Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector review: first impression

Hanson Skin Glow! (best flash diffuser rating: 8.93) reversible bounce card is yet another variable angle reflector on the market today. It is similar to DiffuseiT and Demb Flip-it! diffusers, but it offers a choice of two color temperatures. One of the sides of the reflecting panel is white, whereas the other one is slightly pink to create a warmer skin tone. Both sides are glossy to deliver more power than matte surfaces.

The Skin Glow! reflector is compact, stores flat, and is convenient on the go. The reflecting panel measures 4.3 in x 3.9 in (110 mm x 100 mm).

The reflecting panel is made of rather thick durable plastic. The hinge also looks very sturdy.

Attaching to flash head is very simple - Velcro tabs. The reflector is shipped with a single self-adhesive Velcro tab that goes onto your flash head and stays there. This is a widely used approach. Some photographers, however, are reluctant to stick those Velcro tabs on their flashes, so a wide Velcro strap would be a better solution for them. Nevertheless, Velcro tab attachment works just fine, and the advantage of it is that the diffuser can be quickly flipped over from one side to another.

Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector
Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector
Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector

Hanson Skin Glow! reflector can be used on the both, wide and narrow, sides of a flash head. (You can refer to "Demb Flip-it! flash reflector review" for a some more details on this.) However, since only one Velcro tab comes with the diffuser, you either have to choose what side to put it on or buy more tabs to be able to attach the reflector to any of four flash head sides.

Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector

The reflecting panel turns from about -145 to 145 degrees from vertical position. That means, no matter what side of the panel you use, you cannot move the panel completely out of the way. This is not a major issue, but it can be somewhat inconvenient if you like to keep your reflector on the flash when not in use.

Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector

It should be noted that if you use a smaller flash or head of your flash has rounded sides (like, for example, Canon 580EX II), it may not be possible to attach Skin Glow! securely because the hinge is rather wide.

Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector

Overall, Hanson Skin Glow! reversible bounce card is a reflector of a good quality, and it is a nice alternative to other bounce cards on the market. Having a choice of two color temperatures can be handy for portrait photography. This diffuser is currently priced at $42 and is available from Hanson Fong web-site.

Here is a couple of sample shots taken with Hanson Skin Glow! reflector:

Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector Hanson Skin Glow! flash reflector

The test and comparison reviews will follow.