GROUP TEST FLASH MODIFIERS
Now even better, and easier to use on round or rectangular flashguns
www.magnetmod.com £250/$200
MagMod founder Spencer Boerup had the idea for a flash modifier system M using magnets. In 2013, the first system launched on Kickstarter and quickly caught the attention of portrait and wedding photographers, thanks to its robust build and ease of use. The MagGrip’s design means the MagMod system can be used on a huge number of flashguns. The MagGrip 2 makes it compatible with an even wider range of flashes.
Key features MagMod sells all its components separately, but if you’re buying for the first time, it makes sense to buy a kit. The Starter Kit 2 includes the MagGrip 2, MagSphere 2 and MagGrid 2, while the Professional Flash Kit 2 adds the MagBounce 2 and Pro Correction Gels, too.
The MagGrip 2 is essential for the system. It’s made from tough, stretchy silicone and fits on the head of the flash, housing magnets that enable the modifiers to be attached. The MagSphere 2 transforms a flash into a diffused omnidirectional light source, making the light softer. Made from white silicone, it has the same squishy feel as the original version but at 88g, it’s 40% lighter.
Similarly, the MagBounce, which is designed for use on a flash pointing upwards rather than forwards, is made from white silicone and is lighter than the original version. It’s claimed to increase the apparent size of a flash by over 300%. Unlike most lighting grids, the MagGrid is made from silicone. It weighs under 49g, is more compact than the previous version and has magnets that enable it to mount quickly on the MagGrip 2.
MagMod’s Pro Correction Gels are made from rigid polycarbonate and are easier to handle than gel sheets. Unlike the original MagMod gels that had to be mounted on a holder, the new ones have a magnet on either side and snap onto the MagGrip 2.
Build and handling
Although lighter than their predecessors, the MagGrip 2, MagSphere 2, MagGrid 2 and MagBounce 2 look similar. The MagGrip 2, however, has a larger, more rounded aperture that makes it easier to fit on flashes with a circular head. That said, it still takes a bit of wiggling to get it onto a Profoto A-series flash – if you have more than one flashgun, you won’t want to swap the MagGrip between them, you’ll want one for each light.
MagMod is a modular system which means that once the MagGrip is on the flash, the modifiers can be used by themselves or stacked together. There’s a powerful magnetic attraction between the MagGrip and the light modifiers which means that once the modifier is around 2cm from the MagGrip, you can let go and the MagSphere, Bounce, Grid or Gel snaps onto the flash.
MagMod supplies a drawstring bag with the Professional Flash Kit 2. Thanks to the silicone nature of the MagSphere and MagBounce, it has jus
