Orbis ENLORB1A Ring Flash Kit

by Orbis

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.4 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0033WT9TK
• Item model number: ENLORB1A
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #83 in Camera & Photo > Accessories > Flash Accessories > Adapter Rings
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

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. 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. 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 17.5oz 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 or bracket mountable (bracket sold seperately) so neither impedes your camera system's functionality nor relies on the fragile hotshoe connection. The Orbis was designed to give passionate photographers an edge; by enabling you to quickly and easily take beautifully lit photographs, and to get the most out of your equipment.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great portable ring flash solution!, March 12, 2010

By 

Mediahound (SF Bay Area, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Orbis ENLORB1A Ring Flash Kit (Electronics)

Length:: 4:07 Mins

The Orbis Ring Flash works quite well, especially for something that is portable! The results can compare favorably to a more expensive and traditional ringflash unit however it can depend on your flash unit and settings. Traditional ring flash units require AC power and are a pain to use in the field because of that fact. The Orbis performs surprisingly well enough that I was able to get rid of my studio ring flash unit which was a lot more cumbersome to use!

I find the Orbis pretty easy to use once you get the hang of holding it in front of your camera. One plus is that you can use it when you want to and easily put it down when you don't want to use it (it's not permanently attached to your camera). I like that it uses my existing flash unit as well. Further, I can hold it out and away from the camera and use it like a mini softbox too.

I tried the Orbis Arm but didn't like it. You cannot change lenses easily while using that and it added a lot of bulk to my already heavy DSLR system. For me, it's much easier to have the Orbis Ring Flash be a separate piece that I hold up in front of the camera when I want to use it. Since I use Pocket Wizard wireless system. The Orbis/flash combo is not attached to my camera at all while shooting and I can just grab it when I want to and then set it back down. If you use a flash cable, this becomes slightly more of a hassle, although not that bad.

Note that I believe the Orbis performs better than it's nearest competitor, the Ray Flash. The Orbis is also more universal in that it can fit almost any camera and flash combination.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I was skeptical, June 5, 2009

By 

No Longer Amused (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Orbis w/ Nikon SB900, February 12, 2011

By 

Wilson Lee (MADERA, CA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Orbis ENLORB1A Ring Flash Kit (Electronics)

Great marriage of ring flash and speedlight. A bit pricey for a plastic light modifier but a very cool little toy to have in the bag.