Better Beamer User Guide
The Better Beamer is a compact and lightweight
accessory that will boost your flash output by 2-3 f-stops
for telephoto flash photography. When used with TTL (Through-The-Lens)
flash metering, exposure is automatically handled by your camera
and flash, and no special compensation is required.
The Better Beamer concentrates your flash output into the area
covered by a 300 mm or longer lens (as viewed
with 35 mm film coverage; adjust accordingly for your digital
camera or other film formats). The light that would normally
be wasted is focused back into your frame, allowing your flash
to reach distant subjects and boosting its power.
Some tips for best results:
- With TTL (Through-The-Lens) flash metering your camera and flash
will automatically compensate for the increased light output
from the Better Beamer. You don't need to add additional compensation
on your camera or flash to account for the Better Beamer.
- The LCD display on the back of some flash units that indicates
the minimum and maximum distances for flash exposures will not
reflect the extra reach that the Better Beamer gives you—the
flash doesn't "know" that the Better Beamer is attached.
Your TTL system, however, will automatically adjust and give
you the correct exposure. See How far will my Better Beamer reach?
- Fill flash, to fill in shadows or backlit subjects, typically
looks best when set at about –1.5 to –1.7 f-stops.
More than this may look “over-flashed.” Experiment
with your system to find the best settings.
- The Better Beamer support arms are bent at an angle at the
flash head. For best results, you should line up this bend with
the front lens of your flash unit. Doing so will hold the Flash
Extender Fresnel lens the proper distance from the flash head.
- The output is best for most flash units when the flash head
is manually zoomed to about 35-50 mm.
- Scratches or dirt on the Fresnel lens will degrade performance.
Store the lens in its protective pouch when not in use. The
Fresnel Lens is flexible, but it will crack if bent too far.
(Replacement lenses and other parts are available from
our Online Store.)
We recommend the use of a flash arm (flash bracket) and off-camera
shoe cord with the Better Beamer. With the right flash bracket
you can
- mount the flash higher to minimize red eye and eliminate any
shadows from your lens hood
- maintain the flash in an upright position even when you rotate
lenses with tripod collars to vertical
- precisely tilt the flash up or down slightly, to better aim
the flash for near or far subjects
- obtain better balance when using large telephoto lenses
Our favorite flash arms are from Really Right Stuff.
With lenses shorter than 300 mm, especially wide angle, you
will
get a “hot spot” in the center of the image (which
might work in certain images). You can preview this coverage
by (a) manually firing the flash and observing where the light
hits, or (b) taking a test image and viewing the results.
Caution: The Fresnel lens
acts
like a magnifying glass. Don’t
point it directly towards the sun, because
the focused rays can cause flammable materials to ignite, burn
your skin, or melt and deform the plastic on your flash unit.
How to attach the Better Beamer