better beamer

I'd welcome some opinions about the better beamer flash extender. I am tempted to get one, but not sure if they are worth it or turn out to be one of those things you can't live without until you get it and never use it. Are they worth trying, are they available in the uk. I can't find one to fit a canon 580ex2 at warehouse express; their Kirk version only seems to fit Nikon. Anybody know a source in the uk?
I understand that they melt the flashgun if you leave them set up in a position that focusses the sun onto it, but is that a big problem in practice or something easily avoided in general use.
I'm not sure what effect they might have on the subjects eyesight either, so I'd welcome opinions on that as well.
Eric

Hi Eric,
I bought a Better Burner several years ago and havn't really used it a huge amount. I thought it would be something that would get lots of use, but it hasn't been used half as much as I imagined.
I'm not sure I'd want to be without it though as it's sod's law you'll be needing it if it's not in your bag.
I guess it really depends on the type of photography you do more than anything. I tend to photograph deer more than anything, making it completely redundant, but I'd imagine it would be of much more use if your primary subjects are birds.
I believe the problem of flashguns being burn't is a very widespread issue and something that shouldn't be taken lightly, bearing in mind the hefty price tag the powerful flashgun's carry.
It's easy enough to leave the supporting arms in place and just remove the fresnel lens when not in use, remembering to do it before it's too late is another thing.
On one of the few occasions I used mine, I was left with a couple of holes in my lens' cover. I had smelt the burning for several minutes, but didn't put two and two together, the smoke eventually gave the game away

I bought mine from the NPN shop, very reasonibly priced and arrived very quickly.

For the relatively small amount they cost, I'd say they are a useful accesory to have in your bag if birds are your main interest.

I bought one when i moved to the states and have used it alot with the bigger lenses, I found it invaluable when shooting Kingfishers here that were back lit-see my website for images, I did get some burn marks on my flashgun though and you need to be careful when using it against the sun, They fold up nice and small and are very light, I keep mine in a lenscoat beamer bag

Dave

Hi Eric,
I bought one some years back, but haven't used it much. As Justin said, may be useful if you do a lot of bird photography. I almost started a fire in my camera bag when at Gigrin Farm once, so be careful to keep it out of the sun when not using it. A small burn mark on the flash resulted, but nothing serious. I bought mine from Speed Graphic: http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=12837&1=Flash+X%2Dtender. £34.95 seems a lot for a few bits of cheap plastic, though!

Hi Eric

You can also try here £37, just tell them the model and you will get the right one, as I have it for the 580 exII. Remember, don't use it below a 300mm lens.

Steve
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-kirk-flash-x-tender-1b/p1013209

Similar views to the above,

Cheap enough to have one, just in case there is no other option.

Personally, i think the better beamer is a pain in the backside..............flaps about in high winds/ gets snagged on overhanging branches when stalking through undergrowth/ the burning possibility/ and occasionally producing grid patterns on flat monotone bg's, when at a certain distances.

I never needed to use my BB, with my old D70 {due to its ability to sync at the flashguns max duration, and faster}, however, the camera bodies that utilise the FP flash malarky, may force the user into attatching this cheap/flimsey gadget, to their expensive flashgun, in order to regain the power loss of the FP function

sorry for the rant

Alan

Hi Eric,

I make good use of the Better Beamer for some time now and it's a real pleasure to use for those grey days we have had recently. I did get some burn holes in my previous 550EX but managed to keep my 580 EX II allright for now. Just be carefull not to face the sun too long..

If you want some more information on the good use of this thing, have a look at my fiend Jan Wegener's website as he has some good examples of why to use this thing, see:
http://vogelfotografien.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/why-you-need-fill-flash/
or look at another page on his blog:
http://vogelfotografien.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/flash-settings-and-set-up/

I became an enthousiast for using a Better Beamer after seeing the American Wigeon and Northern Pintail images on his regular website, see: http://www.vogelfotografien.de/index-2.html

I guess you will be too after using it for some time. Have a look at the settings he uses as they work really well (camera at "0" and flash at -/- 1 2/3)

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

I have one which I don't use that often but it's nice to have when you need to get extra distance with the flash. Watch out for the back burn I have a big whole in an old SB28

I've written off one SB800 and got holes punched in the front of another, but for big glass they can prove invaluable Eric.

The ones made to fit Canon guns fit a lot better than the Nikon ones too.

If you use a Wimberley get the flash bracket and the flash extension cord, that keeps the flash off the lens axis.

Knock two stops off the flash exposure and you have a fairly balanced flash to daylight exposure Eric, then knock another stop or two off the flash output and you'll be in the right ball park for some nice calm shadow fill light.

Invaluable bit of kit and I wouldn't be without one - just watch out for the St.Elmos fire if the sun is out and you are shooting into it

I have been thinking about getting one of them.

So is it the Sun thats the problem or the flash which burns a hole in the flashgun lens ?

Thank you all very much for these useful and informative replies. I have been offered one at the right price so I think I will give it a go, but your fire-risk warnings are well and truly taken on board.
Eric