Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Good product

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

First let's consider what this is intended for:

Increasing the "reach" of a common shoe mounted flash for special situations.

It is NOT some sort of "Bolt-On" accessory for a Land Cruiser. It isn't marketed as such nor will it work well (or even survive long) in such an application.

This unit is sold with a few claims that are a bit "off" or somewhat misleading. Most notable of these is the 2 stops of increase in flash guide number.

This is only true when referenced to the flash's head in the 50mm position where, for example a Canon 580 EX has a measured guide number of about 100 in feet (at 105mm this unit is CLAIMED by Canon to have a Guide number of 190 feet!). It is true that the Better Beamer here will boost that MEASURED 100 foot guide number (for the flash at 50mm) up to a MEASURED value of 200 in feet.

What is misleading is that the same flash unit without the Better Beamer will achieve a MEASURED guide number of about 140 in feet with the flash head out at the 105mm position. Putting the Better Beamer on the flash brings the Guide number up to just ONE stop more than the flash itself was capable of. NOTE that this is merely what the Flash Manufacturer CLAIMED for the flash unit in the FIRST place!!!

Now this is important: When you are packing for a trip or, backpacking in to a site, the Better Beamer packs flat, weighs next to nothing and gets you 40% more REAL reach with your flash. That can be a real plus!!!

I have made my own flash extenders -- the first one predates the Better Beamer by about a decade. My largest such device gave a measured 1.5 stop increase (calculated to be 2 stops but the scattered light from the Fresnel was enough to cut that back by 1/2 an F stop). It was BIG; about 18" square and HEAVY; about 1.5 lbs..

I usually use the Better Beamer now; it is in my bag and ready to go in a matter of about 30 seconds....

A downside is that the unit is FLASH MODEL SPECIFIC -- buy the proper one for your flash!

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Great for birding.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Simple and effective, helpful to nature photography

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Good product

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Great for birds when you can never get close enough

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Great idea, good results, very cheesy construction. Have found many beamer lenses lying around that fall off. They should design a better way to attach. Recommend users use extra tape for securing the lens.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

They say, if you come up with a great idea, keep improving on it, because that's what your competitors are doing as soon as they see your product. It is exceedingly flimsy and not only this, but you have to literally sight it in like you would sight in a new rifle scope every time you install it (and keep checking it so you know your flash is on target). I shoot a tree trunk to see where it's aiming, if I even bother. I can't believe that it seems no one has improved this slap stick shot at using a fresnel lens to gain DOF and increase the reach of your flash. One review speaks of the rectangular patch of light. Seems 300mm is where you start with this product (Flash head set at 50mm), otherwise using a shorter focal length, you're stuck with a photo that has this "patch" of light. If you hand someone your camera with this on it, make sure they don't take a photo of someone just a few feet from the camera. This happened to me and I swear if you could feel impact from light, I felt it. This is the biggest gag of a accessory I have purchased. Don't be a sucker. If the shot is not there, just look for another opportunity. Best use: riding around town with your buddies, and using it to temporarily blind hapless drunks.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

I use the Better Beamer Flash Extender when using my 300mm lens, both indoors and outdoors. It comes in very handy when shooting nature shots when you need that extra light to catch the color on the birds' beak in a far-away tree! What a tremendous difference it makes! Indoors, I point it up a little or adjust the flash and EVERY photo is perfect! Don't know why I didn't get it sooner. BUY IT! you will LOVE IT!!'

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

It is very obvious this device works. I have Nikon Flashes with the modeling light feature. It is easy to see the tighter and brighter pattern. I would prefer the unit enclosed the flash head on all 4 sides. the top and bottom are open and if escaping light will interfere, additional effort is needed to cover.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

First of all, it is a very delicate product. You usually would need this kind of a product for outdoor use. I used mine during an African Safari. It is too delicate to clamp it to the jeep bar. It falls off when the vibration of the bad roads kicks in.

The more important dissatisfaction I experienced was the quality and shape of the modified light through this beamer. You see a rectangular light patch on the subject. Imagine you're shooting an animal at night in its natural habitat. And imagine you end up with a rectangular harsh light around it.

My bare SB-900 would have done the job better.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Bought these to add to my SB-900 - I have a set for the SB-800 as well. Both work as designed - this new design is a little easier to attach than the basic that I bought 4 years ago.

Still requires care not to bend pieces - it's light and packable. It's not a robust stand alone take any environment type of product - but with suitable care takes the abuse of working photographers well.

You have to be careful not to leave it in the sun - it will burn whatever is in the light path.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

I use it with a 300mm + 1.4x converter for shooting my favorite subject...bugs! It attaches easily to the flash.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

The picture doesn't show show you that this is a put together product, Also the information is not complete that this is for a 300mm and larger lenses.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

This item is based on a great idea but less than stellar execution. It is open on top and bottom and I would prefer that it was fully enclosed. Also the fresnel lens mounts to the side pieces with Velcro. Slots on the front of the arms that the lens would drop and lock into would have been more solid IMO. I will be modifying it to increase it's sturdiness.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

I use it with 500mm f4 Nikon lens. Easy to mount. Improve the light from the flash.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Definitely for lenses 300mm or longer. I used it on a 400 at a distance of 25 yards and it worked great.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

indispensable for bird photography. Takes some getting used to. Definitely google recommendations on how to use it. For example, don't zoom the flash all the way in - about 50mm is recommended.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

It really works as advertised. One precaution is that the lens on the attachment is an intensifier (Fresnel lens), so be careful with it in the sun when using it for fill flash. It can burn your equipment or yourself if at the wrong angle.

Comments about Visual Echoes FX6 Better Beamer Flash Extender for Use with Telephoto Lenses - for Nikon SB-900:

Better Beamer X-tender is the best way to improve distance flash photos; fill flash, backlit late evening, and night time use. Best used with 200mm or higher telephotos. Great for fill flash with back lighting i.e. night football field photos with stadium lighting behind.

Better Beamer Flash X-tender will work with TTL Flash. Using X-tender will add at least a 2 stop increase in real world use. Highly recommended for wildlife, birding or High School Graduation Photos from sidelines. This was purchased for High School Graduation event and had great success at 400mm full frame 35mm using Nikon SB900. I have also tested unit with SB800 and SB600 achieving great results. Highly recommended.

Negatives: in humid air or fog will give "spotlight tunnel" effect.