Harv
Aug-02-2007, 07:03 AM
Over the last year or so, I have been reading about and looking at an item called the Flash X-tender (a.k.a. Better Beamer?). I'm not much into gadgets and always felt to a degree this item was just that. I could never quite bring myself to order one. My good friend Mao solved the problem. When he ordered his, he ordered one for me. Thank you, Mao.
http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/179501854-O.jpg
My other friend, Bob, delivered mine today when he came for a visit. It had been on backorder and had arrived yesterday. We decided to put them to the test. Bob uses a 580EX II flash and I use a 430EX flash.
We set up each of the flashes on my camera which was mounted on a tripod and aimed at a flash meter hung on a cabinet across my den. In each case, we fired the flash without the Flash X-tender with the flash set on manual full and zoomed to 105mm setting. We recorded the values shown on the flash meter. We then mounted the Flash X-tender on each of the flashes and took readings with the flash set to various zoom settings. Setting the flash at a zoom of 50-70mm proved to be the best settings, as suggested by the manufacturer.
In each case, the increase in performance was significant. The output of Bob's 580 increased by 2 f/stops and my 430 increased by 2-1/2 f/stops. When using the bare flashes, Bob's 580 was 1 f/stop higher than my 430 but using the Flash X-tender closed the gap to 1/2 f/stop.
I had been contemplating purchasing a 580 for the increased output and was looking at spending at least $600 Cdn. (incl. tax) for the new flash. This $39 accessory just saved me a pile of $$$.
I am no longer a skeptic. This thing works as advertised.
http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/179501854-O.jpg
My other friend, Bob, delivered mine today when he came for a visit. It had been on backorder and had arrived yesterday. We decided to put them to the test. Bob uses a 580EX II flash and I use a 430EX flash.
We set up each of the flashes on my camera which was mounted on a tripod and aimed at a flash meter hung on a cabinet across my den. In each case, we fired the flash without the Flash X-tender with the flash set on manual full and zoomed to 105mm setting. We recorded the values shown on the flash meter. We then mounted the Flash X-tender on each of the flashes and took readings with the flash set to various zoom settings. Setting the flash at a zoom of 50-70mm proved to be the best settings, as suggested by the manufacturer.
In each case, the increase in performance was significant. The output of Bob's 580 increased by 2 f/stops and my 430 increased by 2-1/2 f/stops. When using the bare flashes, Bob's 580 was 1 f/stop higher than my 430 but using the Flash X-tender closed the gap to 1/2 f/stop.
I had been contemplating purchasing a 580 for the increased output and was looking at spending at least $600 Cdn. (incl. tax) for the new flash. This $39 accessory just saved me a pile of $$$.
I am no longer a skeptic. This thing works as advertised.