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Use with the pop-up flash on most dSLR models EXCEPT Sony.

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How to use Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop Deluxe®

First steps to bounce lighting with the pop-up flash on your Olympus, Pentax, Panasonic Lumix, Nikon, Canon, Fuji FinePix, or Sigma.

Protective film: The mirror is NOT scratched, though its protective film may be. Scratch the film with your fingernail to get started removing it.

GETTING STARTED

Bouncing a pop-up flash requires these settings to optimize the amount of light a scene receives.

See our troubleshooting page if your pictures are too dark. For more background, see Frequently Asked Questions.

SET UP YOUR CAMERA

  1. Metering Method: Spot Meter is a must for Nikons. Any method works with other brands.
  2. Camera Exposure Mode (not flash exposure): Manual (M).
  3. ISO: 800 or higher. Experiment.
  4. Widest lens aperture – f/2.8, f/3.5, or f/4.0 depending on the lens.
  5. Shutter speed: 1/200 or higher. Experiment.
  6. Flash Exposure Compensation: +1 or +2. Experiment.
  7. Flash "on" (front curtain sync) – NOT red-eye reduction, slow sync, etc.
  8. Pop-up flash metering mode: TTL.

More On Accessing Camera Settings On Some Cameras

View Professor Kobré’s step-by-step videos on setting up the Lightscoop on some camera models..

SOME CAMERA-SPECIFIC HELP

Nikon: Set Flash Exposure Compensation by pressing the flash button and rotating the front dial to +1, (see manual). TTL is the factory default setting on Nikon. To confirm that TTL is still selected, view the Customs Setting Menu>Built-in Flash>TTL. Note: The Nikon D40 has a different means of accessing the controls than other Nikons, so the Nikon video tutorial will not be of help to you. If you need detailed instructions on setting up your D40, check out our D40-specific page.

Canon: Be sure that your camera is in a mode that supports the built-in flash. If not, the flash will not fire with the Lightscoop in place.

Check that the built-in flash has been enabled, located in some models' menu, under the setting "Flash control."

Depending on the model, "Flash control" is under one of the wrench or camera icons in the Menu.

Select "Flash control." Here, enable "Flash firing." Next, select "Built-in flash func. setting." Now you also can select +1 or +2 "Flash compensation" and "E-TTL."

Pentax: Set Flash Exposure Compensation to +1 by turning the rear e-dial to set Flash Mode in the Fn menu (See your camera's user manual)

Others: Set the Flash Exposure Compensation to +1 or, if available, +2. (See your camera's user manual).

USE THE LIGHTSCOOP® IN THESE SITUATIONS

The Lightscoop works great in most home and office situations – rooms with light, neutral-colored ceilings no higher than 8-12 feet or walls no farther than 3-4 feet from the camera.

As when bouncing an external flash, the Lightscoop redirects light from a pop up flash to a ceiling or wall – so there MUST be a surface from which it can bounce. The Lightscoop will not ounce outside. As these comparisons show, neither will an EXTERNAL flash. Outside, there is nothing for the light to bounce from. The same is true in churches, gyms, rooms with cathedral ceilings.

Ceiling Bounce Rooms with light-colored ceilings no higher than 8-14 feet tall.

Wall Bounce Rooms with a light-colored wall no greater than 3-4 feet from camera.

HINT: When using a zoom lens with a variable aperture, leave the lens at its widest focal length. For example, if you have an 18-55mm zoom lens, stay at 18mm. If you zoom in, your aperture may change and no longer be at f2.8, f3.5 or f4.

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For dSLR cameras

with pop-up flashes

LIGHTSCOOP® ORIGINAL, Universal

LIGHTSCOOP® DELUXE

The dSLR cameras BELOW work with both dSLR Lightscoop models. We have found new models of these brands to fit as we have tested them. We do have a 2-week return policy if you'd like to try the Lightscoop with your camera and return it if it doesn't work out.

Canon 35mm dSLR cameras that have a pop-up flash. On some Canon models, it's necessary to slightly back the Lightscoop out of the hot shoe in order for the flash to fire.
Fuji FinePix Pro Series
Nikon 35mm dSLR cameras that have a pop-up flash.
Olympus E420, E520, E3, E620
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2K, DMC-G3K, DMC-G5 (Lightscoop shoe fit is tight and does not slide completely into the hot shoe.)
Pentax K-7, KX, K10D, K100D, K20D, K30, K5II, K-5II-S, K200D
Sigma SD14 Series

LIGHTSCOOP® ORIGINAL, Sony

Sony cameras REQUIRE a Sony Lightscoop Original, NOT a Universal.
Sony a100, a200, a250, a300, a350, a330, a380, a500, a550, a700

LIGHTSCOOP® DELUXE does NOT support Sony cameras

Don't see your camera here? We have not assured its compatibility. However, we have found the Lightscoop to fit new models of these brands' SLR line when we've tested them as they've appeared. We do have a 2-week return policy if you'd like to try the Lightscoop with your camera and return it if it doesn't work out.

For ADVANCED compact cameras
LIGHTSCOOP® Junior

For advanced compact cameras that have a built-in flash powerful enough to bounce: like the Canon G12, G15, G1X, Powershot S100, S110; Fujifilm X series (including X10, X20, XF1); Lumix DMC-LX7; Nikon P310, Coolpix 7100; Pentax Q; Olympus XZ1, TG-1x, Panasonic CMV-zs30, DMC-zs25

NOTE: Less advanced compact cameras do not have built-in flashes powerful enough to bounce... it's physics. Sorry!
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