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The Flash X-Tender (Better Beamer) FX-4 Flash Output Booster for the Nikon SB-600 & SB-800 Flashes with Lenses 300mm and Longer.

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The Flash X-Tender (Better Beamer) FX-4 Flash Output Booster for the Nikon SB-600 & SB-800 Flashes with Lenses 300mm and Longer.

(4 customer reviews)

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FAFX4

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Features

Increases light output from your flash
Focuses flash with big telephoto lenses
Faster recycle times
Reduced battery consumption
Exposure handled automatically by TTL

Description

Now there is an easy way to have the extra "flash power" you need in the field. The Flash X-Tender packs flat, weighs less than 3 ounces and sets up in 30 seconds and your flash output is extended a minimum of 2 full f-stops! Bring your birds and animals to life with an eye highlight. Used and praised by nature photographers world-wide. When used with TTL (Through-The-Lens) flash metering, exposure is automatically handled by your camera and flash, and no special compensation is required.

Product Details

Product Weight:	0.35 pounds
Package Length:	10.0 inches
Package Width:	6.0 inches
Package Height:	1.0 inches
Average Customer Rating:	based on 4 reviews

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: 4.5

( 4 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 found the following review helpful:

Great item, but it's NOT for the SB-800 Dec 17, 2007 By Douglas A. Greenberg
A teleflash accessory like this one focuses the beam emitted by an electronic flash so that it carries farther and consequently illuminates subjects at a greater distance from the camera. Normally, even the most versatile flash unit is adjustable to no greater telephoto length than 85mm. or so. If one is taking bird photos (for example) using a long telephoto lens, however, much of the light emitted by the flash ends up wasted. Using a mounted fresnel lens, the "Better Beamer" creates a more narrow beam of flash-light, which consequently is effective at greater distances than the flash would reach otherwise.

The big advantage of the Better Beamer design is that the unit can be disassembled to fold flat when not in use. This makes it convenient to carry in the field. With a little practice it can be mounted on the head of one's flash unit fairly quickly.

When using this device to photograph birds or animals, it's really best to find a way to mount the flash at least some small distance up and away from the camera body. If the flash is simply attached via the camera's hot shoe, there is a danger that the photos will exhibit the animal equivalent of "redeye," which can turn out white, blue, or green, depending on the animal's physiology. This can usually be corrected in post-processing, but it's really better to find a way to avoid the problem altogether. There are various kinds of off-camera flash brackets made for teleflash; these are made by Wimberley, Really Right Stuff, and Kirk Enterprises, to name just a few companies.

It's also best not to use teleflash as the sole source of illumination for a bird or animal photo, if this can possibly be avoided. Photos that are lit only by flash look artificial. The teleflash ideally serves as in-fill light that also creates a bit of sparkle in the animal's eye(s). Mastering the art of combining ambient and flash illumination takes practice and sometimes a bit of luck. If one sets up exposure to allow generously for natural light in a low-light situation, there is a danger of image "ghosting," i.e., the animal might move a bit during the time the shutter is open, creating a double or blurred image. But if one using high shutter-speed synch to eliminate ghosting, the photo might end up appearing as though it were taken at night (not necessarily what one wants). This is a craft that requires practice and judgment.

Overall, the Better Beamer currently is THE standard unit for teleflash photography, and I recommend these units highly. However, as the subject line for this review indicates, the FX-3 is NOT ideally designed for the Nikon SB-800 and SB-600 flash units. There is an FX-4 unit that fits these flash heads nicely. You can create small cardboard shims to make non-fitting units function in the field (I did this for a while), but why not buy the correct unit to begin with?

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:

Has Really Helped Dec 07, 2009 By Ivanq
For bird photography I presently use a Nikon D90 with a Sigma 150-500 lens. As I prefer to shoot at 1/400 or faster and F/8-F/11 I had no problem in bright light but in heavy cover I really needed more light. I bought the Better Beamer FX-4 and attached it to my Nikon SB-600 setting the zoom to 85 and that solved the problem in most low light cases. However I do need to learn to tone down the flash, at times, to avoid the 'deer in the headlights' effect and I've also had a problem with 'blue eye' in some photos but that's easily fixed in post processing. Now I always have the flash on the camera whenever I go birding being selective as to when to use the flash and when to turn it off. The Beamer has helped me get shots that would have been impossible without it.

The Flash X-Tender (Better Beamer) FX-4 Flash Output Booster for the Nikon SB-600 & SB-800 Flashes with Lenses 300mm and Longer.

8 of 9 found the following review helpful:

Good Idea - Poor Execution Mar 31, 2009 By R. Cole "areohbeeceeohelee"
Does allow further reach without loss, as promised. Unfortunately, its very hard to get it aimed correctly - a little too high and the bottom of the picture is too dark, too low and top is dark. What it needs is more precise mounting. Before using it, I have to calibrate it and adjust the strap a half dozen times to get it in the right position, then be very careful not to bump it. Even then there is much vignetting, which isn't that big of a problem since you can either enjoy the vignette or crop it away - just so ya know...

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

An Essential For Wildlife Photography May 29, 2009 By Maven Pundit
I use my SB 800 with the X-Tender for every shot I take. Setting the flash output requires some understanding of incipient light vs. fill. Rarely will any flash provide you with beautiful ILLUMINATION outdoors. ILLUMINATION is not the purpose of this device. It is for fill, to provide eye catchlights, to fill shadows acquired from midday shooting, to give definition to fur and feathers.

The previous negative review regarding aiming and vignetting is almost certainly the result of not following the simple instruction labeled on the fresnel lens case: set your flash zoom length manually to 50 all the time. I occasionally need to shim the X-Tender up with a small twig or popsicle stick, but this is a nuance, not a liability.

I cannot shoot wildlife without this simple unit. Highly recommended.