of dollars with this video trying to figure out what I should buy!
Not all heroes wear capes!
🦸♀️ 🦸♂️ The both of you are great! Many Thanks!! 😊
Thanks for the very interesting test. I use the RoundFlash Dish along with the AD100. It is very similar to the Godox RS18, which is also a very nice diffuser.
I have the Godox AD-S7. Works great outdoors.
👍
2:54 I see so many people pointing their flash up with the bounce card out in the open or towards a black ceiling. Even worse is the bounce card is tiny compared to that Godox one.
markusrothkranz.com/diotseverywhere.jpg
Great job as always! Thank you.
www.markusrothkranz.com/elvis_thankya.gif
Nice! The on I have is the 28” angler fastbox similar to the flip ones you showed.
th-cam.com/video/VZQM3EJ8IXc/w-d-xo.html
@ my man Marcus! Has his finger on the pulse of photography. Thank you brother.
@ having the 28” angler and a ad100 ad300 and a v1 would you recommend the 24” or the 20” as a second light source?
Salut merci broh 👏👍🇭🇹
Great Vid! Gonna get that flip 20.
I think the dome off the ceiling looks good.
I use the flashbender to have less specular light and I use it mainly on events specially when shooting groups and the light pattern is much better than what you can get from a fresnel head of a flash and I can shape it or make a snoot out of it. Recently I have a smaller and cheap bounce modifier with a silver side and white on the other side, it's lighter and does the job of lessening specular highlights and a bit wider spread of light. I also use a silicone dome diffuser on an AD200 with a fresnel head just to have a better light pattern and less specular. The fresnel head on an AD200 gives off a weird light pattern. I don't use small modifiers to get a softer light but to lessen the specular highlights and to spread the light more even or better light pattern than what you get from a fresnel head. If I want a soft light I will use a larger modifier, but I've learned how to use hard light especially outdoors even when the sun is high. I'm planning to get an AD100 and maybe I can use it without any modifier. 😁
Yes I never use the AD200 fresnel. Too harsh, blue and bad pattern
Hi Markus, I use the AD200 Pro for many events. And glued to the front, so to speak, is the AD-S2. I'm very happy with that combo.
Yes that's my fav also
Hi Markus, I've always liked using the dome diffuser. After watching the above video I did some testing. Using the dome straight up or back to bounce, pretty much gives me the same result as aiming the flash the same way. Of course, I prefer removing the dome. Also, I looked around on TH-cam to see if anybody seriously endorsed the dome. I found several people who said good things about it. But there was no evidence. I do appreciate that you don't just say something and stop there. You show the evidence. Now, one less thing to pack when I photograph an event. Thanks.
Man you are awesome! Thank you for share your knownledge.
I take a lot of flower and weed photos year around. The responses are the most demonstrative are dead plants. I expect cockleburs, burdocks and dead marigolds are so exciting is that no one would see beauty in dead, dead, dead.
I just go out late afternoon, get the settings as close to perfect as possible then either use pop up flash on my d300 or d700 set at the minimum power for fill flash. On the d3 or d500 add a flash with one of those tiny soft boxes. The secret weapon is using one of those four foot flash cords move the flash behind the plant for backlighting.
I watch your video with the baby flash boxes and want to say: Get some Velcro taped to the flash otherwise they will not stay on.
I used the popup on my d7100 I burned it out three years ago. I had to retire the poor baby when the buttons quit working😥.
Another trick with using flash as fill is to cup your fingers over the end as a reflector. Works much better than direct but you wind up with a very, very warm light. Sometimes it works great more often just yucky.
Ted
great video, i do have the flip 20 and 32 quick and easy
I would like to know what you think of the MagMod sphere. Any chance you can review it sometime? Thanks for all the great content Markus!
Thank you!
Those hats are called fascinators
Fascinating.
Great Video!!
Very useful test. Thank you, Markus
great video great job
Thank you!
@@MarkusPix As a professional photographer I really admire your experience and knowledge
A lot of people will already have a speedlite or at least an AD200 so this is definitely a great video! I still need that dang softbox for the bulb of the AD200 but I can never find it in stock 😭.
One thing I’d like to add, and I know you all may not see this on Markus’ channel, but I’ve fallen in love with the Godox Lux Master Retro with the softbox that you can order for it. The light is so clean and best part is it comes out of a bare bulb into the softbox. I also have the dome but I’m finding myself using the softbox more than the dome. It’s so easy to carry but the biggest issue is price. That little light saber is expensive for what it is. You can buy an AD200 for less than the Lux Master Retro so as far as budget, not friendly. Is it worth the price though? Probably not. I bought it bcuz I could afford it and also wanted something smaller than a speedlite that I can hold in my hand with a small dome or softbox and it’s been fantastic! I’ve easily gotten my money’s worth with it.
Just wanted to add about the Godox Lux Master Retro. I love that dinky light saber.
Thank you
TY. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks! Was useful for me.
Thanks RenFair Pirate Guy 😉
I got that Angler 20" last week, same as the SMDV but probably nicer.
Thank you Markus!
I've got a similar one as the lil one in the beginning, except mine has velcro windows on each side for a bit more creativity being able to bounce and shape light. You can even use them line the bounce cards. It's trial and error, but I've gotten surprisingly good results, but I use them mostly for night time portraits with Japan cityscapes in the background.
😃 This is so useful!! Thank you for sharing!!!
THANKS FOR THE DEMO ALOHA
I use a profoto soft bounce
A bit pricey but amazing
You missed the Gary Fong Lightsphere (Tupperware as my friend calls it). I like the portable soft boxes you shared better.
Will you be testing Magmod modifiers sometime soon? These, I’m sure you will find to be interesting! 😉
Very comprehensive! Thanks so much
Thank you 👌🏽
Top Ratschläge Markus, beste Grüße aus der alten Heimat.
Great video! Thank you. The tests clarify a lot! I really like the QF35, however, it's not available in Canada. Regards
Did you check out both B&H and the Quantum website? Ebay?
@@MarkusPix sold out or backordered. Maybe your fault =]
Very nice presentation. Thx much!
Thanks Markus. I appreciate your content. Particularly videos like this, but my situation is of a beginner that's more academic than practical application at this point. What experience I do have, is more on the video side, than photo, and video is likely to be more of a priority for me, but I would like to learn more about the photo side as well. I'm also planning on traveling and being as light weight and minimalistic as reasonable. If I'm being honest, as curious as I am, and as much as I would like to, I'm not sure how immediate or important flash photography is to my plans. It maybe something more for the future, and intially limited. Although, I've kind of been digging on the idea of maybe starting with a Godox TT350 and/or an AD100, and using the 20" SMDV flip, or the similar Angler that I think you've also shown, and I think there was a third company that was also basically the same thing. My question is could the SMDV flip, or whatever, also be compatible to use with video, or constant lights? If video is a priority, that would make it more useful were it capable of doing both, and then which lights for which modifiers would be applicable?
Hi Ritchie, this is not just a photography channel but also video, audio, lighting and movie making. I worked in Hollywood for 20 years and share lots of the tricks. To answer your question, yes with the right adapter, the flip can be used for video lights around 60w. !00w would be too hot since it has an inner diffuser. I have all kinds of videos on this channel about video lighting- check out the lights and lighting playlist. Here are some examples
th-cam.com/video/7G4FC3wwcXQ/w-d-xo.html
and th-cam.com/video/tqT7samSjsw/w-d-xo.html
and th-cam.com/video/WFW9Ej9Ukhk/w-d-xo.html
and th-cam.com/video/NVYCnqFiqdA/w-d-xo.html
and
@MarkusPix ha! Thanks bro. I am familiar and have been watching, seen several of your videos, and seen at least one of those already. Like I said, I'm more planning right now, than doing, but I just have small LED type lights for now, which may be good enough for my purposes. I'll have to take a closer look at those links, but I personally just haven't come across which light, to which adapter, etc. works, but like I said it's kind of just academic at this point, so I probably haven't looked that hard. It just seemed like those different flip soft boxes were more designed to be compatible for speedlight and strobes, and didn't know the practicality or safety of gerry rigging a different kind of light to them, but I also don't know yet that I even need that. I'm kind of just having fun investigating gear, and musing over the what ifs, and don't really have the money right now anyways.
I was surprised that I only saw one diffuser from the old Roundflash line (the one you said looks like a fancy hat) in the comparison. I expected the one that turned your speedlight into a ring flash and would've loved to hear your opinion on them.
Boy do I wish I'd seen this 4 years ago during the Covid shut-down. My new hobby at the time was "buying portable light-weight gear" because back then, I was was 76, now I'm 80 and like to shoot outside. And now I know just how gullible I was: I'VE GOT G.A.S.! (= "Gear Acquisition Syndrome", as someone called it!) I own so many of these pieces just shown. Thankfully, I do have the Favorites, all except the SMDV Flip 20 soft box...which I will be getting now that I've seen it fully demonstrated. Love the softness of that shadow! Thank you, again, Markus...excellent review!
Thank for a great video. I think I want to get the SMDV Flip for my Godox V1 Pro. I just can’t decide between the SMDV Flip 20, 24 or 32. I want something portable, but I want as good portrait light as possible. Difficult decision, bigger light gives softer light, but bigger softbox is more hassle to carry around.
Id say 20 0r 24. A V1 isn't really powerful enough for a 32. Try an AD100, you'' never go back
Great video. I have the ADs7 and the flip box 20 and 28
👍
Great video Markus! Thank you. Which diffusers would you recommend for the StellaPro Reflex light unit? Thanks in advance.
great video! how about a flip 20 to umbrella comparison?
ps bowtie markus was great
Really eye-opening! :)
My vote: AD-S9 and QF35 are winners for size expanded, size collapsed, sturdiness, and efficiency of setup. I don't need any softboxes beyond these when shooting outdoors, as even 22 inches of QF35 give such a soft light AND are enough to have a problem with ANY breeze and it's not always possible to find enough heavy things to keep the lightstand standing, never mind anything bigger.
Great, only thing missing is those MagMods for comparison. I just been use a cheap small umbrella more and more. I've been wondering what if I use a small light stand with a ankle weights at the bottom ,so it not so combersome as sand bags, to walk around with and plop down to shoot off some snaps so I don't have to hold the light. Dang - ankle weights are so expensive her in EU. Markus, thanks, I get so many ideas from your channel.
th-cam.com/video/hz89VIMQZDY/w-d-xo.html
GREAT video as usual. If I glued black felt or some other material to the Godox silicone diffuser any guess on much better it would be ?
I would think spray painting it would make more sense. But since paint doesn't normally stick to silicone, a few extra steps would have to be taken. The surface would have to be roughed up first with a fine grit sandpaper, then a primer applied specifically intended for silicone and flexible surfaces like XIM UMA Bonder Primer or Silicone Adhesion Promoters. Then the spray paint would have to be specially made for plastics or rubber-like materials like Krylon Fusion, applied in light, even coats, allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
@@MarkusPix Yikes, that's a lot of work. Will just get the small softbox(es). Thank you very much for replying by the way. Wishing you an awesome week ahead.
Thank you. After your ghostly appearance at CC a ventured into the tropical blue waters of your channel. Liked both videos so far!
--Do you think the larger diffusers here, like the 17" one, are compatible with the Godox Speedlite V860III ...?
saw an interesting one the other day, ulanzi inflatable LED light
Thx Markus! 👏👏👏
I love the outro music. What is it?
SO GOOD !!!!!! ThankYou :) :) :)
I did a lot of experimenting with speed light diffusers back in 2004-2005. from a baseline of assisted wedding pro Monte Zucker who introduced and taught off camera flash to thousands of other PPofA pros in the early 1970s using direct undiffused first generation Graflex battery operated flash.
What made Monte technique different and very effective was ALWAYS having fill, on a bracket, centered 16" directly above the lens as the shadowless as possible (from POV of lens) foundation. The reason I mention that in the context of diffusion is because of a separate Flll flash is used how hard of soft the lighting appears can be controlled with fill, instead of relying on there being white walls and ceiling create "spill fill" from a single off axis key light.
Try this experiment. Put drape white and black towels over a chair, Set aperrture to f/8. Center an undiffused Fill flash centered over the camera and raise its power until you see texture in the black towel. Next turn on the off axis key light, also undiffused and raise power until white tower is 1/3 stop under clipping and texture is retained.
Regardless of the camera sensor range that 1-2-3 approach will fit range from black to white to it. Put any complexion face in the car and. it will be reproduced as seen by eye because lighting ratio matches sensor range.
From that baseline starting with more fill will create a lighter softer look in the midtowns but will require a curves adjustment when edit to pull the black back down.
For a darker, harder look? Less fill that the baseline will result in nothing but noise in the shadows so technically the better approach is fill for detail in the black towel at captured then pull the shadows and midtowns down with curves. Less noise that way.
Next from the baseline add diffusers and see how they affect results. These are the DIY ones I found to be a good balance between effectiveness and logistics with a dual flash, fill on bracket strategy. photo.nova.org/DIY01 They cost about $3 to make and it takes about 15 min. They work by spitting the light in about half forward and half spill off the ceiling .
th-cam.com/video/4HhkP187F_s/w-d-xo.html