1500mm in the backyard

randyphotoforum · Feb 6, 2014

I was practicing with the better beamer

D7100 + 500vr + 2.0TC V3 + SB800 + better beamer all on a wimberly with the flash arm

acparsons · Feb 6, 2014

What aperture is that?

randyphotoforum · Feb 6, 2014

acparsons said:
What aperture is that?

mostly f/10 (i need to chk each pic) but maybe a few f/8's

No AF issues other than finding the bird in VF

BTW, EXIF is attached to all my pics

sk66 · Feb 6, 2014

FWIW, w/in the normal working flash distance (~GN) I just put the bare flash in the hotshoe. The beemer does focus the light it collects, but it doesn't collect all the light the flash puts out. And when working at telephoto distances the 6" difference in axis offset from using a bracket doesn't have any real effect.
I'm not saying it's "better," but it's also not worse...and it's much more simple.

randyphotoforum · Feb 6, 2014

sk66 said:
FWIW, w/in the normal working flash distance (~GN) I just put the bare flash in the hotshoe. The beemer does focus the light it collects, but it doesn't collect all the light the flash puts out. And when working at telephoto distances the 6" difference in axis offset from using a bracket doesn't have any real effect.
I'm not saying it's "better," but it's also not worse...and it's much more simple.

at the distance these small birds were from me my sb800 would have done nothing and the 500vr + hood is so long some of the light from a hot shoe mounted flash would actually hit the hood so I'll stick w/ the BB and the flash arm

lambertpix · Feb 6, 2014

Nice. How do you like the BB? I've been thinking of picking one up for a while.... just haven't quite had it make its way all the way to the top of my wish list.

Bryan Pereira · Feb 6, 2014

very nice! I would just tone down the flash a little so they look a bit more natural, i think you would still get a highlight.

randyphotoforum · Feb 6, 2014

lambertpix said:
Nice. How do you like the BB? I've been thinking of picking one up for a while.... just haven't quite had it make its way all the way to the top of my wish list.

thanks

Love/Hate, needs lots of practice

randyphotoforum · Feb 6, 2014

Bryan Pereira said:
very nice! I would just tone down the flash a little so they look a bit more natural, i think you would still get a highlight.

thx and thx for the feedback

sk66 · Feb 6, 2014

randyphotoforum said:
at the distance these small birds were from me my sb800 would have done nothing and the 500vr + hood is so long some of the light from a hot shoe mounted flash would actually hit the hood so I'll stick w/ the BB and the flash arm

Ok, but I find it's good for fill/lighting out to ~25-30m and much further for just a catchlight. I use a 400mm f/2.8 +2xIII, a much bigger lens. If I need more I'll use the BB; but not according to the directions (I zoom the flash head further out).
Here's an example taken w/ bare SB800 on camera in heavy shade at ~20m if you want to check it out.... _SGK3488.jpg | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

randyphotoforum · Feb 6, 2014

sk66 said:
randyphotoforum said:

at the distance these small birds were from me my sb800 would have done nothing and the 500vr + hood is so long some of the light from a hot shoe mounted flash would actually hit the hood so I'll stick w/ the BB and the flash arm

Click to expand...

Ok, but I find it's good for fill/lighting out to ~25-30m and much further for just a catchlight. I use a 400mm f/2.8 +2xIII, a much bigger lens. If I need more I'll use the BB; but not according to the directions (I zoom the flash head further out).
Here's an example taken w/ bare SB800 on camera in heavy shade at ~20m if you want to check it out.... _SGK3488.jpg | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

killer shot, I love wood ducks, hard to find them around here
I shoot a 400vr for my sports business and it is a beast, especially with the 2 hoods, i bet it handles the 2x tc alot better also. I'm getting a 600vr and I'll use the 1.7 on it for wildlife as I am not totally happy with the 2x TC amd f/8 sux