Introduction to the Lightscoop Deluxe
Many of you might have heard of a product called the Lightscoop Original made by Professor Ken Kobre, but today I am reviewing its follow-up called the Lightscoop Deluxe Flash Bounce. It is a mirror that attaches to your camera in front of your pop-up flash and reflects the light from the flash off of the ceiling or a wall to give your images a softer look.
(Side Note: The textbook for one of my photojournalism classes in college is by the same Ken Kobre. It is one of the best books I have ever read on the subject. If you’re interested you can check it out here.)
When I first saw this product by Kobre, I was pretty excited about it. I never use the pop-up flash on my DSLR because I absolutely hate the harsh, direct light it creates. So I was happy to spend some time experimenting with the Lightscoop Deluxe in the office and see what kind of results I could get.
Here are a few examples of before and after photos I took, they haven’t been altered in any way:
Before and After Images
Lightscoop Deluxe Pros:
- Soft, Diffused Light – In normal indoor situations it does a great job of bouncing the flash off a light colored ceiling or wall, giving photos a nice, even, diffused light look. Notice that with the Lightscoop Deluxe on the camera, there is no longer any ugly white highlights on the subject.
- Portable – The Lightscoop Deluxe is also made of a light plastic and mirror that can fit in your hand or your pocket, making it easy to transport.
Lightscoop Deluxe Cons:
- Limited Use – Just like the instructions say, it isn’t very effective in rooms with tall or dark colored ceilings but it worked fine in our office.
- Less-than-sturdy Build – The plastic it is made of is a little less sturdy than I expected. It slipped and fell out of my hands a couple times when I was taking it off the camera but didn’t break. I don’t know if I will be that lucky next time so I will be handling it more carefully in the future.
Conclusion and Rating
Overall, I am pleased with the product, it does what it promises and it is portable enough to carry around with me on all of my shoots. As long as I am careful with it, I believe it will last me quite a while.
Our overall review is 4 out of 5 stars. Check it out on lightscoop.com and see for yourself.
