Customer Reviews

Hoodman H-LPP3 HoodLoupe 3.0 Professional 3-Inch Screen Loupe

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I had seen these in the photography magazines, and they looked like a good idea, so I finally ordered a Hoodman H-LPP3 HoodLoupe 3.0 Professional 3-Inch Screen Loupe about a week ago. The price felt high, and they never really go on sale too much (I've been watching them for a few months). The Loupe is well made, has a good quality feel to it, it is not too heavy, and the rubber is soft enough that I'm not worried about it scratching my cameras' glass LCD panels. The case that comes with it is constructed nicely, though the Loupe and the neck strap fit into it a bit tightly (a slightly larger case would be an improvment, but then it would take up more in your camera bag). The case also has a belt clip on it.

I wear glasses and when I really want to see if the shot worked out well in the field, especially with any sun light, it's always been a challenge for me. This Loupe does the trick. I can adjust it perfectly for my "good eye" and I can see the screen so well that I can even see the pixels on my Canon 30D and my Canon 40's screens.

Had the price been less, I would have given this 5 stars.

The Loupe 3.0 is a non-magnified LCD loupe designed initially to help you inspect the detail of your images, especially in bright sunlight. It does do its job in that department. They are also marketing this as a viewfinder for DSLR's that record video. Since these camera's use LiveView mode, it's not easy to determine sharp focus while recording is taking place. Attach the Loupe 3.0 with the optional $20 rubber bands and this becomes an ad-hoc viewfinder. For this purpose it actually works, but it then becomes a pain to keep removing it every time you want to go back to the optical TTL viewfinder for taking pictures. The rubber bands that are optional should be thrown in for free as they're RUBBER BANDS and Hoodman should come up with a better solution for the $20 - like a pivoting attachment that would pivot the Loupe 3.0 down to allow the camera to be put back up to the eye when not shooting video.

The Loupe 3.0 is also a bit overpriced, but I do understand that it's a specialty product so I understand the laws of supply and demand. But $20 for the optional rubber bands? Come on Hoodman.

I was skeptical at how useful this product would be. I was pleasantly surprised, when outdoors I now can see what I was missing. The built in magnifier really helps to review my composition without my glasses. The only downside is that it is physically larger than my screen on my D200 and sometimes you can hit one of the buttons along the left edge of the monitor while reviewing the image. Careful placement on the back of the camera can eliminate this problem.

I recently received my Hoodman H-LPP3 HoodLoupe. It seems a bit expensive but I've found no competitive product. I live in southern Arizona and with our beautiful bright skies I was having challenges making sure my images were sharp. The device works well and does what I bought it for. That being said, why in the world doesn't it have lens caps? If you photograph outdoors a great deal and wear the Loupe with the strap around your neck both ends become dust covered rapidly and at that point the product is no longer effective.

4 Stars for the product but can you imagine buying a new lens for our camera without a lens cap? I don't think so.

A fantastic product and, as far as I can tell, unmatched by any other LCD hood. The Hoodman allows LCD viewing in the brightest light. We are using it with an HD Camcorder without a traditional viewfinder. The 3" LCD viewscreen was worthless in sunlight until we strapped on the Hoodman. Now, with the built in focusing lens adjusted, we can use the Hoodman like a viewfinder. Using the Hoodman this way gives an added advantage of improved stability by putting the camcorder against the eye and close to the face. As you follow the action, the camcorder pans smoothly with the natural movement of your head.

The "but" of this review is, of course, the price tag. The Hoodman is expensive. It becomes even more expensive if you want to attach the Hoodman to your device. The straps to attach the Hoodman to a DSLR or to a camcorder are close to twenty dollars each. For people (like me) with a DSLR and a camcorder that can be in use at the same time, the idea of buying two Hoodmans isn't pleasant.

The cost can be partially defeated by designing your own attachment straps. For the camcorder, I used one of those stretchy foam soda can covers. I removed the bottom, cut it down the side, made a hole big enough for the Hoodman lens to fit through, and attached velcro strips to close it up when it is wrapped around the LCD. It holds the Hoodman tightly and folds up nicely to fit in the camcorder case.

When you can buy a good 50mm lens for $80, it's hard to understand how this gizmo can cost just as much. But there's nothing else like it and if you shoot outside or need reading glasses, this tool is a godsend. The adjustable diopter lets me read the LCD very clearly without glasses. I have this hanging around my neck whenever I'm shooting, indoors or out.

It does the job in removing excess glare in brightly lit situations, but they failed to put anti-reflection felt on the inside of the loupe so the light from the lcd creates its own glare. I can glue my own felt to it, but for the price, I wish they had added it.

I bought this after struggling for years trying to see my digital pictures in the back of my camera in sunlight.

Pros: It completely covers the screen, blocking the sunlight and it has a diopter adjustment so you can view the image without glare and it's sharp.

Cons: At least with my camera, it gets in the way of my buttons on the back, which means I have to keep removing it from the screen to forward to the next picture or to zoom in. It would be better if there was a way to attach it to the camera back while viewing the pictures and remove it when you need to use the viewfinder...like the way you can slide an eyecup on or off the viewfinder.

I have a Canon 5D Mk2. This camera has a top rated sensor not only great for stills but magnificent for video!!!!

Issue is: When using the video feature, the view finder is rendered inoperative as the mirror stays up so you have to use the 3" flat screen, called live view. Outside in heavy sunlight (I film airshows, boat races, car races) the monitor is easily bleached out, so the Hoodman Hoodloupe was the ideal choice.

Pros: The unit is well made with seriously good materials. The diopter has a good range and works well and is quality. If in place it does keep the glare out and allows you to film as it now becomes easy to see the screen.

Cons: If the Loupe would stay in place it would be the answer to my out-in-the-sun filming. But that's the problem: It doesn't stay in place. If using a Canon (No idea how it works on a Nikon given their ability to snap on a protective cover on their flat screen) the Hoodloupe cannot be attached to the rear of the camera, in its present design. The rubber bands that you can buy to stabilize the Hoodloupe merely stabilize the Loupe into the last position it has easily slid into. This sliding around is not only annoying, but VERY distracting. Wearing sunglasses is out of the question as the stability of the Loupe on the screen becomes even worse. The Loupe's position on the screen depends greatly or your ability to keep it where you want it with head movement pressuring it as it moves around.......this all while trying to remain mentally focused on the subject you are filming.

I really like Hoodman products, but this product, in my opinion, needs to be redesigned so that it attaches to the camera and remains rigidly in place...THEN it would be a great, and in my view, necessary addition to anyone who owns a Canon SLR with serious filming capability like Canons 5D2, 7D, 1D4, 50D.

I hemmed and hawed before purchasing this - I thought, I can just cup my hand around the LCD, or move to a shady spot, I don't need to spend $80 on this thing. Besides, it probably won't work since I wear glasses. I was so wrong.

My sister and I were at a photography workshop a few months ago learning how to use off camera flash, at noon, and I used her Hoodman (she has every photography gadget there is) to check out my LCD and was hooked. The image is so clear, so easy to see, absolutely no eyestrain, and it worked perfectly with my glasses. You can adjust it by turning a dial near the eye piece, so it should work for everyone. Plus you can wear it around your neck, which makes it convenient and easy to access.

I use it all the time, now, since I am doing most of my photography in natural light. It is one of the most useful tools I own, next to my white balance grey card.

Highly, highly recommend.