Rogue Photographic Design ROGUERELG2 FlashBender 2 Large Reflector, Bounce Flash, Snoot, Gobo (Black/White)

I bought this because I had a diffuser that wasn't getting it done (you know, those opaque plastic covers that fit over the business end of your speedlite). Money well spent. It's basically a reflector that straps onto your flash, except that it can also be reshaped to place light where you need it. It's main function is to soften the effect of the flash through a process known as bouncing, while also giving a much better overall effect of the light by spreading it out, or even focusing it, depending on how you bend it up.Pros1. It's large - Mine measures about 9x10 inches, which is great for me. There are smaller ones out there, if this would be too big for your needs. It's size does make the camera a bit top heavy, but then so does the flash.2. It works really well - Check the pictures below, and see the difference it makes to use one of these versus a diffuser. I look at it like this; a flash by itself is too bright. A diffuser only lessons that problem, but otherwise is still not ideal since you still are shooting the light strait at your subject. The ideal thing to do is to bounce the flash, but that is not always an option. The Flashbender makes it an option no matter where you are.3. Easy storage - This model comes with velcro that lets you fold it up and store it in a more convenient way. Handy. It makes it so I can slide into into just about any bag and always have it on me.4. Well built - It feels a bit flimsy when you are putting it on the camera, but once on, it's solid. It's made from high quality materials too. I've had mine for years now and it's still in great shape.5. Can be reshaped - It can be shaped to make it more versatile. I have left it flat for fill light in outdoor photos. I have bent it a bit concave to focus more light on a portrait. I have bent it over the top, like a lowercase r, for macro shots. It's pretty cool how you can change the light's direction with the different bends. It can even be made into a snoot!Cons1. Price - At 40 USD, it's as expensive as a decent polarizer, which is also a useful accessory if you do landscape shooting. The Flashbender is really only useful for flash work, which not everyone does. If you are on a budget (I think a lot of us are), and you have to choose one accessory at this price, this would only be it if you are going to be doing a lot of portrait or macro shots with a flash. If it were 25 USD, I would recommend as a staple in any bag that also carries a flash. At 40, it's something that you will kind of know if you need it. If you are not sure, you probably don't. Not worth a star off, because it is well built, and really, it's worth 40 bucks if you have need of it.2. Getting it on the flash is a bit of a chore - If care is not taken, the two opposite flaps will interfere with each other during installation. This prevents the strap from being pulled tight enough to hold the flashbender correctly (see pictures). This isn't really a problem if you can use both hands to install, but there have been times when I was trying to get this thing on while holding my camera with one hand, and only had one hand left had to put it on. If the under-flap was a 1/4" longer, than it would make this easier to put on with one hand. Even with 2 hands and a steady surface, you still have to fiddle with it a bit to get it on. It's a bit flimsy before the strap is pulled tight, and this exacerbates the issue. Also, I strongly recommend NOT installing this while your flash is installed on the camera, as you run the risk of applying too much pressure to the hot shoe while fiddling with it and can potentially damage your camera. Take the flash off, put the flash bender on it, then put it back on the camera. 1 star off, for needing improvement in the install process. To be more clear, this is not as much an issue on large flashes. I had the issue on the Canon 430 EX II. Any flash that size will have this issue (seen in another review someone else had the problem as well).Side note - can be combined with an off camera flash to add some light from odd angles, and even expanding the coverage area that an off camera flash is giving. I used this for macro a few times, it's pretty nice.In conclusion, I have made good use of this item. Not as much use as I do my filters, but my indoor portraits would not be as good without it. I don't have a studio or anything, so if I am taking portraits it's typically just of friends and family. This lets me light my subjects without giving them the super bright flash look, or the dull diffuser look. It's kind of hard to recommend outright, since it's kind of a niche item. But, it is useful, and just about anyone can find a good use for it, unless they never use a flash for anything.Other suggestions. Wouldn't be a WOFG review with other suggestions!1. Magmod - Specifically, the Magbounce and Magsphere. You can get both these mods as well as some gels in a pack for around 200 USD. I have been using this setup for a while now. They work really well, but they aren't as easily stored as the Flashbender. I only take them with me when I know for sure I am using flash. I keep the Flashbender in my bag for just in case I need it, since it is so easily stored. But if you do a lot of flash work, especially for events, the Magmod system is worth looking into.

I purchased this based on the excellent reviews I read and saw online. While I like the concept (bounced flash), I feel as though I can accomplish the same results using bounced flash. That is, I can turn my speedlight’s head and bounce my flash off the ceiling or a wall. However, I realize that can become a problem when ceilings are high and the colors of walls are dark. The Flashbender can solve that problem, but it still produces an almost direct flash look. It will require some practice to achieve a quality look. My biggest problem with the Flashbender is the fact that I’m stuck shooting in landscape mode. While one could adjust the Flashbender to shoot in portrait mode, it’s going to take some time to get it just right. I need the quickness of going from landscape to portrait without having to stop and make adjustments.My biggest gripe with the Flashbender is it’s cost. While the materials are well made, it’s price point is still too high for me. At least include the diffusion panel, which is an additional cost and expensive in my opinion. In fact, if one were to order the Flashbender, I’d suggest going ahead and getting the diffusion panel as well.Something else to keep in mind is that the large Flashbender is heavy. I’m using a Nikon SB-900 speedlight and the heaviness of the Flashbender constantly caused my speedlight’s head to move. Forget allowing the camera to hang by one’s side. The Flashbender will nearly touch the floor and it’s going to bump into everything.Where the Flashbender does excel is when used off camera. Most of the videos from Rogue showing how to use the Flashbender show it being used off camera. (One video in particular shows a well known wedding photographer achieving beautiful results with the Large Flashbender used off camera.) With that said, the large Flashbender is not going to be good for more that head shots. In fact, one would still benefit from a second Flashbender to help with additional light. I returned my large Flashbender with the thinking that I would order the extra-large Flashbender and use it for some off camera flash work. I’m still undecided as to whether I want or need the extra-larger Flashbender. Again, given it’s cost I could stick to other methods for off camera flash.All-in-all, I think the concept is a great idea and I wish I could have achieved some of the results I was hoping for (and saw in the videos). I like the accessories Rogue offers, namely the gel-sets. However, like I wrote earlier, the price point is a bit too high for my taste and I would like to have the diffusion panel included at little to no additional cost. Rogues’ free videos showing the Flashbender in use are helpful, but I’d like more details such as camera settings and a little more with the photographer’s post production. I’d also like to see more from everyday photographers and how they are making the Flashbender work for them.

This is my third Flashbender. I love this product. So flexible and easy to carry to weddings.The only downside is I seem to always lose them after a while since I have a tendency to leave my stuff all over the wedding venue and eventually forget bits & bobs.The fact i always end up replacing it should tell you how much I rate this product. My only wish is that it came with the diffusion panel as standard which would make this product better value. As it stands, it's not cheap!

This works wonders for improving and manipulating my flash gun. I can take professional quality photos without the need for expensive lighting most of the time. Sometimes the positioning requires extra lighting, but this is not down to the product, just it's limitations. Nice and big, and also fastens pretty well to my flash gun. Sometimes slips off, so needs tightening every now and again, and is a little weighty, which pulls down the angle of my flash gun sometimes, but again this is possibly down to the wear and tear on my flashgun. The metal rods inside make it easy to position, and the velcro helps for certain angles. Well made, professional looking product, happy I bought it.

This flash add on bender is ideal for me. Bought it to bend light on a neewer flash unit doing macro work in the garden. I've posted two pictures that have allowed me to bend the light on my subject.It is well built compared to some of the cheaper benders. It's simply worth the cash to spend a bit more.

The Rogue Flashbender is a must for the camera bag. Kills shadows on the wall behind subjects. Spreads the light and totally transforms photography with flash on the camera. Excellent sturdy product and lightweight to boot. Fast delivery by Amazon UK. More than we’ll pleased.

I have used paper and elastic bands before, which was very limiting. I have been amazed how effective the flash bender is. You can direct the light where you want allowing you to paint the light creating lovely shadows instead of harsh flat pictures. I am looking forward to experimenting with it more.