If you’ve got some orbis^® buzz to send us, tag it with @enlightphotopro on Twitter, drop it on the orbis^® Facebook page or get in touch!
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“Your customer service is  superb…it was a pleasure doing business with you.  Thank you very much…I will be looking forward to your new gear in the future.” Mr Oe, California
 
“Is that an orbis ring flash? Heck yeah baby! Thumbs up for photographing celebrities with my orbis!” Tokyo rockstar photographer Irwin Wong shooting famous star Yazawa Eikichi BTS blogpost
 

 
 
“I just bought myself a b’day present!” @sarahpeachez on Twitter. Click here for her unboxing Instagram!
 
“After buying some pixel kings the wonders of wireless ettl & @enlightphotopro , the orbis^® has made weddings so much more fun ” Twitter photographer Gavin Forster
 
“Thank you for creating such a beautiful object, the orbis^®! i have enjoyed using this for many shoots, the latest being a shoot for the band Dixie. This little flash attachment never ceases to amaze me with its versatility!” Lee Porter on Facebook
 
“I think the orbis^® is pretty much a good buy and it’s of great value for those that own speedlites. The orbis^® was one of few ringflashes that really excelled in all areas.” See more from Standard Photography’s review HERE
 
“The orbis^® feels well made, and it should last a good long time. I know I’m going to enjoy using it for portraits and macro work for years to come. I give it a thumbs up.” See Derrick’s full review on The Digital Story
 
“just love the easily controllable catchlight it creates in images and the ease of use to get shadowless photos, without losing any pizzazz” See Jeff’s full review HERE
 
“I love my orbis^®. Favorite thing in my bag!” flickr^® user Miya E
 
“The orbis^® transforms the scary camera into something strange that is more fun. One of my sons is extremely reluctant to act as a model usually, but a strange looking thing around the camera and a Batman suit later, he didn’t want to stop modeling” Stefan T
 
“I have just purchased an orbis^®, which then led to purchasing the arm, and I cannot recommend this product more highly!!!! It has made a remarkable difference to my photos, and spurred me on…looking at my photos the results speak volumes” flickr user, Rachel M
 
“With a quick flick of a button you can have an instant soft box. Stand behind it and shoot through it, you have a ring flash, stand someone in front of it, you have a backlight. I’m about to start taking two orbis^® flash units with me to instantly create fast simple lighting solutions. It’s comforting to know that the orbis^® will bail you out of tricky low light problems.” Read the exclusive interview with fashion photographer Dave Piper HERE
 
“@orbisflash thanks for making an awesome product! used it in every one of our #Movember charity shots. rockthemo.tumblr.com” Sean onTwitter
 
“The orbis^® couldn’t be easier to get to grips with all you have to do is stick you own flash gun into the opening” Dean, US
 
“Great professional results with beautiful soft light. The orbis^® produces deals wonderfully with product photography, portraits and macro. I would recommend it to amateur photographers and anyone on a budget” Peter, S. Read the rest of the review at phototuts+ here
 
“I think the @orbisflash may have been the best accessory I have purchased for my camera in a long time. Killer.” Vince D, US on Twitter
 
“The orbis^® is both lightweight and extremely sturdy – what’s not to love about that? It does amazing things for skin tones so if you are a portrait photographer of any sort, I would seriously recommend investing in an orbis^®” Read the rest of Anna Gay’s raving review of the orbis^® here
 
“Using the orbis^® Flash Ring my photos are now perfect even in Black & White!” Starkatz on flickr
 
“The orbis^® was PERFECT for shooting photos of my kids playing. I used the flash around the lens to get creative and fun photos of my kids playing, and then I held the orbis^® off to the side of the camera and had great directional lighting only a second later.” Check out the rest of Jim’s review on Improve Photography here
 
“This ingenious invention literally attaches to your flashgun/speedlight..and that’s it. Voila, you have a super ringflash that gives gorgeous soft diffused shadows” Read the rest of Adrian’s glowing review here, featuring behind the scenes shots.
 
“The orbis^® ringflash is my favorite toy that i played with today. It gives off an eerie awesomely cool light, with a brilliantly soft shadow.” Shelly, US
 
“As a fill flash, the orbis^® ring flash opens up a lot of opportunity to create dramatic photos while still creating beautiful lighting on the face. Using the orbis^® off-camera gives you softer directional light than direct off camera flash but without the complications of pulling out a softbox.” Read Stephanie Zettl’s review on the Tangents blog here
 
“I just love the @orbisflash Sneak Peak http://t.co/nuxZTP5″ Twitter user @MrExciter, UK
 
“The flash mount that holds the flash inside the orbis^® is flat out amazing. It’s a very capable light modifier that can be used for far more than just a ringflash” Read Jayesunn Krump’s full review here
 
“I have never been so addicted to my flash like I am now, thanks to my new orbis® my photography has taken on a new life and a fascination not only for me but my clientele. Did some shots for a Dental Clinic today and they couldn’t believe how great their images turned out and no shadows!” Karen Sommers, Australia
 
“I had never thought it possible to fall in love with my flash LOL now the husband sleeps in the living room .. kidding . Honestly it has improved my shots out of sight!” StarKatz Photography
 
“Best investment I ever made ” Amanuel Tsegu on Twitter
 
“Way better than DIY!” flickr shooter sirshannon
 
“I have tried also the cheaper Chinese versions and another from other brand, and to me there is a HUGE difference. The orbis^® is built MUCH better and the quality of light is amazing.” Pablo “Teco” Salto-Weis Azevedo
 
“The orbis^® works really well and gives a lovely light to a shoot. The lighting is much better than it would be otherwise. I would need a more complex and expensive setup to noticeably better it.” Marcus A
 
“This is only the second time in 20 years that I’ve written to a manufacturer to compliment them but the orbis^® has changed the way I take photos. SUPERB piece of kit.” Phil K – UK
 
“From a creative perspective, the orbis^® gives you really lovely light, a background lit without shadows and also very characteristic lighting. We didn’t have much room to manouevre and the orbis^® was perfect,” or in the original Spanish:
 
“Desde el punto de vista creativo el orbis^® se ofrece una luz de un gran valor estético, un rostro iluminado sin sombras y una sombra muy característica sobre el fondo. No teníamos espacio y el orbis^® era perfecto.” – Barcelona photographer Pep Herrero shooting for Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona. Read his full orbis^® ringflash review here. Lea la critica orbis^® aquí.
 
“I’m totally crazy for my brand new orbis^® ring flash, thank you and keep up the great work!” flickr photographer “ShotBart”
 
“My orbis^®, my frio™ and my 3LeggedThing is a killer combo!” Dave Kai Piper. Read Dave’s glowing orbis^® review here, featuring his stunning portraiture of top model CJ Whichello.
 
“Love the fact that kids can touch it, reach for it, and not have to worry about burnt fingers, or broken globes.” Stelios Papoutsidis, Facebook
 
“It REALLY is amazing, how people did it before the orbis^® came round I don’t know, all that heavy, cumbersome and fragile, extremely expensive gear, and now, a nice little add-on for a regular flash!” Stelios Papoutsidis, Australia
 
“The orbis^® really shines when used as a fill light with other strobist techniques” Mineralblu, US
 
“Once you get an orbis^® you can’t stop using it!! Pure Bliss!” – Anthony HB2007/Tony B, UK
 
“Well I think I found the perfect tool for my #bridal portraits @orbisflash will do” http://flic.kr/p/9snwAk – Ghene Snowdon, UK
 
“Being a bit Geeky but the orbis^® ring flash is awesome, props to you people!” – CityDrinking.co.uk on Twitter
 
“The orbis^® is without a doubt the best photography accessory I own. The light it produces is A+ and it is portable.” – John P, USA
 
“One of the main reasons why I love the OrbisFlash is because its highlights are easy reognizable, kind of “brand logo”.” Nicola Zingarelli
 
“I was really, really impressed with the orbis^®‘ quality of light, and ease of use. A great product for any photographer.” Bill Jeffries
 
“Just picked up the Orbis^® with bracket for my Nikon D90 and SB900. This ringflash is simply amazing. I can’t think of a better accessory more the money. Quality of light is fantastic. Soft wrap around shadowless light and portable at the same time.” Youtube comment from user “kazcnepj”
 
“My orbis^® is a perfect event photography modifier… it’s even got me into VIP areas in nighclubs. They see the orbis^® and know I must be a pro.:)” Michael K, USA
 
“I’ve been using the orbis^® ringflash for almost a year now, and I love it” Pablo S, Spain
 
“I used an orbis^® for the latest December 2010 cover shot of US Lacrosse magazine. I had ten minutes to set up and do the shoot and grabbed the orbis® to use as my fill flash. It has become one of my go to tools when I’m in a jam.” John M, USA
 

 
“I just completed my first paid photo job using the orbis^® and I’ve got to say it’s brilliant! Incredible flexibility. In a very short amount of time the orbis^® has become an essential part of my kit. It is worth every penny.” Marc S, USA
 
“The orbis^® is amazing. It produces great images that look like they were shot with equipment costing 10 times more!” – David W, UK
 
“The orbis^® is awesome. You can’t go wrong with it; you’ll be playing for hours at a time.” – John O, UK
 
“The portability of ring flash appeals, as well as the no-brainer usability. – Greg H, USA
 

 
 
“orbis^®+SB900=Happiness ” - Janne H
 
“The orbis^® is awesome !” – Alexius L
 
“Loving my orbis^® @orbisflash to fill the shadows. ” – Matt D, UK
 
“Someone please take this orbis^® Ring Flash away from me… I can’t stop using it” – Brennan S, Canada
 
“A whole load of fun… worth every penny.” – Chris, UK
 
“Picked up an orbis^® this morning. Gosh, this is awesome. What creamy light quality. Never used a ring before, but I can see what the fuss is about now.” – Tamsin, UK
 
“The orbis^® is the sort of kit that all camera clubs should have and make available to their members.” – Damien Lovegrove, UK
 
“Gives you 95% of the effect of a studio ring flash at a fraction of the price. Studio ring flashes are x25 more powerful but cost x25 more!” – Damien Lovegrove, UK
 
“I am very happy with my orbis^®, it’s better than other ring flashes in the same class, one of the great advantages is that I can use it off camera” – Catalin E, Romania
 
“orbis^® Ring flash pulls years off – I love it” – Len W
 
“No studio, no problem.” – Bert Hanashiro, Founder of sportsshooter.com and USA Today staff photographer
 
“I used what is quickly becoming my go-to combo for people — a LumiQuest SB-III as a key with an orbis^® ring fill” – David Hobby at Strobist.com
 
“430EXII at 1/8 power shot into orbis^® ring flash (AWESOME)” – Thomaseh, Norway
 
“I kinda love this lighting “donut”, is easy to use and delivers great performance when used solo or mixed with other lights.” – Nicola Z, Italy
 
Buy Now!

Enjoy a selection of videos from enlight photo’s orbis^® channel. To download many these videos to your iPhone, iPad and iPod you can find many of them on iTunes HERE.

Dom and Gamma – the orbis™, latex and a Scotsman

Photographer Dom Bower using the orbis™ to shoot a latex fashion campaign in an Edinburgh bar featuring the frankly gorgeous Gamma Ray Dali. Watch Dom shooting with stunning lighting using the orbis™ ring flash and other strobist-style lightsources. Check out more from Dom at http://www.dombower.com/ Video © Dom Bower 2010 Check out Dom’s Youtube channel too !

From Prep to Page – an orbis™ mini documentary

Follow orbis™ shooter and adventure photographer Graeme Murray on a magazine assignment in “from Prep to Page”, the first mini-documentary from enlight photo. Then see the beautiful Carena West filmed with a Voigtlander 58mm f1.4 bring the short film to a conclusion.

Nikon’s CLS system Setup, featuring the orbis™, Nikon D90 and the SB800 flash

Off-camera cords and the orbis™

Guest episode featuring flickr shooter Graham Jarvis

30 second orbis™ short

the orbis™ on location for a portrait shoot of a kickboxer

Guest episode featuring a JellyBean shoot by photographer John Bell

Intro to the orbis™ ring flash featuring flash, camera and lens options

The first orbis™ video; the orbis™ global debut !

Still hungry for more orbis^® videos ? Check out our YouTube channel for a few more…
Buy Now!

Frequently Asked Questions

Use Command+F on a Mac or Ctrl+F on a PC to search the FAQs.
 
• Which flashes/strobes are compatible with the orbis® ?
The orbis® works with most flash/strobes straight out of the box, with no need for any extra parts or conversion add-ons !
We have tested the orbis® with the Canon 300TL, 420EX, 430EX, 540EZ, 550EX, 580EX I and II and 600EX-RT, Nikon SB24, SB28, SB80, SB600, SB700, SB800, SB900, SB910, Cosmos 360, LumoPro LP120, LP160, Nissin Di866, Metz 44, 48 and Metz 54 and 58, Minolta 5200 and 5600, Olympus FL36, FL36R and FL50, Pentax AF360 and AF540, Sigma 500, Sony F56, HVL F36 and HVL58, Sunpak PF30X, 544 and 5000, the Yongnuo YN460, YN-565EX, the Vivitar DF383, 283 and the Polaroid PL-144AZ Speedlight.
If your flash/strobe is similar in size and shape to these, it will almost definitely be compatible with the orbis®. If you’re not sure, email us and we can tell you!
The only flash/strobes that we know of that don’t fit the orbis® are the Cactus KF36, the Metz 45 and 45CL, the Vivitar 285 and the Vivitar 285HV, which are all slightly too large.
The orbis® is designed to work with standard-design SLR hotshoe flashes, not flashes that are ‘fixed position’ nor the ‘hammerhead’ design, so it does not work with the Canon 220EX, Nikon SB400 or the Metz “Hammerhead” series (Metz 60, 76 etc). It does work with the Sunpak 544 though!
Be sure to read the instruction manual before using your orbis®. You can download it here.

• Which lenses does the orbis® work with?
The lens tunnel is 86mm wide, so the orbis® works with commonly used Canon 16-35, 24-70, 24-105, 70-200 (IS and non IS), Nikon 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 (non VR), 80-200 VR, 18-200 VR and more.
For very wide lenses like the Canon and Nikon 70-200s with stabilisation, you may need to fit the lens over the orbis^® before fitting the lens so that it sits at the camera-end of the lens. The orbis^® arm is recommended for mounting the system in these cases.
• How much is shipping or freight ?
If you’re buying from the enlight photo online Pro store, buy two or more accessories and your shipping is FREE!
In mainland US shipping starts from $4.99 and in Europe from $9.99.
We have spent a lot of time arranging logistics partners in the USA, the UK and Australasia. That means that when you order an orbis^® from the US, UK and within the EU, shipping will not cost you the earth.
Head on over to the enlight photo Pro store to check the shipping calculator.
 
• What happens if I buy it then change my mind?
No problem. If for some reason you decide that the orbis® isn’t for you – you can return it in perfect condition in its box with all original packaging in sellable condition within 14 days.
 
• Is the orbis® guaranteed?
The orbis® is guaranteed against manufacturing defects for 12 months from the date of purchase. We also offer a no-risk money-back guarantee for 14 days; if you’re not happy with your orbis® you can return it to us in its original undamaged packaging (must be sellable quality). See our Terms page for details.
 
• How do you hold the orbis®?
There are two ways to use an orbis®, on its own with your flash or with the accessory orbis® arm. Using the orbis® on its own, it’s important to remember that having fitted the orbis® to your flash, you hold your flash in your left hand and just place your thumb and index finger on the orbis®. There are conveniently placed grip surfaces on the front and rear of the body.
Using the orbis® with the orbis® arm, follow the instructions that came with your orbis® arm to set it up. Depending on setup and preference, you can hold the system with your left hand on the bottom or main shaft of the orbis® arm. Or mount the whole system on a tripod.
 
• Who are you? Are you guys based in the USA or the UK?
The orbis® is manufactured by enlight photo. Founded by full-time professional photographer James Madelin in 2006 to develop an effective modular ring flash, James is a sportsshooter.com member, a devoted follower of the ‘Strobist’ philosophy of inventive off-camera lighting and in a previous life was a keen amateur photographer too.
enlight photo have offices in the United Kingdom and New Zealand as well as a delivery center in the USA.
As an international company, if you order an orbis® it will be sent to you from your nearest logistics center, either in the USA, the UK or Australasia. That means that you don’t pay a lot for shipping and that in the unlikely event that you have to return your orbis®, it will be straightforward to do so. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, check our FAQs first, then contact us by email at support@enlightphotopro.com if you can’t find an answer to your question.
 
• I’m hard on my gear, is the orbis® sturdy?
As a highly engineered photographic accessory, your orbis® should be treated with care to ensure it keeps working for years.
The orbis® comprises a double layer shell formed from durable ABS plastic for strength.
The unique clip into which you slide your flash/strobe has been stress tested in a lab to ensure material integrity over thousands of cycles.
We’ve drop-tested the orbis® thoroughly and sent it several times around the globe to ensure that normal little accidents don’t result in disaster.
We urge you to read the instructions that come with your orbis® before you use it. Though it is ready-to-go out of the box, enlight photo ltd are not responsible for any damage to equipment caused by mishandling the orbis®.
 
• Is the orbis® designed for pros or amateurs?
If you’re one of the millions of photographers keen to push the envelope and take better and better photos without spending a fortune, the orbis® is for you.
Unlike other ring flashes, the orbis® does not prevent your camera and compatible flash/strobe from using TTL metering to get the exposure just right (as long as you’re using an off-camera cord, Canon’s IR system or Nikon’s CLS). That makes it really easy to use and fast to set up – ideal for every keen photographer with a flash/strobe.
 
• Apart from portraits, what else can the orbis® do?
Just like expensive studio-oriented ring flash (Broncolor, Lumedyne, Alien Bees, etc) the orbis® is great for product, food, medical and macro photography.
 
• How is the orbis® any different from a normal diffuser, like a Stofen or Lightsphere?
Put simply, diffusers like the Lightsphere spread the light from your flash, but don’t actually re-shape it. That’s great if your environment means that the spread of diffused light will bounce back, say if you’re under a low ceiling or next to a wall. And the ceiling or wall is a neutral light colour. The moment your subject moves, or you’re not near a convenient wall or ceiling, a simple slip-on diffuser like a Stofen or a GF will barely help at all. The orbis® is unique as it spreads the light AND fundamentally re-shapes it. The amazing shadowless ‘ring flash’ lighting effect you get with the orbis® is totally independent of where you are and what you’re shooting. Even when used off-camera like a mini-softbox, the orbis® is still fundamentally changing the shape and size of the light from your flash, something other diffusers don’t do. The orbis® is the only way to get beautiful, shadowless photos anywhere, every time.
 
• Does the orbis® mean no one will ever need a studio ring flash again ?
The orbis® is a fantastic and affordable way to have fun with the ring flash effect at a portrait range or closer, but differs from studio ring flashes in two ways.
The orbis® ring flash uses your standard flash/strobe as the source of light and power. A studio ring flash is much, much more powerful. If you need to light up the other side of the street or a subject standing 10m away, have the thousands of dollars required to buy a studio ring flash and the assistants to carry and guard the power pack, plus the time to set it all up, then the orbis® probably isn’t for you.
Similarly, when used with particular settings and circumstances, photos taken with the orbis® may have a slightly different look to those of a studio ring flash, as re-distributing the light from a single light source will never be perfect. Although most photographs taken with an orbis® ring flash are indistinguishable from those taken with a studio ring flash, if absolute technical perfection is essential, you have the thousands of dollars to spend, the assistants to carry and guard the power pack, plus the time to set it all up, then the orbis® probably isn’t for you either.
But if you’re keen to have fun taking photos using your flash/strobe with a classic, beautiful shadowless lighting effect, you’ll love the orbis® ring flash !
 
• Why do I need a ring flash?
The ring flash effect is immediately recognisable and timeless. Much easier to use than softboxes and beauty dishes, ring flash is a great way to cast beautiful shadowless light. Without access to ring flash lighting you’re one step behind other photographers. And remember, ring flash is particularly useful when used as part of a multi-light setup.
Photography has never been more competitive. Now that you can have a ring flash for only $199 it simply makes sense to have an orbis® on hand.
 
• Isn’t this an old idea? Surely I can build my own?
The orbis® bridges the gap between high-end and home-made ring flashes. If you want a great piece of kit that won’t break the bank or look out of place on a pro shoot, the orbis® is for you.
And unlike most home-made ring flashes, you can pack your orbis® in your kit bag safe in the knowledge that it will be in one piece when you get to your location!
At an affordable price point, the orbis® enables all keen photographers to reach the next level without breaking the budget.
Order yours today to get the edge on your competition!
 
• Does the orbis® fit to my camera?
The orbis® has been designed primarily to be handheld; it does not actively fit to your lens. Holding the orbis® and your flash/strobe in one hand, you push your lens through the orbis® lens tunnel. You can of course put the orbis® on a lightstand if you’re using it in studio. One of the big drawbacks with studio ring flash systems is how time-consuming and awkward they are to set up. If you are shooting for longer with your orbis® on-lens as a ring flash, the orbis® fitting arm fits your orbis®, flash and camera together into one system. Click on the orbis® arm tab above to find out more.
 
• Can I still use my TTL (Through the Lens) metering?
Yes, as long as you are using either a compatible off-camera cord, Canon’s IR system or Nikon’s CLS.
If you’re using a PC cord or radio trigger, your flash/strobe and camera cannot communicate the TTL information effectively, so in this case you have to set the flash/strobe manually.
The orbis® used as the manual suggests does not block any sensors on the flash. TTL metering is all calculated in camera, but Focus Assist and infra red sensors are often positioned on the flash/strobe head.
 
• Lighting photographs well is best left to the pros, it’s too hard!
Remember, the orbis® is the first ring flash that does not impede both the camera’s TTL and Focus Assist functions, making it as easy as using on-camera flash (see the manual for details).
Instructional websites and blogs have given rise to a global movement of ‘Strobists’. The orbis® fits the strobist philosophy perfectly; easy to afford and use with great results.
 
• How powerful is the orbis® ?
The orbis® is powerful enough for shooting photos out to full-length portraits, right down to macro work, without having to use a high ISO or wide open aperture.
Most ring flash photographs are taken at relatively short range where you won’t notice a loss of light intensity.
For more information, hover your mouse over the photos in our galleries; many of them include the camera settings.
 
• How big and how heavy is the orbis®?
The orbis® is around 20cm (8 inches) wide, 26cm (10 inches) tall and 6cm deep. It weighs about 500 grams (18 ounces).
The orbis® is a fantastically compact, lightweight ring flash that’s easy to sling in your kit bag or over a shoulder for quick access in fast-moving photography situations.
 
• Is my flash really powerful enough to reflect all the way around the orbis®?
The light tunnel inside the orbis® uses patent-pending design to ensure that light from your flash is efficiently redirected with minimum light loss. Our testing has proved that light reaches all the way around the orbis®, faithfully reproducing a ring flash effect.
Our unique clip means that your flash fits snugly into the orbis® to limit any light loss around the flash/strobe head.
 
• If I buy an orbis®, do I also need to own an off-camera cord?
You can also use Canon’s Infra Red triggering system or Nikon’s CLS. If you don’t mind setting the flash/strobe manually, you can use a cheap PC cord or you may already own radio triggers like those found on Ebay, PocketWizards or SkyPorts.
If you don’t already have a way to fire your flash/strobe when it’s not on the hotshoe, we recommend using an off-camera cord as the most efficient solution. They are also really useful for exploring other directional lighting effects.
 
• Who was the orbis® designed for ?
Anyone who takes their photography seriously;
Keen photographers; make the most of the harsh flash/strobe you rarely use to take beautifully well-lit photos of your family and friends, that look like they’re straight out of a magazine. They’ll love you for it !
Wedding photographers; imagine being able to take beautifully lit bride and bridesmaid shots of top fashion magazine quality in moments with an orbis®.
Press photographers; when you’re three jobs down in a day with four to go and you have to get yet another portrait in an uninspiring location, the orbis® will save your day by giving you a really fast way to come up with a completely different eye-catching look.
Magazine photographers; you have to deliver top photography to a tight bottom line. You can own an orbis® for the same as, or less than, one day’s studio ring-flash rental. Beat your competition by getting that high-value ring flash look to impress your editor.
Portrait photographers; an orbis® is a great way to fill your lighting setups quickly an easily without spending a small fortune on an unwieldy studio ring flash. For family and child portraits, the portability and light weight of the orbis® means you can keep up with fast moving subjects.
The orbis® is a great way to light photographs beautifully; if you don’t have a fortune to spend on studio equipment, the orbis® is for you.
 
• Why doesn’t it fit to my flash on the hot shoe?
Most hotshoes, the component that connects a camera to a flash/strobe, are designed to be sacrificial; they’re actually designed to break! In the event of a shock to either the camera or the flash/strobe, the easily replaceable hotshoe on the flash/strobe breaks to prevent damage to the more expensive camera and/or flash/strobe unit. Any light modifier that hangs from the flash puts strain on the hotshoe, greatly increasing the chances of breaking it. And that means an end to your shoot, at least until you can grab your spare system, and a lengthy wait for repairs. By moving the orbis® off the camera, you avoid any dangers of hotshoe failure.
Furthermore, the orbis® doesn’t obstruct the sensors on front of your flash/strobe, used for important functions like Focus Assist.
 
• I’ve seen another ring modifier that fixes to the flash on-camera; surely that’s a better idea?
Most hotshoes, the component that connects a camera to a flash/strobe, are designed to be sacrificial; they’re actually designed to break! In the event of a shock to either the camera or the flash/strobe, the easily replaceable hotshoe on the flash/strobe breaks to prevent damage to the more expensive camera and/or flash/strobe unit. Any light modifier that hangs from the flash puts strain on the hotshoe, greatly increasing the chances of breaking it. And that means an end to your shoot, at least until you can grab your spare system, and a lengthy wait for repairs. By moving the orbis® off the camera, you avoid any dangers of hotshoe failure.
Furthermore, the orbis® doesn’t obstruct the sensors on front of your flash/strobe, used for important functions like Focus Assist.
 
• What happens if my kids spill something into my camera bag and it gets in my orbis®?
As a highly engineered photographic accessory, your orbis™ should be treated with care to ensure it keeps working for years.
Keep the orbis® safe in its protective case when not in use, but if the unavoidable does happen, the answer for the busy family photographer is that you can rinse it through with water, let it dry carefully and keep shooting! Never attempt to wipe the reflective light-tunnel.
 
• I gel my flashes for colour balancing, can I do that with the orbis®?
Yes, you can fit gels onto your flash/strobe with hook&loop fastener and it will still fit your orbis®.
 
• Can I use manual and auto focus with the orbis®?
The orbis® was designed for use with autofocus cameras. Although manual focus is possible with the orbis®, it is best to mount the orbis® on a lightstand with your camera on a tripod when using manual focus. A fitting kit that will enable you to attach your orbis® to your camera -to make manually focussing a lot easier- will be launched in 2009.
See the manual for details.
 
• Why does the orbis® come with just one lens and why is it that size? Surely a selection of lenses and sizes would allow for different intensities of ring light? Could a less diffuse front panel make the orbis® more efficient?
Light moves in mysterious ways. Our extensive virtual and real-time testing concluded that there is an optimum opacity for the orbis® lens to maximise efficiency. The diffusion in the front panel stops too much of the light escaping before it’s been re-directed through the patented light tunnels. Less diffusion means that more light spills out before it has been re-shaped, causing a sharp fall-off in efficiency.
Similarly, the size of the light tunnels are defined by the extensive virtual testing that our optical engineering team carried out. Changing the diameter by just 5mm either way causes considerable fall-off in efficiency.
 
• Do you get red-eye with the orbis®?

It’s very rare.
 
Redeye is caused when the light from your flash bounces into your subject’s eye off one of the zillion veins in the back of their eyeball. Sounds incredible right? It happens most often when your subject’s pupils (that’s the black bit where you get the cool catchlights) are wide open… which happens when it’s really dark.
 
Without getting too technical, to get redeye a lot you need two things…. a small light source and a specular light source. “Small” I’m sure I don’t need to explain. “Specular” is a technical term for ‘coming from near where you looking’, which in this case is your lens. That’s why redeye is most common in compact cameras where the flash is tiny and right next to the lens.
 
Light from your orbis® does come from near the lens, but it’s not a small lightsource so getting redeye from your orbis® is very rare.
 
So how do you avoid it if it does happen?
 
As mentioned above, red-eye is most common when it’s very dark and your subject’s pupils are wide open. Either turn the lights on, or up, get your subjects to look into a light for a few seconds or fire a couple of flashes first to get their pupils to close down… you’ll quickly find it disappears.
 
It’s no more common with the orbis thanwith any top-end studio ring flash…. which is very rare!
 
• What are the website Terms and Conditions ?
You can view our terms and conditions here
 
• Can I download the instruction manual ?
The orbis® manual in English is available for download here. The orbis® arm instruction manual is available for download here.
 
• What are your competition rules ?
There is no competition currently running. Watch this space, and the flickr group, for details ! We often announce our competitions in the enlight photo email newsletter, on Twitter and by Facebook, so be sure to stay connected to be the first to know.
If your question still hasn’t been answered, please get in touch.
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The orbis^® arm is an invaluable mounting bracket that makes the orbis® even more versatile.
 
By handholding the orbis^® you can easily achieve a shadowless, beautiful ring flash effect, or take it off-lens to create a variety of lighting set-ups in moments. But some photographers love shooting exclusively with the orbis^® on-lens for longer.  The orbis® arm provides a solid mount for photographers who want to use their orbis^® in its primary ‘ring flash’ position for extended shoots.  With the arm you can also easily mount the system on a tripod without using an extra light-stand.
The orbis^® arm is a compact and lightweight mounting bracket designed to work with the orbis^® ring flash and most of your favourite SLR flashes, cameras and lenses. Built from 6061 aircraft grade aluminium and finished in a smooth powdered silver, the arm extends the possibilities of your orbis^®, giving you the freedom to shoot on-lens for longer!
Tech Specs:
•    Fits the orbis^® and flash to the camera using the solid tripod socket as the attachment point
•    Six-way adjustable to fit a wide range of gear combinations
•    Folds down quickly into a compact ‘travel mode’
•    Extensively tested for use and durability
•    Fully compatible with existing orbis^r® ring flash
 
the orbis^® arm – you asked for it, we made it!

“What’s great about the orbis^® arm is that it mounts to both your camera and your flash so that you are holding one solid unit. So, if you are slightly accident prone like me, you are going to feel much more at ease!” See more of Anna Gay’s review here
 
“The orbis^® arm works like a dream.” orbis^® review by Jayesunn Krump, Vanished Twin
 
“The arm made using the orbis^® day after day a breeze. I kept my orbis^® on my camera the entire week.” Aaron K, bulletmag.net
 

See the orbis^® in action in our VIDEO or PHOTO gallery.
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Are you writing an article about ringflash, speedlight flash photography, strobist style photography or the orbis^® ? Check out our Press Page for downloads, information and more!

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