Better Beamer flash extender ?

zman · 02-02-2016, 06:02 PM

Anyone have experience using this product for bird photography ? Does it work and is it worth the money ?

Lastly, what model to fit my Metz 50-AF flash.

Thank you for any insight and help.

halfspin · 02-02-2016, 06:23 PM

Works great. Cheap. Universal fit. Best way to figure settings is by trial and error. Look for stuff by Ducatigaz, he uses it a lot but be warned....his photos are humbling.

Oldbayrunner · 02-02-2016, 06:27 PM

Yes it works well for bird photography and is worth the money, however I have switched to using another multiplier I like better from JJC.

**Digitalis** · 02-02-2016, 06:28 PM

The better beamer is designed purely for wildlife photography - I can't imagine anyone using one for studio product photography. If you are working with very long lenses there is nothing else quite like it at that price point: however the quality of light from it is flat as hell. The lenscoat site has multiple models of the better beamer - there should be a model to suit your flash.

**ramseybuckeye** · 02-02-2016, 06:53 PM

Yea, some birders use them

**KC0PET** · 02-02-2016, 07:09 PM

Cool, that looks very interesting.

Great photo ramseybuckeye.

**boriscleto** · 02-02-2016, 07:34 PM

One day I'll get to Magee. One day...

**sholtzma** · 02-02-2016, 07:55 PM

Originally posted by Oldbayrunner

Yes it works well for bird photography and is worth the money, however I have switched to using another multiplier I like better from JJC.

As someone who has the BB and likes it, I'm interested in your decision to switch and what exactly you switched to.

derekkite · 02-02-2016, 08:47 PM

Harbor Digital makes one that works well and is a bit more stable.

They work well. You gain a couple stops more light from your flash.

**clackers** · 02-02-2016, 09:08 PM

Secrets of Digital Bird Photography

Oldbayrunner · 02-03-2016, 05:52 AM

Originally posted by sholtzma

As someone who has the BB and likes it, I'm interested in your decision to switch and what exactly you switched to.

The BB served me well for years and still does at times. The difference between the two is the JJC FX-L is like a soft box, coated silver inside, with a Fresnel lens so to me it channels the multipled light towards the subject better.

**WPRESTO** · 02-03-2016, 06:43 AM

Used one on a Sunpak 444D when photographing a pileated woodpecker nest over a period of several week (construction to fledging). I was using a Nikon FA, 500mm f4 Nikkor with Nikon 2X extender. Results were excellent. It's pretty much an optimally designed product = effective and as light & compact as possible to do what it does.

beholder3 · 02-03-2016, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by Oldbayrunner

The BB served me well for years and still does at times. The difference between the two is the JJC FX-L is like a soft box, coated silver inside, with a Fresnel lens so to me it channels the multipled light towards the subject better.

It (the JJC) does look more heavy and that again might suggest it's not fully supported by the flash but might rest on the lens.
Can you tell if it is light enough to stick out from the flash without bowing downwards and touching the lens?

Generally a closed tunnel type extender certainly look like a better solution.

Oldbayrunner · 02-03-2016, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by beholder3

It (the JJC) does look more heavy and that again might suggest it's not fully supported by the flash but might rest on the lens.
Can you tell if it is light enough to stick out from the flash without bowing downwards and touching the lens?

Generally a closed tunnel type extender certainly look like a better solution.

Looks are deceiving..LOL it weighs only slightly more than the BB, about the same as an 8-10" lens attaching softbox, much less than a Rogue Flashbender or Grid. The way the box is designed coupled with the rear attachment design doesn't allow it to sag, similar but better I find than the BB, so it doesn't get any nearer to the lens . I use it with my AF540fgz's but prefer using these type of Flash attachments on My Sigma 610 Super since the flash head solidly locks in the different positions where as the 540 doesn't.

I use the BB now when I need to carry one for space saving compactness but I prefer the JJC overall but that is my preference using both. As a suggestion It would certainly pay to have both, they are inexpensive enough.

beholder3 · 02-03-2016, 07:25 AM

Thanks for the explanation.

I am tempted to try one.

02-02-2016, 06:02 PM	#1
zman Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Western NY Photos: Albums Posts: 515	Better Beamer flash extender ? Anyone have experience using this product for bird photography ? Does it work and is it worth the money ? Lastly, what model to fit my Metz 50-AF flash. Thank you for any insight and help.

02-03-2016, 05:52 AM	#11
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	Originally posted by sholtzma As someone who has the BB and likes it, I'm interested in your decision to switch and what exactly you switched to. The BB served me well for years and still does at times. The difference between the two is the JJC FX-L is like a soft box, coated silver inside, with a Fresnel lens so to me it channels the multipled light towards the subject better. Last edited by Oldbayrunner; 02-03-2016 at 06:46 AM.

02-03-2016, 07:22 AM	#14
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	Originally posted by beholder3 It (the JJC) does look more heavy and that again might suggest it's not fully supported by the flash but might rest on the lens. Can you tell if it is light enough to stick out from the flash without bowing downwards and touching the lens? Generally a closed tunnel type extender certainly look like a better solution. Looks are deceiving..LOL it weighs only slightly more than the BB, about the same as an 8-10" lens attaching softbox, much less than a Rogue Flashbender or Grid. The way the box is designed coupled with the rear attachment design doesn't allow it to sag, similar but better I find than the BB, so it doesn't get any nearer to the lens . I use it with my AF540fgz's but prefer using these type of Flash attachments on My Sigma 610 Super since the flash head solidly locks in the different positions where as the 540 doesn't. I use the BB now when I need to carry one for space saving compactness but I prefer the JJC overall but that is my preference using both. As a suggestion It would certainly pay to have both, they are inexpensive enough. Last edited by Oldbayrunner; 02-03-2016 at 07:39 AM.

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02-02-2016, 06:23 PM	#2
halfspin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 258	Works great. Cheap. Universal fit. Best way to figure settings is by trial and error. Look for stuff by Ducatigaz, he uses it a lot but be warned....his photos are humbling.

02-02-2016, 06:27 PM	#3
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	Yes it works well for bird photography and is worth the money, however I have switched to using another multiplier I like better from JJC.

02-02-2016, 06:28 PM	#4
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	The better beamer is designed purely for wildlife photography - I can't imagine anyone using one for studio product photography. If you are working with very long lenses there is nothing else quite like it at that price point: however the quality of light from it is flat as hell. The lenscoat site has multiple models of the better beamer - there should be a model to suit your flash.

02-02-2016, 06:53 PM	#5
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Yea, some birders use them

02-02-2016, 07:09 PM	#6
KC0PET Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,273	Cool, that looks very interesting. Great photo ramseybuckeye.

02-02-2016, 07:34 PM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	One day I'll get to Magee. One day...

02-02-2016, 07:55 PM	#8
sholtzma Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salisbury, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,043	Originally posted by Oldbayrunner Yes it works well for bird photography and is worth the money, however I have switched to using another multiplier I like better from JJC. As someone who has the BB and likes it, I'm interested in your decision to switch and what exactly you switched to.

02-02-2016, 08:47 PM	#9
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Harbor Digital makes one that works well and is a bit more stable. They work well. You gain a couple stops more light from your flash.

02-02-2016, 09:08 PM	#10
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Secrets of Digital Bird Photography

02-03-2016, 06:43 AM	#12
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,108	Used one on a Sunpak 444D when photographing a pileated woodpecker nest over a period of several week (construction to fledging). I was using a Nikon FA, 500mm f4 Nikkor with Nikon 2X extender. Results were excellent. It's pretty much an optimally designed product = effective and as light & compact as possible to do what it does.

02-03-2016, 06:44 AM	#13
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112	Originally posted by Oldbayrunner The BB served me well for years and still does at times. The difference between the two is the JJC FX-L is like a soft box, coated silver inside, with a Fresnel lens so to me it channels the multipled light towards the subject better. It (the JJC) does look more heavy and that again might suggest it's not fully supported by the flash but might rest on the lens. Can you tell if it is light enough to stick out from the flash without bowing downwards and touching the lens? Generally a closed tunnel type extender certainly look like a better solution.

02-03-2016, 07:25 AM	#15
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112	Thanks for the explanation. I am tempted to try one.