Hoodman H-LPP3 HoodLoupe 3.0 Professional 3-Inch Screen Loupe
by Hoodman Corporation
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Our Price: $79.95 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $74.95 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Hoodman H-LPP3 HoodLoupe 3.0 Professional 3-Inch Screen Loupe
Customer Review: hoodloupe
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent! It is a gadget that worth the expense. No more struggle to view during the day the 3 inches LCD on the back of my camera.Customer Review: Great!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw my friend's and I had to order one for myself right away. It's so helpful when I'm shooting out in the sun!Customer Review: Overpriced but a great tool
Summary: 5 Stars
I use this a lot. I can tell focus much better with it, you will enjoy using itCustomer Review: Terribly expensive system.. but it works
Summary: 4 Stars
I've seen Hoodmans mentioned for years. I've always passed on them because of the terribly high price they sell at (and never go on sale).
I recently had a chance to try them at a photo expo and was sold on it right then - this makes viewing your LCD in the daylight incredibly easy. I found the most benefit from older cameras (like a canon XTi or 40D) - the newer ones like the T2i have a much brighter screen that is easier to see in sunlight (although the hoodman does make a noticeable improvement to those as well).
The usage is pretty straight-forward (just look at the product image!) and comes in a couple different sizes (I believe 2", 3" and 4"). I bought the 3" even though I have 2" LCD's (XTi/40D) - I didn't notice any problems with hitting buttons.
The eyepiece rotates left/right which acts as a diopter so you can see clearly. The eyepiece also pops off (although it's a bit scary the first time as it is held in place by a sticky-material) and can be replaced with a 3x Magnifying Eyecup for HoodLoupe 3.0 - I found this replacement piece to be much easier to use, but it costs half the price of the already-expensive Hoodloupe (the product you're looking at now). The eyepiece helps a lot for those with glasses as it blocks off external light from entering.
The other use for this is with Liveview and recording video on DSLR's - since all video is seen through the LCD, this lets you see it CLEARLY when used outdoors or in bright areas. The downside are the way you connect it - either with a 20-dollar rubber band they sell, or a Hoodman HCRN HoodCrane for HoodLoupe 3.0 (which is 90 bucks). As you can see, this quickly adds up and you'll be spending well over 200 bucks by the time you're done.
Does it work? Definitely! I love it! Is it worth that much money? If you can afford it or need it.
The Loupe also comes with a little zippered-bag to carry it, and a neckstrap to keep it on you.
For video on a DSLR, I actually keep it around my neck (on the strap) and place it up to the DSLR's screen.. if you use the eyepiece (linked above) you can actually just hold your eye up to it and keep it in place, avoiding the Hoodcrane or rubber-band options.. it actually works very well and the benefit is that it moves out of the way once you take the came away from your face.
The bag is nice as it will keep finger prints off (but doesn't quite fit with the bigger eyecup, linked above). The neckstrap is also nice, but definitely has a "nerdy" look to it when walking around in public (if that matters to you). The other thing is that this is a fairly hard piece, and can't squish down.. carrying it in a bag will take up valuable realestate.
Customer Review: Excellent but . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
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.