Anyone here use a BetterBeamer for flash?

[puddleduck]

Starting to plan my Alaska trip and I'm logging myself about the lack of light over there - its "Golden Hour" all day, which is *good*, but also not so good for freezing motion!

I find that 1/250 is a real sweet spot for me and to do that in Alaskan light, I'd be looking at ISO400+ and I don't really want to go over ISO400 even with my D200.

So it occured to me that my D200 will sync to my Speedlight at I/250 (or more in FP mode) so I could shoot ISO100, 1/250 and use the Flash for fill. Sounds good in theory, but flash with a 300mm lens is pushing it, which is where the Better Beamer comes in!

Anyhow used flash much for wildlife, and a BetterBeamer or other flash enhancer directly?

[sideshowbob]

There's a Kirk flash extender too ... but knowing (Captain) Kirk enterprises it's price is probably astronomical.

[skenaja]

My 300D's onboard flash is great for up to a couple of metres, and I use it mainly for night-time macro.

I've got this book out of the library - John Shaw's <i> Nature Photography (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0817440593/thedvdforums-21)</i>, and he recommends the BB - here's a summary of his advice:
# for TTL flash, it increases flash output by 2 f-stops, and lights subject out to about 50 feet. As long as flash exposure is 2-3 stops greater than ambient light, ignore the daylight exposure. Total flash will render subjects flat due to front-lighting.
# better to use extender as fill-flash. set exposure as if you don't have it attached. use preferred fill-flash method & amt (eg Automatic, -2/3).
# be careful of overexposing the foreground in front of subject, and avoid getting branches etc in the way - your flash sensor may be reading exposure off these rather than the subject.
# if subject is moving, use rear-curtain sync to avoid blurring.

[puddleduck]

Thanks SSB / Skenaja

I'll lookin into Capn' Kirk's thing but like you I suspect it will be uber-pricey.

Cheers for the pointer to John Shaw's book - it sounds worth picking up a BB (and the book as well to learn how to use it!)

[puddleduck]

Well mine has arrived and its something out of Blue Peter - a sort of ******* brainchild of Janet Ellis and Peter Purves!

Very plasticy, and held together by velcro!

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/LensTests/DSC0114_web.jpg

[sideshowbob]

Hmmm ... Janet Ellis.

That is sure going to get you some funny looks Andy when you take it down your local duck pond. :lol:

[puddleduck]

Hmmm ... Janet Ellis.

That is sure going to get you some funny looks Andy when you take it down your local duck pond. :lol:

I'm scared to go out with it - I'm "locked and loaded" and ready to go to the pond - 3 people have commented I'll probably get arrested with it on :lol:

Perhaps I need to save it for the wilderness, its a bit OTT frankly!

[Radiohead]

Jesus - is the build of that up to trekking around Alaska?

[puddleduck]

Jesus - is the build of that up to trekking around Alaska?

Well not sure. It basically flat packs - I was expecting a box and it arrived in a Jiffy bag! The "advantage" (and I'm reaching here!) is that is very light and takes about 10 seconds to assemble or dis-assemble.

I'm going to try it in anger tomorrow on some local Tigers - I've seen some really nice examples of fill with this unit, so I'm hoping (praying :lol: ) it may be better than it looks!!!

[puddleduck]

OK, had a quick play with this - lousy weather, bobbins light and it was raining...

shot this handheld, manual exposure, 1/100th, ISO100, f/5.6 @ 420mm, flashing providing most the light, TTL

Jpeg straight out the camera

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/LensTests/DSC1913_web.jpg

I think it certainly shows potential when the light is not really a photography sort of day.

Downside with flash - usual really, stuff looks flat, loss of contrast, and red eye with birds! Needs to play with it a *lot* more!

[sideshowbob]

That's quite nice, maybe just needs saturation bumping up.

[puddleduck]

yeah, that was the best of a bad job mind!

Didn't work on geese at all - blown eyes! And the rain drops are reflecting back the ligh t from the flash!

Normally in that sort of light I'd be ISO800 minimum (although on a grey day I wouldn't bother normally), so get at my handholding threshhold which is about 1/100 @ 420mm, I think its something I can work with, but its going to require a lot of practice. I find flash a black art as it is, and this is yet another variable to play with! Eeek!