Stofens - yes? no?

Phate

Phate

Phate

Caporegime
Joined
1 Nov 2003
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Lisbon, Portugal
I'm told these are a good thing to have, especially when photography at partys/events so you can use the flash directly on someone without A) Blinding them, B) Creating massive hot spots on the subject (or it reduces the risk of) C) Incredibly handy if you can't bounce the light off something when you need to do the above.

Roughly £15....

Worth having in the arsenal? :)

Thoughts and opinions please.

Except Susan, because he's gay.

TA! :D
 
Stofens are made to be bounced off surfaces and shouldnt really be used for direct flashing, it even says so in the instructions. I found that using it directly can mess up ETTL flash mode as the flash gets surpressed slightly with Stofen on but the camera doesnt know it's on.
 
Ah so Stofens aren't meant to be used for direct flash then?

I ALWAYS try to bounce it, but typically everywhere I've been recently has had a black bloody roof, not helpful!
 
I did a little test shot a couple of weeks back, just out of curiosity:

Direct Flash
P1112374-1.jpg


Stofen Bounced off the top of wall (+2EV on flash IIRC)
P1112375-1.jpg


Lightsphere - Clear+Cloudy dome (+2EV on flash)
P1112379-1.jpg


O-Flash - attachment to flashgun (+2EV on flash IIRC)
P1112383.jpg


You can make your own judgement but I personally think the Stofen is useful BUT I prefer the lightsphere if it weren't so damn BIG! The ETTL can easily be compensated, a few test shots and you'll know. IIRC, the stofen instruction asks you to add +1 to 2EV.
 
mcc49 said:
Stofens are made to be bounced off surfaces and shouldnt really be used for direct flashing, it even says so in the instructions. I found that using it directly can mess up ETTL flash mode as the flash gets surpressed slightly with Stofen on but the camera doesnt know it's on.
Click to expand...

Rubbish, the whole point of TTL (through the lens) metering is that only light returned through the lens is used to calculate the correct flash exposure. This specifically allows you to put any light modifier on it and still get correct flash exposure.
 
If you've got a Canon 430 or 580 flash then sod the Stofen, get a bottle of purple Carex hand soap (the pump type one) with 50% extra free. They are usually around £1 and although it looks a purple bottle, it's actually white.

Empty it, wash it out, cut the top off about an inch down, put some white electrical tape around the edge you've cut as the plastic can be sharp once cut and slide on to your speedlite.

Cheap as chips and has the same results.
 
Forget about tupperware.

Throw the flash back/to the side is the way to do it (when indoors). make sure there are no flash going forward.

It's all done with a piece of black foam from any art shops.
 
I quite like my stofen (got bought it for doing a favour). It does say that it should be used agled at 45deg not direct. I'm still learning but I much prefer the results over the "bare" flash. I had mixed results bouncing. I've just started playing wth the wireless flash function on the 7d, that's fun!
 
I took both of these with on camera flash. The first was bounced from a highish ceiling and the second from the wall to camera right. IMO some kind of bounce (either omni directional from a light sphere or a stofen) is essential to avoid really harsh light.

IMG_1050.jpg


IMG_1072.jpg
 
stofens are a bit rubbish, lightspheres are DEFINITELY the way forward!

TWP_3063.jpg


Completely dark room, on camera lightsphere and a 580exmk2 with another lightsphere held in my left hand at half reach....
 
rG-tom said:
stofens are a bit rubbish, lightspheres are DEFINITELY the way forward!

http://twilight-photography.co.uk/v1site_images/galleries/gallery3/TWP_3063.jpg[img]

Completely dark room, on camera lightsphere and a 580exmk2 with another lightsphere held in my left hand at half reach....[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't go as far as saying the Stofen are rubbish. They are very useful for a small little plastic but I totally agree, Lightsphere is the way forward - if only they weren't so big. Especially when positioned properly, you'll have a lot less underexposure under the chin and (deeper) eye sockets for indoor portraits. That Amber dome is also very useful for adding some warmth.

[quote="ScarySquirrel, post: 15828711"]Is this what you're all talking about? - [url]http://www.surreyphotographyshop.co.uk/images/Sto-Fen-Omnibounce.jpg[/url]

I got something similar from eBay for about £2 or something.[/QUOTE]

That is indeed.
I know the genuine version works a marvel, not sure of cheapo version - they might work just as well, not tested any before. I did do a test between a proper Lightsphere and a Chinese knock off. Nothing close in terms of build quality and effect though (stiff plastic and the flashgun have to work harder for the same exposure and softening of light.)
Click to expand...
 
There are better alternatives to Stofens if you want to pay a little more and use a bulkier diffuser but I've been using them (and Nikon's equivalent I got with the SB-900) for years and they are bang for the buck. If used correctly they can noticibly improve your shots. Worth playing around with the flash tilt angle also. 45 degrees is a good rule of thumb though as has been pointed out already.
 
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