Rogue FlashBender 2 Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification

The Rogue FlashBender 2 range of products attach to any flashgun and can offer flattering light for any subject. The most common use will be for portrait photography, and here they offer a much softer light compared to the often harsh flash of a direct flashgun to the face. 

There is a range of products available, and here we'll look at the "Bounce Card", "Small Soft Box Kit" and "Large Soft Box Kit".

Rogue FlashBender 2 Features

Rogue FlashBender 2 Large Soft box

The Rogue FlashBender 2 series offers a 20-30% lighter reflector, weighing less than the previous model. There's also a new attachment design making it easy to attach to your flashgun. The reflector with the Soft Box kits can be converted into a soft box, using the provided diffusion panel, and all of them pack flat, making it easy to pack into a bag. 

Here we go through the main features of each product: 

Rogue FlashBender 2 Bounce Card

• Bounce Card

Rogue FlashBender 2 Small Soft box Kit

• Small reflector
• Small diffusion soft box attachment
• 1 free gel and rubberband style gel holder

Rogue FlashBender 2 Large Soft box Kit

• Large reflector
• Silver/black reflector attachment
• Large diffusion soft box attachment
• 1 free gel and rubberband style gel holder

Each feature:

• Universal attachment
• Packs flat, positionable rod(s)

Rogue FlashBender 2 Gel

The Small Soft Box Kit, and Large Soft Box Kit, both come with a free flash gel with a "Gel-band" that stretches around your flash to hold the gel. 

Rogue FlashBender 2 Handling

Attaching the FlashBender 2 to the flash gun is quite straightforward, with a velcro strap used to secure the Flashbender to the flashgun. The FlashBender is well stitched together, making them feel tough. The velcro strap goes through the metal loop, and there is a rubber material to help hold the flash in position. 

Rogue Flashbender 2 Rear

The Bounce Card features one bendable metal pole (or rod) in the middle, which can be used to shape the card, and control the direction of the flash. The bendable poles are shown with blue fabric so that they are easy to locate. The small reflector has two bendable metal poles. The large reflector has three bendable metal poles, giving you the most control, and making it the most suitable for use as a snoot.

Rogue Flashbender2 Small Reflector

Once you have the reflector attached to your flashgun, the diffusion panel attaches with velcro, and the top features a reflector that helps direct light through the diffuser. There is a velcro tab at the top, which holds the back in place, and the bottom has a section that slides under the strap around the flash. 

Rogue Flashbender 2 Small Soft box 

The small reflector and small soft box worked well and were easy to attach to the flashgun. The large reflector, with silver and black insert, with large soft box also works very well, however, these larger versions do add additional weight to your flash. On ours, the flash struggled to support the weight of the Large Soft Box, whilst staying in the desired position, so at times it was necessary to give the flash additional support. This shouldn't be a problem if your flashgun locks into position when pointed up.

Rogue FlashBender 2 Performance

The performance section is where we look at the performance of the product. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

Rogue FlashBender 2 Bounce Card Sample Photos

The bounce card gives a softer flash, compared to the direct flash, and you can also notice a softer shadow under the chin. The reflectors, including the bounce card, manage to bounce and reflect an impressive amount of light forwards from the flashgun.

Rogue FlashBender 2 Small Softbox Sample Photos

Using the flash with the small reflector results in a softer flash compared to using direct flash, with an even softer result when using the small soft box diffusion attachment. Notice the shadow under the chin becomes softer.

Rogue FlashBender 2 Large Softbox Sample Photos

Using the flash with the large reflector results in a softer flash compared to using direct flash, with an even softer result when using the large soft box diffusion attachment. The silver reflector gives a cooler toned image. The large reflector feels the most versatile, with three adjustable/bendable poles. Note the shadow under the chin becomes softer, and the large soft box gave the most flattering lighting. The catch-light in the eyes also gives the impression of a soft box.

Value For Money

The Rogue Flashbender 2 Bounce Card is available for £19.96, the Small Soft Box Kit is available for £44.95, and the Large Soft Box Kit is available for £59.95. The Soft Box Kits are a similar price to other soft boxes that can be attached to a flashgun, but offer additional versatility as well as being easily compacted. 

Rogue FlashBender 2 Verdict

The Rogue FlashBender 2 offers a simple but effective way to tone down, and dramatically improve your flash photography, making them a great choice for anyone who shoots in an environment where flash is necessary. They would make a great choice for portrait and wedding photographers, who are either shooting outside or in low-light conditions. There are a number of other flash modifiers out there, but the range offered by Rogue is both affordable, as well as giving scope to upgrade later, with sections available on their own or as a kit.