Home > Consumer Reviews > Hoodman HLPP Professional SLR LCD Screen Loupe

I've tried numerous hoods for LCD screens including the folding type (they are a joke!), and even cardboard mailing tubes. All were a waste of time and money.
Then a pro photographer friend let me use his Hoodman Pro Loupe. Finally, a product that works! I can see the LCD screen in broad daylight at high noon! Buy this one!
Bottom line: would I buy another one? Most definately YES!

The Hoodman Loupe was recommended to me by some professional level photographers who all use Digital SLR's and who needed to review their images, often in full daylight. Given that they have SLR's that do not use the LCD for previewing the image, only for reviewing after the image is taken, they found the loupe beneficial. My camera is not an SLR, but I was hoping that it would enhance my ability to use the LCD viewer in daylight.. It works well for two reasons. First, it blocks out the sunlight and the screen is easy to read. Also, I brace the loupe against my glasses which holds the camera stedier than if it was just held out.

The only issue is that the resultant LCD image is not magnified, something I would think Hoodman could have done. A great product otherwise.

How can you name something a "loupe" if it does not magnify? Oh, and what good is it? IF you're going to tell me the idea is to block out sunlight, it doesn't even do THAT. The edge of the Hood"loupe" isn't soft enough to form a gasket to block out light.

It is possible that there's are cameras out there that this hood MIGHT fit to "seal" around the edges and block light, but not even close on my Nikon D70. And, if all you want to do is block out light, SAVE YOUR $60+ and look at your LCD through a TOILET PAPER TUBE for FREE.

Or better yet, buy a real loupe (look the word up in the dictionary, it refers to a device to MAGNIFY) for a fraction of the outrageous cost of the Hoodman, put black electrical tape around the "hood" of the loupe (leaving a soft edge to gasket against the camera and block light, and get what this gimmick item infers in it's advertising, but does NOT deliver.

If there were a choice for zero or FEWER (negative) stars, I'd choose that.

While the product does what it says - helps you see your monitor in bright sun - I do not feel it is worth the price I paid ($54)...I would be a lot more pleased if it had been a $30 item.

I wish this product was well-made. It is very useful for viewing images on my D300 even in glaring sunlight, but within an hour of receiving the product, it fell lightly on the floor and lenses and rings were scattered everywhere. I managed to get it all back together, but I got to see how cheap and fragile the little plastic ring is that holds optics in place. I'll use it for as long as it lasts, but I'm not optimistic. If someone would manufacture one of these to take the wear and tear of real shooting, I'd buy it in a minute. When this one goes, I'll do without.