Beauty dish for Speedlights - any good?

[Simpo Two]

Just came across a miniature beauty dish that fits to flashguns: http://www.viewfinderphotography.co.uk/product_vie...

Possible use - photographing registry signings and people indoors when there's no suitable ceiling for bounce flash. I'm not keen on the usual 'diffuser' as the area of light is still small and 80% of the light will be lost.

Anyone have any idea how it would compare with the 'bounce + white plastic card' method, or would it be too harsh?

[VxDuncan]

Looks okay. From what I remember from lighting years ago softness of shadows is proportional to size of source. That's okayish, size wise so should be reasonable. I've just bought a Lightsphere rip off, which ssems to work very well if you don't have ceilings. Even if you do, you get a bit of fill under the eyes. W/out a ceiling you use it with the dome, point stright at the subject. In this mode I guess the light is very similar to your beauty dish - it's a 4" circular light source. Gives the advantage of a bit of spill from the edges to light the scene / bouce light off what is around.

You do feel a right tool using it in a social situation though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zxJuMw2AIQ&fea...

[andy-xr]

I have one, it's alright. I've used it on an SB600, so bearing in mind that the speedlight hasnt really got the power to overcome ambient, sticking something infront of it to diffuse leads to a lot of light fall off.

Mine came in a box of stuff (I wanted the snoot) and the gels are quite handy

Given the option, and if you're only looking for the beauty dish I'd probably go for one of the DMLS ones: http://www.dmlsonline.co.uk/products/product1-1.ht...

[Simpo Two]

Thanks chaps - always interesting to get opinions.

andy-xr said:

Mine came in a box of stuff (I wanted the snoot)

Given the option, and if you're only looking for the beauty dish I'd probably go for one of the DMLS ones: http://www.dmlsonline.co.uk/products/product1-1.ht...

Very impressive! - but possibly too cumbersome for a church. It's very much a compromise situation - you want the best results but you don't want to be clattering about drawing attention to yourself or taking up too much time.

If you really wanted the snoot and not the beauty dish perhaps we can do a deal? From the photo it looks more than 4".

[andy-xr]

Fair point, might be a bit much for what you're thinking of. I've no plans to sell mine, but happy to lend it to you for a few weeks if you want to try and see what it's like before you buy. I suppose at a push I could swap it for that 70-200 2.8 you have

Drop us a shipping address if you fancy a blast with it