Customer Reviews

LumiQuest Big Bounce

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The light output is very soft, but it reduces flash power greatly, thus eating batteries and greatly reducing throw distance. Also, it's cumbersome and I recommend using a strong rubber band in addition to the velcro.

The LumiQuest Big Bounce is a terrific flash accessory for weddings and other portrait opportunities. The Big Bounce softens the appearance of shadows, and reduces the appearance of hotspots, by dissipating the flash output over a larger area. It is especially useful when you can't bounce the flash off a ceiling indoors. You simply attach it to your flash with the supplied Velcro, (the optional LumiQuest Cinch Strap is recommended for an even better fit). Like all LumiQuest flash modifiers, this is a simple lightweight design which can fold flat in seconds.

I shot my first wedding recently and ordered the Big Bounce for the reception, which was indoors. The room had very high ceilings, warehouse style. I used my Nikon D200 with the SB600 flash. I am so thrilled with the results. Everyone looks pleasantly lit without glare - in truth it looks like I relied on natural light. Just fantastic results. I had read that it works well with high ceilings and I'm a believer!!! A+ all the way.

I bought this with a little trepidation after reading other reviews, but my needs seemed a bit different. Frankly, I am mostly quite happy with the product. I don't typically use flash, but needed a way to fill some shadows when shooting outdoors. I prefer the use of a bounce card 4ft x 8ft, but used this in conjunction with that and sometimes in place of it.

The light I got was pleasantly soft and very natural looking. It creates a more natural eye catch-light than a bare flash as well.

I do not use flash as my primary source of light so I cannot comment on how the unit performs in that capacity. I can only say that I am VERY pleased with how this unit performs for fill-flash in otherwise good daylight.

I did not give the unit 5 stars only because it is quite heavy and there should be some provision given to allow it to be more securely fastened to the flash head. My unit never fell off the flash head, but I could see how that would happen. If your flash unit does not include a lock to keep it upright, this unit will prove a challenge with it's weight and bulk. I used it in both portrait and landscape mode, and with care it was fine. But it might frustrate those less patient.

For those times when there's no wall to bounce your flash off, this comes through pretty well. I picked it up after I noticed that one of my favorite flickr photographers was using it to create some impressive shots, and so far I'm very happy with this.

One great way to use this is with a sync cord. You hold the camera in your right hand and the flash in your left, that way you get more control over your light placement, which solves some of the falloff problems that other reviewers were talking about as well as giving you more creative freedom for looks different than the straight-on diffused bounce that you get with on-cam flash.

This stuff is a piece of c(&*&()! I could not figure out how to keep this bulky thing on my camera. I now have velcro all over the body of the camera and the big bounce in the drawer. One of the more useless items I bought.

Ever have a bad day on the set? I did. With the union of my 580EX flash and LumiQuest Big Bounce softbox.
My advice: USE CAUTION or use something else.