Profoto Ringflash VS Rayflash Comparison review video

Model Portfolios New York Photographer John Ricard presents a Photography Tutorial showing differences between a Rayflash and a Ringflash

people’s opinion of this review :

The Canon 580 flash is set to 1/1 and depending on the distance you will have to adjust the f stop between 4.5 – 11 all depends on the effect as far as flash recycle time you will need to have a battery pack for the flash ($149.00) to reduce the recycle time by 5 seconds with flash on 1/1.

Can someone tell me what is the difference with the ray flash in comparison to the coco flash. The coco flash I saw on Amazon looks identical to the Ray flash the difference is the price $59.00 compared to the ray Flash of 199.00. I like to know if anyone knows the difference.

I have more trouble getting the ray flash to work for me indoors than I do outside. I get beautiful pictures outdoor. I believe the settings are good based on what I played with so far just not there yet but working on it. Do you have any suggestios?

Your videos are very good I appreciate the online mentoring.

John you were using the Nikon for the shots. I use a Canon and have the ray flash and I do get good light with it sometimes more than I want up to 10 feet.

I have the canon 50D on set it ISO 100 and AP between F7.1 and 9 for best lighting. I have the canon speedlight 580 flash. I didn’t use my light meter I was basically going on the camera meter and what kind of affect I want.

I have the canon speedlight 580 flash set at 1/1 based on the ray flash

Nice comparison. I use an Alien Bees ABR800 Ring Flash with interesting results. Though, I find sometimes it’s too bright, especially when I shoot with a small depth of field under f/9 or f/11. But, I’m shooting headshots and tight portraits up really close to the flash so I can get those nice catch lights in the eyes. With the flash at lowest power and camera at lowest ISO, aperture needs to be up around f/16 to get a good exposure, which is sometimes too high for my taste.

great review!
thanks a lot, I was quite skeptical about the price and bought a O.FLASH for 40$, kind of a replica, but came out that the light is not distributed equally on the entire ring, the lower part has less light while the upper part is way more luminous, maybe it’s because of its worst quality.
I think I’m gonna buy the original one.
Just a question: did you find that the light was not equally distributed on the ray ring flash or not??
thanks again.

As far as I could tell, the light from the Ray Flash was evenly distributed. Keep in mind, as pointed out in the video, you have to aim the camera inside a ring flash properly in order to have an even light spread from any Ring Flash. If you don’t do that, you can have too much light on the model’s legs, for example, and less light on her face. You have to position the camera inside the ring light to avoid that.

Thanks for the response.
So what your saying is that the RingFlash is kinda dated and used?
You like that grey shadow around the model? thought it was one of the evils you had to live with, with a RingFlash. Cool!
I ll check out your other video
Peace!

It’s not outdated, its just that the top pros tend to stop using a lighting style when it gets really popular with the masses. Parabolic reflectors are popular now with some pros because the masses haven’t started using them yet.

But there is nothing really “outdated” about you or me using a Ring Flash in 2009.

lol I was kind of kidding use what you feel gives you the best image. There all good for one mood or another.
The Top Pros can do what they want I don’t care to follow them. But Dam 5-7 Foot PF? Talk about highlights! Went from supper soft light to supper harsh. Next will be bare bulb an inch from the nose lol. Ya the word of the day kids is do they Photos PoP!
I ll check out those other videos too Thanks for the tips!