Flash Extender

I have been using the Better Beamer for a while. It competes with the Harbor Digital Flash Extender and each has an advantage and disadvantage. Since I recently tried the Harbor Digital product, I thought I would write a comparison review for anyone interested.The Better Beamer is priced more affordable. It collapses down extremely conveniently, which is why so many professional nature photographers use it. It can be brought into and out of the field with little effort, and there is a huge premium on that mobility with the accessory. It suffers from a certain degree of droop and works best when a flash arm is attached so the droop can be compensated for. The flash arm isn't necessary, it just helps a lot when you get out to 800+mm focal lengths using teleconverters. That is really the only disadvantage. It does take a little more time to set up and there is a risk of burning holes in equipment, but those are very minor problems that are easily avoided. The Better Beamer also projects a tighter area of brighter light than the Harbor Digital for equivalent flash zoom settings. This will make the Better Beamer better for very long focal lengths.The Harbor Digital extender is a slide-on unit. It is bulky and does not pack well. It is about as light as the Better Beamer but really is larger to carry than it looks. It does not suffer from the droop problem the Better Beamer suffers from but it is really kind of hard to get on the flash unit every time I slide it on. It also seems to provide a more uniform flash across the frame, where the Better Beamer kind of had fresnel lens refraction artifacts in the light that was cast at the distance. It is hardly noticeable, however, but there is a difference. I wouldn't try packing the Harbor Digital into the field.Either one is great, you just have to evaluate your application and decide if you want mobility or slightly more even light across the frame. If you need fill flash in sports, then use the Harbor Digital. However, the Better Beamer is going to be much better if you are photographing subjects in nature.

The Better Beam will project the light from your flash further than using the flash by itself. It is easy to attach to the flash, I find if I securely attach it, the Better Beam does not sag.As outlined in the instructions, the Better Beamer is intended for use with "long" telephoto lenses, that is lenses that are 300mm or longer. It can be used with shorter lenses, however the light will be narrowly focused leaving a bright center spot and darker edges. This adds a night creative effect to your photography.And yes the Better Beam can be used when the flash is off the camera. Just there is a minimum distance between the flash unit and the subject. You may need to experiment to find this, but if the flash pictures are too bright when the flash unit/better beam are close to the subject, try using the flash without the Better Beam.And yes the Better Beam will save battery life.One word of CAUTION. The lens on the Better Beam can focus the sun - if your flash is pointing towards the sun, there is a good chance that the lens on the Better Beam will focus the sun and perhaps melt a hole in your flash unit. So beware ..Overall, great tool to extend the power of your flash as well as save flash battery life.

Funcionó bien pero no es tan fácil de poner. Al final terminé perdiendo en el bosque la parte másimportante, la lupa. Dirige muy puntualmente la luz. Así que hay que probar bastante antes de tomar una foto que valga la pena con esto.

This is my 2nd Better Beamer X-Tender. I left my other one at a friendshouse in another country accidentally and couldn't live without it untilI go back later this year so I ordered another one from Amazon/Adorama.With long lenses you are often at a distance from your subject which meanseven when the planets align you're flash throw will be lacking. The BetterBeamer is an absolute must have tool.The set up of the new version is easier to use than the older model (which wasstill easy to use). The plastic it's made of is durable and everything foldsup compactly so I keep mine with my long glass so that I don't misplace itor accidentally leave it at a friends ;) The materials aren't exotic but I'dnever have thought to put the pieces together to make a product like it thatreally does make such a difference in getting usable images. I really do meanthat without it many images would have less visual impact and be much toocontrasty to use. As far as photo accessories go it's an inexpensive necessity.

The better beamer will concentrate sunlight in the opposite direction. This resulted in nearly setting my speed light on fire! As you can see in the photos significant damage was done before I realized what was going on. It should be redesigned with a lens hood or something to block the sun, as shooting back lit subjects is a fairly common practice.Further more do not leave product assembled as it quite easily could burn your car or house done if left in direct sunlight.It does get one extra star as it does concentrate and exten the range of a flash.

Doesn't quite fit the new Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT. It fits the old Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT much better.

It's hard for me to give this product more stars due to it being somewhat incomplete. My issue is centered around my flash from Canon, but apparently many with the Canon 580EXII have issues with the better beamer being misaligned. When I take photos the flash is just out of the frame. People address this by adding a shim, rubber bands, and other fixes. I would have provided more stars if this quirk was initially disclosed. How about including some bands, shims, offset material, etc. with the actual product since it's a very common issue? I am just happy it was a small investment so I don't feel guilty about not using it...