Rogue FlashBender 2 Large Soft Box Kit REVIEW

The ultimate lighting accessory for on-the-go photography.

When it comes to lighting your subject it’s one of, if not the, most important part of setting up your shot. You can have great light during the day or even super expensive lighting equipment and end up causing more of a pain for yourself than is necessary. I have found lately that even with my lighting I am missing the use of my external flash so I started using the Rogue FlashBender 2. It allows me to take my external flash and do more with it. My lighting game has bounced higher since using the FlashBender 2.

DETAILS

The Rogue FlashBender 2 is a portable accessory that is easy to use and is designed to fit most standard sized flash models including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Nissan, Phottix, Metz, and Yongnuo brand flashes. FlashBender is a reflector that can be used with your flash when it’s on the camera or off the camera. It’s essentially a soft-box reflector card that wraps around your existing flash. The FlashBender is very durable. It’s hand sewn and made with custom fabrics, rods and fasteners, and white reflective material for bouncing the light from the flash.

Because the FlashBender I’ve been working with is the second iteration of the product, there are some big differences between it and its predecessor. First, FlashBender 2 is 20-30% lighter than the previous model. Next, it has a new attachment design with improved belt and buckles for a faster and more secure attachment for users’ flashes. The Large Soft Box kit includes the FlashBender 2 Large Reflector, Large Diffusion Panel, and 1 Silver/Black attachment.

Features

• Make a softbox, bounce flash reflector, gobo, or snoot
• Pack flat/great for travel
• Attach quickly & securely
• Adjustable to fit all popular brands of accessory flash
• For on-camera or off-camera flash

USER EXPERIENCE

The FlashBender 2 Large Soft Box Kit comes in a very simple, compact box. There is a photo of the product on the front as well as a portrait of a woman that illustrates what the FlashBender can do for your photos. There are some basic details of the product listed on the box along with images of different ways that you might use the softbox with your flash. I found this to be incredibly helpful because it showed me exactly what the product could do.

The FlashBender reflector arrives in one piece. Installing it on a flash takes only seconds. You first lock the flash with the head in the vertical position. Then, you will strap the FlashBender to the top of the flash by pulling the blue strap through one of the two buckle positions and fasten the Velcro together. From this point, you can shape the flexible reflector however you would like to ensure that your subject will be lit properly.

The FlashBender 2 has been allowing me to take properly lit photos that normally would have dark areas — even in daylight. I’ve found that I can light roll the FlashBender as a snoot or just slightly curve the sides to adjust how the light lands on my subjects. It’s so incredibly lightweight that I can easily pack it in my camera bag without feeling any extra weight. Because of the velcro straps, I can put it on any of my flashes no matter what style or brand.

Rogue’s FlashBender 2 is a must-have for all photographers. I can’t say enough good things about this accessory. I take it with me anytime I have my camera. Before the FlashBender, I would find myself leaving my Flash at home to help with weight in my camera bag. This was stupid on my part as my flash has saved me many times when lighting was a bit tricky. The FlashBender gives me a portable lighting studio for on-the-go photography.

CONCLUSION

FlashBender 2 is the ultimate lighting accessory for DSLR cameras. I love the soft lighting look that a really great softbox can create but historically you had to take those photos in a studio. Now, with FlashBender 2, you can turn your flash into a portable softbox. It’s a great affordable accessory that I believe every photographer should have.

For more details, visit rogueflash.com
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