Fresnel Lens

[Shadowman]

while reading Light Science and Magic came upon a mention of this device for focusing flash for wildlife photography. Viewing the video I question the practicality of the device for wildlife photography, wondered if anyone has ever used one? Also saw mention of Fresnel lens in connection with Nikon lenses to control chromatic aberrations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_R5XbB7VwY

http://petapixel.com/2015/01/10/clos...ns-technology/

[Saorsa]

I've used a better beamer and have a Metz 126 flash that comes with a flash extender. I haven't used the metz in that role but the Better Beamer works. These shots were taken from a blog entry of mine.

In this case I was a bit close but the effect can still be seen.

Without the Beamer



With the Beamer



The "Better Beamer" looks like this

[Shadowman]

I've used a better beamer and have a Metz 126 flash that comes with a flash extender. I haven't used the metz in that role but the Better Beamer works. These shots were taken from a blog entry of mine.

In this case I was a bit close but the effect can still be seen.

Without the Beamer



With the Beamer



The "Better Beamer" looks like this

Very nice, did the use of the beamer limit the number of shot opportunities you had, did the flash spook the bird, the second shot looks like you had the opportunity to change your position?

[Saorsa]

The flash did not appear to spook the bird. The difference in position was me going to the boot of my car to get the beamer, install it on the flash and do a test shot. While I was doing that it moved along the branch a bit looking for insects.

We have a lot of snags around town and most birds recognize that people aren't predators. We have Osprey that nest on light poles in parking lots, Eagles made up a nest near a main intersection. Great Horned Owls took it over after the eagles abandoned it. Burrowing Owls dig in on vacant lots. Herons, Egrets and Pelicans all know when it is feeding time at the local wildlife rescue location.

I'm located about midway between two highly regarded birding locations. Ding Darling to the south and Venice Rookery to the north.

[Shadowman]

The flash did not appear to spook the bird. The difference in position was me going to the boot of my car to get the beamer, install it on the flash and do a test shot. While I was doing that it moved along the branch a bit looking for insects.

We have a lot of snags around town and most birds recognize that people aren't predators. We have Osprey that nest on light poles in parking lots, Eagles made up a nest near a main intersection. Great Horned Owls took it over after the eagles abandoned it. Burrowing Owls dig in on vacant lots. Herons, Egrets and Pelicans all know when it is feeding time at the local wildlife rescue location.

I'm located about midway between two highly regarded birding locations. Ding Darling to the south and Venice Rookery to the north.

Yes birds are odd creatures, those that live in city parks tend not to be afraid of humans, yet sometimes just making the slightest movement will set them in motion. I had a change this past winter to capture some birds in Everglades National Park and those birds didn't seem to mind humans either. The literature stated that the flash extender would be good for night photography, have you ever tried using it under lowlight conditions? I had a chance to read your blog, interesting opportunities.

[Saorsa]

I haven't really used if for night photography. One problem with it is that the Fresnel lens fits to the frame with Velcro as does the frame to the flash. This provides opportunities for misalignment in practice. Just to be sure I had my alignment marks right I took photos of my garage door so I knew where the center of the frame was.

A friend of mine built his own frame out of foamboard and used permanent places on the flash (joining seams) and he gets it right every time.

[Shadowman]

I haven't really used if for night photography. One problem with it is that the Fresnel lens fits to the frame with Velcro as does the frame to the flash. This provides opportunities for misalignment in practice. Just to be sure I had my alignment marks right I took photos of my garage door so I knew where the center of the frame was.

A friend of mine built his own frame out of foamboard and used permanent places on the flash (joining seams) and he gets it right every time.

Glad you mentioned the attachment method, didn't see it in the advertisement but after checking the website again it was mentioned in the reviews.

[NorthernFocus]

I've had a Better Beamer for nearly ten years and it's never been out of the package other than to inspect it when it arrived. I just don't have the patience to shoot wildlife with flash. And can get away with that attitude up here due to the long hours of daylight during shooting season

Regarding the Fresnel, I recently added the Nikon 300mm f4E to my kit. Haven't had it out shooting yet. It's amazingly small and light. Half the weight of the previous model 300 f4 and way shorter as well. I bought with the idea of carrying it for travel. We'll see how it works out.

[Shadowman]

I've had a Better Beamer for nearly ten years and it's never been out of the package other than to inspect it when it arrived. I just don't have the patience to shoot wildlife with flash. And can get away with that attitude up here due to the long hours of daylight during shooting season

Regarding the Fresnel, I recently added the Nikon 300mm f4E to my kit. Haven't had it out shooting yet. It's amazingly small and light. Half the weight of the previous model 300 f4 and way shorter as well. I bought with the idea of carrying it for travel. We'll see how it works out.

Dan,

Thanks for the input, will have to continue researching options. I found it interesting that the Fresnel lens would even be mentioned in the Light, Science...text but it makes sense that telephoto with flash capabilities would be considered. Even before venturing forward with such a purchase I'd want some assurances that the combination would be worth the efforts. Interestingly, I've viewed some wildlife video where infrared light was used and wondered how effective it was. It seems strange to my human eyes to view video of wild animals with the infrared light glowing in their eyes and it does not affect their behavior.

[rpcrowe]

Many-many years ago, Canon sponsored a television program on wildlife photography. That was where I first saw the Better Beamer used... It was more expensive than I wanted to spend at the time but, I found a used one one on eBay at a greatly reduced price and snapped it up.

But, like Dan, I have never seriously used this tool. Mostly because I have done very little wildlife work. I have however used a flash for a lot of zoo photography. I mostly depended on the flash to achieve catchlights in the eyes of the animals, so I didn;t need the concentrated power of the Better beamer.

I need to break out the Better Beamer and seriously put it through its paces. I remember that the instructions mentioned not to use it with a focal length shorter than 300mm (about 188mm on a 1.6x camera)...

[Shadowman]

Many-many years ago, Canon sponsored a television program on wildlife photography. That was where I first saw the Better Beamer used... It was more expensive than I wanted to spend at the time but, I found a used one one on eBay at a greatly reduced price and snapped it up.

But, like Dan, I have never seriously used this tool. Mostly because I have done very little wildlife work. I have however used a flash for a lot of wildlife and zoo photography. I mostly depended on the flash to achieve catchlights in the eyes of the animals.

I need to break out the Better Beamer and seriously put it through its paces. I remember that the instructions mentioned not to use it with a focal length shorter than 300mm (about 188mm on a 1.6x camera)...

Looking forward to seeing your results.

[IzzieK]

...I remember that the instructions mentioned not to use it with a focal length shorter than 300mm (about 188mm on a 1.6x camera)...

Know the reason why? Is it overly big and long?

[Dave Humphries]

I remember that the instructions mentioned not to use it with a focal length shorter than 300mm (about 188mm on a 1.6x camera)

Know the reason why?

Yes, because it will concentrate the light in to a spot (equivalent to the field of view of those focal length/formats).
So if you use a lens of a wider angle than specified, you will see the edges of this spot - IOW it will appear as a vignette if viewed against a flat surface such as a wall. In practice that often won't be the case, but any part of the subject at the edge of frame, especially the corners, is liable to be not so well lit.

In practice, many flashes have auto and/or manually controlled zoom reflectors in them, more recent ones have longer focal lengths (mine goes to 200mm), so that should give me a significant enough advantage of beaming built in, not to have to worry about carrying a BetterBeamer type device.

Might be a reason to buy a new (third party) flash

I have yet to try it for real though; perhaps I'll use this thread as a reason to get off my backside and shoot at least a test to see if the practice matches the theory.

[Shadowman]

Humorous video but did make me wonder about the finger movement and if that action scare some birds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtHh8K_M7xg

[Shadowman]

Humorous video but did make me wonder about the finger movement and if that action scare some birds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtHh8K_M7xg

[IzzieK]

Thanks for the link, John. I will view this when the people around here wakes up or gone from the house...

[Shadowman]

I ordered one for about $40, should arrive tomorrow and I should get the opportunity to try it out this weekend.

[rpcrowe]

Many years ago, I found an Internet site that had plans for constructing a Better Beamer "type" light concentrator for just about any flash using a plastic Fresnel "type" magnifier that is generally used to magnify a whole page of type for people with poor vision. The frame is made from Foam Core board. I did not keep the article after I found the OEM Better Beamer on eBay at a price I couldn't resist.

These magnifiers are often found in office supply sores and, very occasionally in the "Dollar" type stores.

I will look to see if I kept a link to this site...

[Shadowman]

Many years ago, I found an Internet site that had plans for constructing a Better Beamer "type" light concentrator for just about any flash using a plastic Fresnel "type" magnifier that is generally used to magnify a whole page of type for people with poor vision. The frame is made from Foam Core board. I did not keep the article after I found the OEM Better Beamer on eBay at a price I couldn't resist.

These magnifiers are often found in office supply sores and, very occasionally in the "Dollar" type stores.

I will look to see if I kept a link to this site...

I think I spotted that site while reviewing this device, they showed a magnified view of a woman's arm that made her bicep look massive.

[NorthernFocus]

Ran across another Fresnel flash focusing device on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Safari-P...ams_ad_dp_ovrl