Another Gadget I'd Like Opinions on ...

Hi Guys -

I was going to order this last night but thought I'd wait and post here first to get opinions! This looks like a really handy gadget and all reviews I've read so far are really good but I haven't seen a whole heck of alot of photos taken using it yet ...only a few on flickr. It sort of looks flimsy and easily breakable but all comments say it's really well constructed.

So what's your opinions on the Presslite Vertex? It's only $34.95 on Amazon so I thought it would be worth a shot ordering and if I don't like it, I can always send it back.

http://www.presslite.com/home.php


Have a great day!!!

Denise

I don

I agree! I don

First time i

Seems kinda gimmicky, I agree with Sean, Size matters with respect to your light source. If it were 10 dollars it could be more "bite-worthy" but 50 is a little steep for something like that.

It

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Originally Posted by peety3

It's $35 you won't get to spend on lenses. I wouldn't do it.
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You know, lenses aren't everything...


...then again, I must admit, a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 did hit my doorstep this afternoon.

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Originally Posted by Sean Setters

You know, lenses aren't everything...


...then again, I must admit, a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 did hit my doorstep this afternoon.

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How about this then, "Its $35.00 you won't get to spend on a second flash."





This thing looks kind of cheap to me. I noticed as did others that there were no actual videos showing it in use, just illustrated graphics. It makes you wonder if it wouldn't demonstrate well enough to actualy show it work.

I think it is unanimous! I have taken the gadget off my wishlist at Amazon! Thanks, guys for saving me $35.00!!


Denise

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Originally Posted by Sean Setters

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Originally Posted by peety3

It's $35 you won't get to spend on lenses. I wouldn't do it.
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You know, lenses aren't everything...


...then again, I must admit, a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 did hit my doorstep this afternoon.
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Hey, Sean ...congrats on the new lens!!! Please let me know what you think of it! Maybe it will makepossibly parting with my Canon 35mm less painful!

Denise

I

Sean,


Please keep us updated with your opinions on the sigma 30. I have had this on the radar too long now, and it will be good to hear a field evaluation of the lens, as compared to some other reviews, especially in light of sigma making 2different iterations sigma has brought out on this lens. Which version, ( I hope the new one) did you get?

Sean,


That lens and the 28 f1.8 were on my radar for a LOOONG time. I finally pulled the trigger on a 28 refurb for $407. I have only used it for a few days and have been happy with its performance so far. I have to admit the only prime I have used to any great extent before that was a 60 macro. Nailing focus with 1.8 has been.... tricky. I would like to know how you feel about that sigma lens though.


I have heard mixed reviews about both the 28 and the sigma. The ISO charts here show the sigma might be a bit sharper to my eye, though I may be wrong.


I think it came down to the fact that I am PRETTY sure that I will be buying into full-frame in the next "year-ish" and I didn

Denise, More value here: www.bhphotovideo.com/.../search





Bob

So I was playing with the lens tonight, using Al Servo focus (center point, on the ferret's face) and my White Lightning Ultrazap 1600 (lowest power), diffused by a softbox pointed at the ceiling. Keep in mind, that's not much light on this subject. I bumped up the exposure 1/3 stop in DPP and applied my usual Sharpness setting of "3."





Sigma 30mm f/1.4 @ f/1.8



https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_l...0/IMG_9293.JPG


If you click on the picture and choose "Download" from the linked page, you should be able to grab the full res shot.

wow, that seams pretty flippin

I was extremely surprised that it didn't require a microfocus adjustment on either my 7D or 50D. It seems to nail focus even at f/1.4 and f/1.6. I'm extremely impressed with it so far. I might find a fault with it eventually...but right now, it's looking like a pretty good decision.



Here's a little self-portrait I took tonight...this one's at f/1.6. In all fairness, I threw it into Photoshop and added a .75 pixel unsharp mask to the green channel and applied it to my eyes. I also applied a small amount of lens [distortion] correction.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_l...MG_1535_ps.jpg

Denise, check out Demb (www.dembflashproducts.com). Demb sells great minimalist flash modifiers.

Thanks for the link! Have you used any of these ...if so, which ones? They look like pretty handy modifiers and relatively inexpensive. I

Hi Denise. At the recent Flashbus Tour with Joe and Dave, they were using a small attachable softbox from Lumiquest...here is the link at Amazon...[url="http://www.amazon.com/Lumiquest-LQ-119-The-Softbox-III/dp/B001HAER88/ref=sr_1_46?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1301541984 &amp;sr=1-46]http://www.amazon.com/Lumiquest-LQ-119-The-Softbox-III/dp/B001HAER88/ref=sr_1_46?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1301541984 &amp;sr=1-46[/url]....they were using it with great success!! Here is one that I use, too...Amazon link to Rogue Flashbender...[url="http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-FlashBenders-ROGUEFLAG-Bounce-Card/dp/B003UOKLJI/ref=sr_1_65?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1301542164 &amp;sr=1-65]http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-FlashBenders-ROGUEFLAG-Bounce-Card/dp/B003UOKLJI/ref=sr_1_65?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1301542164 &amp;sr=1-65[/url] . Check them out!


Sean...great pics with the Sigma 30 1.4! I, too, use it! It works really well on my 1D4....and 3 times less expensive than the 35<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L!! The only problem is, I can only stop down to about f5 maybe f5.6 before the corners darken!! It is a pretty fantastic lens, all said. Here are a couple shots...at f1.4. I find that on my 1D4, with 1.3x, it works pretty well for environmental portraits(especially young ones!!)


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Thanks Gregg for the links. I have seen these before but wasn

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Originally Posted by greggf

At the recent Flashbus Tour with Joe and Dave, they were using a small attachable softbox from Lumiquest...here is the link at Amazon...http://www.amazon.com/Lumiquest-LQ-119-The-Softbox-III/dp/B001HAER88/ref=sr_1_46?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1301541984 &amp;sr=1-46....they were using it with great success!!

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I bought one of these a couple of weeks ago, haven't tried it yet. It comes with adhesive velcro strips to attach to the flash head, which I don't particularly care for, so I also bought a Lumiquest Ultra Strap (I happened across this, as an alternative to older Lumiquest Cinch Strap that is on the 'purchased together' list on Amazon - the Ultra has neoprene on the inner surface for a tighter grip on the head). I'll likely add a snoot as well (I hadn't seen the flashbender, but that looks great in that it's a snoot and a bounce card), and I was intrigued by the Rogue 3-in-1 grid that Bryan mentioned in a news item a while back).


I'll let you know how it goes with the LQ119 Softbox III, both on-camera and on my Manfrotto 233B flash bracket.


Actually, I'm in the process of building up my lighting arsenal. I've got the Pocketwizards (a MiniTT1 and two FlexTT5's plus an AC3), a second 430EX II is arriving today along with a pair of Manfrotto 1051BAC stands and umbrella swivels, and a pair of Justin clamps (the latter will be great for mounting a flash in two corners of a room, on bookcases/etc., bounced off the ceiling). I still need to decide on modifiers for the Speedlites - probably a pair of 45" umbrellas, but I'm seriously considering at least one Lastolite 24" Ezybox that Mark Elberson recommended (as does Syl Arena in the Speedliter's Handbook, and thanks for the recommendation on that book Denise!). Then I'll pick up a PCB Einstein monolight, octabox and beauty dish, and a sturtier stand (Manfrotto 1005BAC) when the PowerMC2 comes out (PW website says "Availability starting approximately the end of March"...and that's today...not that I'm holding my breath given the track records of both PCB and PW...).

Hi Neuro.


go with the 24" Lastolite's...they're fantastic!! I have 2 and rarely use my umbrella's anymore. I, too, read Syl's book, and got them! Here is a pic with just one Lastolite ezybox , camera left. They're great!! in fact, Joe McNally has one with his name on it, and it has a white interior, instead of the silver. Must be nice to be JOE!!!!


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