MagMod Professional Kit 2 Review

The MagMod range of flash modifiers for flashguns, speed lights or strobes (whichever your prefer to call them), is the brainchild of photographer Spencer Boerup. MagMod revolutionised flash modifiers with magnets, making them quicker and easier to fit than other modifiers – and there’s no noisy Velcro involved.

The first MagMod system emerged on Kickstarter in October 2013 and it grabbed the attention of portrait and wedding photographers relying on flashguns or strobes. The MagGrip’s stretchy design was at the heart of the system and it accommodates a plethora of flashguns. The MagGrip 2 expands this compatibility further.

While all the MagMod components are available individually, the Starter Kit 2 and Professional Flash Kit 2 are useful packages that combine the key elements. The Starter Kit 2 includes the MagMod MagGrip 2, MagSphere 2, and MagGrid 2. The Professional Flash Kit 2 adds the MagMod MagBounce 2 and Pro Correction Gels.

A simple drawstring bag is provided in the kit to accommodate the modifiers and keep them clean.

MagMod MagGrip 2

The MagMod MagGrip 2 is constructed from durable, stretchy silicone that enables it to fit on a flashgun while its magnets provide the means of attaching the system’s modifiers.

MagMod MagSphere 2

The original MagMod MagSphere quickly became a go-to diffuser for many strobe users. The MagSphere 2 is an upgraded version that also makes flash light omnidirectional for softer output. Like its predecessor, the MagSphere is made from white silicone which is flexible, but it’s 40% lighter and weighs just 88g. Its base has a couple of magnets that hold it on the MagGrip 2.

MagMod MagBounce 2

Like the MagBounce, the MagMod MagBounce 2 is designed for use on upward-facing flash. Instead of bouncing off a ceiling the light bounces off, and is diffused by, the white silicone to expand the apparent flash size by over 300%.

MagMod MagGrid 2

The silicone MagGrid delivers a 40° light pattern and unlike most lighting grids, it’s flexible so it won’t chip or dent. It weighs less than 49g and is more compact that its predecessor. Like the other MagMod modifiers is has magnets to hold it on the MagGrip.

MagMod Pro Correction Gels

MagMods Pro Correction Gels make the most significant upgrade on their predecessors because rather than being made from thin, flexible gel that requires a holder, they are constructed from rigid polycarbonate. Not having to mount the gel in a holder makes the new Pro Correction Gels quicker to use and they mount magnetically to the MagGrip 2.

MagMod includes a 1/4 CTO (Colour Temperature Orange), 1/2 CT, Full CTO, 1/2 CTB (Colour Temperature Blue), Plus Green, and an 8x ND (Neutral Density) in the Pro Correction Gel kit. The coloured gels are designed to enable the output from the flash to colour-match the ambient light while the 8X ND gel effectively reduces the flash output by 3 stops.

Despite their lighter weight, the MagGrip 2, MagSphere 2, MagGrid 2 and MagBounce 2 look very similar to their predecessors. The MagGrip 2 has an enlarged aperture which makes it easier to mount on circular-head flashes. In principal, it’s easy, just hook one side of the MagGrip on the flash and then stretch it over until you can pull it down onto the other side. However, fitting it onto a Profoto A-series flash still requires some effort and you need to take care to avoid getting a finger caught. It’s easier to fit on a rectangular strobe.

Once the MagGrip is on the head, the use of magnets throughout the modular system enables individual or multiple modifiers to be snapped onto the speedlight.

The magnetic attraction between MagGrip 2 and the modifiers simplifies and speeds their attachment. The attraction is strong enough to avoid the modifiers being knocked off daily without giving yourself a workout when you want to remove them.

Although it doesn’t impact upon their performance, the silicone is prone to collecting fluff, hair and specs of dirt. It’s especially noticeable on the white MagSphere and MagBounce. With that in mind, it’s worth keeping an eye on where you put the modifiers when they’re not in use – carpet sheds fibres very readily.

Once the MagMod MagGrip is in place, you can use the rest of the MagMod Professional Kit 2 seamlessly. It takes just a matter of seconds to swap between the various modifiers or stack them.

The MagSphere 2 softens the flashgun’s light, reducing the harshness of any highlights or deep shadows, creating more attractive results than a bare flash.

If you need to cover a wide area with light, the MagBounce is the best option in this kit. It delivers a broad light spread that’s more attractive than the bare flash output.

Meanwhile, the MagGrid does the opposite by cutting light spill and giving sharp fall-off. It’s great for adding a bit of drama. Combining the grid with the MagSphere gives the light some direction while softening its impact.

While the Pro Correction Gels are designed for flash-to-ambient light matching, the Pro Artistic Gels and Pro Creative Gels are required to get creative with colour. The Correction Gels work well and snap quickly onto the MagGrip.

Although the MagGrip holds the modifiers on very well, the sides without magnets aren’t pulled on to the grip. This didn’t cause me any problems with light spill, but I’d like to have seen a more uniform fit around the grip.

The images below were captured on a Sony A7R IV using the Profoto A1 off camera and triggered using a Profoto Connect. The Profoto A1 creates softer, more flattering light than some other flashguns, but using the MagMod diffusers softens it further to produce more attractive results. In the image below, using the MagMod MagSphere has produced a more natural-looking result than with the bare flash. There’s also more light on the dog’s chest.

MagMod’s system combines quality and user-friendliness, and for many, this justifies its higher cost. It also enables you to produce results that are much more attractive than when using a bare flash.

The Starter Kit 2 offers savings by excluding the MagBounce and Pro Correction Gels. But you can also get started by buying the MagGrid with MagSphere or MagBounce. You can always purchase the other elements individually at a later date.

Although it’s a bit of a fight to get the MagGrip 2 on a speedlight, there’s no need to remove it once it’s in place and you can swap the modifiers with ease. If you have multiple flashguns, you’ll want to buy a MagGrip for each one as it’s much more convenient than attempting to swap the grip between flashes.

The MagMod Professional Kit 2 is very easy to use, so much so that it encourages you to experiment with the modifiers and get more creative. That’s got to be a good thing for your photography.