Looks like we're NOT going to make that early- to mid-June Lightscoop production date after all. Our manufacturer had to tweak the mold again. But we are finally going to give the go-ahead to start production next week. That means we’re looking at delivery end of June/early July.

The professor has become the student with this new endeavor. The complexity of manufacturing something so simple is as fascinating as it is frustrating. Will send out the news HERE when we’ve got products in hand.

And, speaking of complexity…

Thanks to a loaner D80 from Nikon, I have just discovered a new auto feature in its pop-up flash... Shortly after receiving the loaner camera, I shot a picture to show the Lightscoop in action to some friends. I was shocked by less-than-sterling results! I'd been getting superb pictures with the Lightscoop and other test cameras. WHAT was up? HOW could this be?

I began to test, of course. Using what had been my standard recommended camera settings for using the Lightscoop, I aimed the camera at a blank wall. I was taken aback at the results.

The camera happened to be on Matrix metering, a setting that before had not appeared to be significant.

The image was underexposed. I was confounded.

Then I selected Spot metering. All was right with the world again. WHY?

This made absolutely no sense: the flash was aimed at a blank wall.

I was totally flummoxed… that wall should have been 18% gray, regardless of whether it was spot metered or averaged.

I called Nikon. My contact there put me in touch with Lindsey Silverman, the company’s flash master.

So here’s the deal.

When in Matrix metering mode, the D80 tries to balance the flash with the ambient light. It’s apparently squelching the flash’s output to attempt to produce more natural-looking flash pictures. Nice idea, but the results weren’t pretty when bouncing with the Lightscoop.

When in Spot mode, the camera yields control to iTTL without attempting to balance with the ambient light. Fortunately, Spot mode produces spot-on results with the Lightscoop.

This new metering system has also been deployed on other new Nikon models. While I’m relieved that the Lightscoop still produces great bounce results, I now must change my heretofore use-on-any-model instructions… just in the nick of time, wouldn’t you say?

My experiments also led me to try using +1 flash compensation. I liked the results. If/when you try bouncing with the Lightscoop, you might want to try +1, too.

So! Here are my new recommended settings for bouncing with the Lightscoop on the Nikon D40-D200 models:
•  Set the camera to operate on manual exposure (M).
•  Select the widest lens aperture — f2.8, f3.5, or f4.0 depending on your lens.
•  Set the camera’s shutter speed to 1/200th.
•  Set the ISO to 800.
•  Set the metering pattern to Spot Meter.
Take a few shots, then experiment:
•  Set the flash compensation to +1.
See which you prefer.

Lindsey at Nikon also pointed out that the flash on Manual at Full Power produces the maximum output from the flash. There’s no auto metering here, but I’ve gotten great results with this approach, too. You might want to try this set-up.

In any case, by bouncing the light, we’re pushing these tiny on-board flashes to their limits.

I’m in the process now of testing some of the Canon models to see if my new instructions will apply to them, as well.

More later...