Flash Extenders

I am considering purchasing a Better Beamer Flash Extender, I would be interested to know if anyone has experience of using these?
I will be using it in conjunction with my 40D and Cannon F5.6 400MM , I will also be purchasing an external flash which I have yet to decide upon I have a total budget of approx £200.00.

Thanks

Very awkard to use if you are shooting from hides. I tend to use my BB only when trying to photograph birds in harsh light. The beamer can extend the range of the flash to provide fill light when there are dark shadows on the bird. If you are shooting at a feeding station, the flash alone will be sufficient as you are shooting from close range. My advice would be to look for a s/h EX550 or 580. See how you get on with it, then buy the beamer if the type of photogrphy you are doing means that you need to extend the range of the flash. Many people buy a flash and don't get the results they want. If you buy a good condition used flash and it doesn't really work for you, you will be able to re-sell it at cost.

Thanks for your advise Phil much appreciated.

Adam you cannot use it below 300mm lenses and there have been some instances where your 'hardware' has been scorched.

Thanks Steve Ive just found the article on scorched gear!!!! Ive decided to follow Phils advice and purchase a EX550

Adam have sent you a PM with some links which might be of interest for the future.

I have just bought one for the 430EXbut have yet to use it. I bought it for use with the 500 for larger far off wildllife. I do find that upto a range of 8-10m the flash alone, set to about 1/16 is sufficient. Really helps with harsh light or even lack of light.

They can be a bit fiddly to use but persistence will yield its rewards.

Just mind you don't point it anywhere near the sun otherwise you'll punch holes in your flash - I've holed two SB800's over the years I've had one.

And don't leave it assembled on the front seat of the car either - I can testify to the fun of that mistake too!

lol @ Andy... I too have holes in my 550EX.... they are useful Adam, but really for the occasions when you do need the flash to reach, otherwise it is far easier to stick with just the 'plain' flash....

I would imagine that the use you would get from using it with a 400/5.6 will be limited....

As suggested buy a secondhand 550/580 practice manual mode and flash...

HTH

Phil

Another frequent problem not highlighted is the need for accurate placement of the fresnel lens supports - they are only held in place by a big elasticated band and the fresnel lens is easily skewed away from true so any flash output is effectively bent away from your subject - ie using one can actually reduce flash output and not increase it

Simplest way to test initial setup requirements is to mark several bricks on your house and go testing.......... the fresnel lens focus is optomised to work with most 50mm flash zoom head positions - but again trial and error may be required

Once you have got the true perpendicular setup use some white typex/correction fluid to mark the fresnel support sides and flash head - then its easy when in the field to see if the unit has been knocked out of true - easily done if you carry your entire rig over the shoulder

Hi Adam,

Have a look at this article on the weblog of my good friend Jan Wegener. He is excellent at using the Better Beamer and i think this will be of good help to you. I too have been using the Better Beamer in a lot of cases from birds to Seals.

Here's the link:

http://vogelfotografien.wordpress.com/flash-photography/

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Hi Jeroen, many thanks for the link to the Better Beamer help on Jan Wegener's site. Most helpful.

Mike

You're welcome! I think Jan covers the technique like no other..

greetings,

Jeroen Stel