Orbis Ring Flash Attachment, for Use with Existing Flash / Strobe, "One Size" Fits Most Flashes
by Orbis
(Click here)
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: OrbisProduct features:
- Orbis ring flash uses your existing flash
- Weighs around 500g
- The orbis arm, a simple kit enabling you to fix your orbis to your camera
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Orbis Ring Flash Attachment, for Use with Existing Flash / Strobe, "One Size" Fits Most Flashes
Customer Review: I was skeptical
Summary: 4 Stars
Is it worth almost $200 for basically a plastic angel food cake mold with a white translucent plastic light diffuser? It depends on what your requirements are. I just finished using it for an in-situ portrait shoot. For me, it eliminated the need to carry either a soft box light kit, or a bounce umbrella. Used as a main light, either shooting through the center ring, as most ring light photography is done, or just using it off camera, slaved to a little strobe like my old Vivitar 283, this Orbis thing was pretty amazing at providing powerful, yet very soft light for photographing a single subject. It totally eliminated that hard edged, precise direct strobe that chisels facial features and leaves those annoying ghost shadows behind the subject. Even with a light box or umbrella, you have to position the lights above the subject and cast the light downward to eliminate those shadows. With the Orbis, you don't have to worry about that.
When I opened the box the first time I thought, "Jeez, it's just a piece of plastic!" I was almost tempted to send it right back. I didn't and I'm glad. Closer inspection reveals that this ring had a lot of technology put into its development. The flash unit of your choice slips into the bottom of the ring. Inside, there are silver plastic baffles that evenly distribute the light around the ring with no hot spots. I'd say without checking with my flash meter, that it only absorbs about 1 stop of light or less.
Just one little snag that can be overcome with some gaffer tape: This plastic is slippery and if not secured to your flash unit, believe me, it will do its best to fly off and hit the floor, hard! You better gaff it good. I see that Orbis is trying to fix the problem, but until they do, you are better off taping your flash to the Orbis. But their plastic is not only light, it's durable. During my first shoot, the thing flew off my flash unit and hit the carpeted floor from a height of 6' not once, but twice. The Orbis took the hits without damage. But I'm not going to take any more chances. Gaff it down tight!
How will I use this tool in the future. Now that I know what it can do, it will be part of my light-weight, on the go bag. If I need to rush out and do a quick in-situ portrait, like a business exec sitting on the corner of his desk looking official, this is the right light for the job. When there is no time for bringing in complex lighting or if the subject is really busy and he wants you in and out of there in less than 20 minutes, the Orbis makes it easy to get on and off the shoot quickly without a lot of fiddling around. I'm keeping it!
Description of Orbis Ring Flash Attachment, for Use with Existing Flash / Strobe, "One Size" Fits Most Flashes
The orbis ring flash uses your existing flash/strobe to create the same beautiful, characteristic ring flash look that has previously only been possible with expensive studio systems. Ring flash has long been recognised as characteristic of high-end portrait and fashion photography. The preserve of the upper end of the market, studio ring flash systems cast beautiful shadowless light yet are bulky, fragile, unwieldy and costly. Conceived by a full time professional photographer and developed by top optical designers, the orbis ring flash is made from durable ABS plastics, weighs around 500g and is totally portable. The patent-pending light-tunnel' redirects the light from your flash/strobe transforming it into an incredibly effective ring flash. A patent-pending 'one-size-fits-most' dock means that the orbis works with a huge range of flash/strobes with no need for add-ons. The orbis enables you to take photographs with shadowless quality ring flash light - without the high costs associated with buying or renting a bulky studio ring flash. All you need is a standard flash/strobe unit and an off-camera cord (or other remote triggering method). the orbis is handheld so neither impedes your camera system's functionality nor relies on the fragile hotshoe connection. The orbis arm, a simple kit enabling you to fix your orbis to your camera, is now available. The orbis was designed to give serious photogr aphers an edge; by enabling youDiffusers
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