theuerkorn's Full Review: Sto-Fen No.Om-Ey Omni-Bounce for Canon 580EX Omey
Flash photography has a bad name as the harsh direct lighting is all too obvious and especially amateur cameras place the built-in flash very close to the lens causing nearly lifeless pictures often with blown highlights to match. An external flash is a good start and bounce flash even gets the job done quite often. Adding a softbox yields even better results but one of the most portable solutions is the Omnibounce. Simple in concept and design, it pretty much turns the very directional flash light into a more evenly scattered light source much like a frosted light bulb. The result is a more natural lighting and minimized shadows.
For the Speedlite 580EX (and II) there are three options which are only different in color. The EY indicates the fit for mentioned flash, and of course would be different for another size. - OM-EY (neutral) - OM-EYGR (Green) - OM-EYGL (Gold)
The Omnibounce is a soft translucent plastic shell that's custom designed to fit a specific flash device. As different as sizes are between models, the effect is very much the same. Instead of the focused flash beam provided by most devices, the OmniBounce diverges light more and helps lighting the surrounding for a more natural look. Of course light output is greatly reduced that way too and despite the look of a softbox, the main light is still very localized (as visible in very small catch lights in portraits etc.). Nevertheless it can be an useful helper for portraits on the run (as opposed to studio lighting).
I am using it on my 580 EX II and the rubber seals make the installation a bit harder as the friction requires more force to seat the OmniBounce properly. While the diffuser lens could technically be in place, the bounce card must be retracted to use the OmniBounce. The diffuser doesn't gain much when used in this fashion and the danger of catching it when installing or removing the device is better avoided anyway. This version will fit the 580 EX and the 580 EX II but not the 4xx series as the flash heads are of a different size.
As most localized solutions, size does matter and the claims to gain softbox efficiency are simply false. A softbox is not defined by bounce light but a large evenly lit area which produces soft direct lighting. Neither Stofen nor Gary Fong produce that kind of light as the size of either contraption is very small in comparison, albeit slightly better than a direct flash lens. For instance the Speedlite 580 EX II can produce a more directed but somewhat comparable effect by combining the bounce card with the flash directed to a wall to bounce light from there (i.e. ceiling). The Omnibounce, does improve on that by having the room filled in a less directional manner, but the light towards the model is fairly similar to the effect of the integrated white bounce card. Even the larger LightSphere (by Gary Fong) is limited in that regard, despite the confirmed (slight) improvements stemming from the larger size of the device.
The OmniBounce really helps in macro photography, there the size of the lit area and a less direct lighting helps close-ups to somewhat simulate a softbox. Especially for small objects, the light becomes fairly even. Another point for the Omnibounce is the size as it stores away easily and does improve ever so slightly on the effect of a bounce card while allowing a bit more direct flash.
Overall, the OmniBounce is a practical way to slightly improve the flash lighting quality when on the run or in macro photography. It will not replace a softbox (or umbrella) for studio photography or situations when only the best will do. Portability and relative improvement (compared to effort and expense) make Sto-Fen's OmniBounce a suggested addition to any portrait photographer's arsenal.
Sto-fen #OM-EY Omni-Bounce for Canon 580EX Shipping USA USPS First Class Mail: FREE Canada Canada Post Expedited Parcel: $5.00 No customs fees to pay!...More at eBay
The Omni-Bounce creates a Diffused Bare Bulb Effect. Giving even coverage across the entire frame, with lenses from 15mm to 200mm in the 35mm format. ...More at OneCall
The Omni-Bounce creates a Diffused Bare Bulb Effect. Giving even coverage across the entire frame, with lenses from 15mm to 200mm in the 35mm format. ...More at Adorama
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