Hi Tim, I’ve also switched from Better Beamer to Mag Mod due to size issues. You are the FIRST UA-camr to address or mention the Mag Mod weight issue. I thought I was enduring something specific my equipment only... Thank You for sharing this!!
I have found that if you adjust the magnet on the flash so that the top portion is further back than the bottom that this will have the effect of straightening the unit so it is more parallel with the flash
Hello from New York City! How do you deal with white balance? Do you use Auto white balance (AWB), custom or preset white balance? Thank you for informative video.
I occasionally use fill-in flash with birds in very shaded areas. I attach a battery pack to my Canon flash with a Better Beamer and set the flash to -1 to -1.3 exposure compensation and get 3 exposures per second for 2-3 second bursts. Can I replicate this setup with the Olympus 300mm/FL-900R + flash extender + battery pack?
I had purchased a twin flash for my Olympus, but when it arrived I realized the only lens I own it will fit is the 60mm. I would love it if it also worked on my Panasonic Leica 100-400mm, but without causing vignetting, it will not. I do have a Godox flash, but always feel it is a bit top heavy on the camera.
Thanks Tim, in one video you solved a problem I was having with mixed lighting at sunset - nice golden hues from the sun and white light from the flash! Are there situations where you would use the 1/2 CTO gel? The magmod system is pretty nifty. Cheers.
Thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, how often do you think you are using fill flash? I totally see the value. Watching some of your other videos it seems like maybe you may not often carry with you. I’m guessing it’s always on standby? I have a good friend who lives out in MD who has rekindled my interest in birding. Don’t really have the proper gear yet, but I’ve been researching and planning on connecting with my local Audubon group to learn and connect. I live here in Seattle and went to the horticulture center at UW for a bit today. Seems like a good spot and saw a variety of birds and birders. Thanks again and look forward to future videos. Cheers.
I don't use full flash as much as I used too maybe1% of the time now. I also have a tendency to only try to photograph in good light too, that's a big reason I don't use flash as much. But I have the gear with me most of the time if I need it. Thanks
Most of the time no, but I don't use the flash at full power and I take a few shots then move so I try not to stress the bird. Thanks for your question
Tim, I am a little lacking in the knowledge department when it comes to flash filtration. I have understood that the orange gel warms the image, but warms it to what? I am unsure what the benefits are, I mean wouldn't it be just as easy to change the colour temp &/or tint at raw conversion... perhaps not??? Also if you have a reasonably powerful flashgun - I have a Godox V860 for Olympus - this has a guide number of 60 for ISO 100 with a 200mm lens (similar to Canon 600EX) - wouldn't this be more than powerful enough without a Magmod - especially if used at -3 or -2 stops?? Perhaps I am missing something or misunderstood here?? Obviously distance would be critical but I would imaging using a flash up to 60 feet max I would guess.
CTO gels-- The light coming out of the flash is daylight valued 5500K or something like that. With the CTO Gel I am warming up the light so is more like the golden hour light that I like to shoot in. When I have some beautiful golden hour light and use a flash of daylight valued white light on it, it washes away all the good light. So, I try not to mix the light that I'm putting out on the subject. If it's mid morning, I might use some CTO gel on an underpowered flash to just add a bit of warmth and light to the bird. Yes, you could add the CTO Gel effects in post processing but that wouldn't necessarily add the highlight in the eye or brighten the colors of the birds feathers. A flash unit is designed to spread the light from the flash to fill a room. We are using big telephoto lenses like a 600mm lens with a 4 degree view. So we concentrate the light on the subject with the flash extender, and the extrender throws the light out further, sometimes further than the flash can by itself. At 40 to 60 feet you might be able to add the highlight to the eye or just brighten up the colors enough so the image looks better without an extender, but I think you'd notice the difference between having an extender or not.
Some don't like it but most don't care. Birds are as individual as people so you'll get lots of different reactions, I've had hummingbird flinch once then feed on the next trip to the feed they've sat on the flash unit.
Tim, Thanks for the video on fill flash. I have never tried fill flash before. I have a Nikon D750 with 200mm to 500mm lens and although I shoot manually I generally use auto ISO. Many times my iso comes in over 2500. I'm in west Texas. I will try complete manual mode and lower my iso and shutter speed if necessary. I think I would like to try a TTL flash for mobility as I do a lot of hand held shots or with a monopod. Will any Nikon flash work or can you recommend one that would compliment my setup? I usually shoot within 20 feet of the birds. Thanks for any suggestion you may have.
Hi Tim, I’ve also switched from Better Beamer to Mag Mod due to size issues. You are the FIRST UA-camr to address or mention the Mag Mod weight issue. I thought I was enduring something specific my equipment only... Thank You for sharing this!!
I have found that if you adjust the magnet on the flash so that the top portion is further back than the bottom that this will have the effect of straightening the unit so it is more parallel with the flash
If you enable the RC mode then you can control all the flash functions from the camera when you press the “set” button.
love your vidéo Tim ,i also have mag mod unit ,i bought your book on amazon and i love it thank you for your help
Thank you Tim for another very informative video :)
Hello from New York City! How do you deal with white balance? Do you use Auto white balance (AWB), custom or preset white balance? Thank you for informative video.
I occasionally use fill-in flash with birds in very shaded areas. I attach a battery pack to my Canon flash with a Better Beamer and set the flash to -1 to -1.3 exposure compensation and get 3 exposures per second for 2-3 second bursts. Can I replicate this setup with the Olympus 300mm/FL-900R + flash extender + battery pack?
Yes that approach should work.
I had purchased a twin flash for my Olympus, but when it arrived I realized the only lens I own it will fit is the 60mm. I would love it if it also worked on my Panasonic Leica 100-400mm, but without causing vignetting, it will not. I do have a Godox flash, but always feel it is a bit top heavy on the camera.
I would try some putty and one or more elastics or hair bands to keep the better beamer in place.
Do you use auto ISO? I’m actually surprised that it didn’t lower it.
I set my ISO manually so I know the exposure will stay where I've set it. For the past 6 months I'm been shooting full manual mode.
Thanks Tim, in one video you solved a problem I was having with mixed lighting at sunset - nice golden hues from the sun and white light from the flash! Are there situations where you would use the 1/2 CTO gel? The magmod system is pretty nifty. Cheers.
Sometimes if the bird is close the 1/2 CTO gel is too orange. So try it to see if you like it or it works for you. Thanks
Thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, how often do you think you are using fill flash? I totally see the value. Watching some of your other videos it seems like maybe you may not often carry with you. I’m guessing it’s always on standby? I have a good friend who lives out in MD who has rekindled my interest in birding. Don’t really have the proper gear yet, but I’ve been researching and planning on connecting with my local Audubon group to learn and connect. I live here in Seattle and went to the horticulture center at UW for a bit today. Seems like a good spot and saw a variety of birds and birders. Thanks again and look forward to future videos. Cheers.
I don't use full flash as much as I used too maybe1% of the time now. I also have a tendency to only try to photograph in good light too, that's a big reason I don't use flash as much. But I have the gear with me most of the time if I need it. Thanks
What if your camera doesn't support high speed sync. Would you still use flash even at 1/200 s?
Only if I had too. What camera are you using that doesn't support High Speed Sync?
@@GodwitMediaLLC Nikon D5600
Do your subjects have a problem with the flash firing? I use a flash for macro and some insects don’t pay attention and some react.
Most of the time no, but I don't use the flash at full power and I take a few shots then move so I try not to stress the bird. Thanks for your question
Tim, I am a little lacking in the knowledge department when it comes to flash filtration. I have understood that the orange gel warms the image, but warms it to what? I am unsure what the benefits are, I mean wouldn't it be just as easy to change the colour temp &/or tint at raw conversion... perhaps not???
Also if you have a reasonably powerful flashgun - I have a Godox V860 for Olympus - this has a guide number of 60 for ISO 100 with a 200mm lens (similar to Canon 600EX) - wouldn't this be more than powerful enough without a Magmod - especially if used at -3 or -2 stops?? Perhaps I am missing something or misunderstood here?? Obviously distance would be critical but I would imaging using a flash up to 60 feet max I would guess.
CTO gels-- The light coming out of the flash is daylight valued 5500K or something like that. With the CTO Gel I am warming up the light so is more like the golden hour light that I like to shoot in. When I have some beautiful golden hour light and use a flash of daylight valued white light on it, it washes away all the good light. So, I try not to mix the light that I'm putting out on the subject. If it's mid morning, I might use some CTO gel on an underpowered flash to just add a bit of warmth and light to the bird. Yes, you could add the CTO Gel effects in post processing but that wouldn't necessarily add the highlight in the eye or brighten the colors of the birds feathers.
A flash unit is designed to spread the light from the flash to fill a room. We are using big telephoto lenses like a 600mm lens with a 4 degree view. So we concentrate the light on the subject with the flash extender, and the extrender throws the light out further, sometimes further than the flash can by itself.
At 40 to 60 feet you might be able to add the highlight to the eye or just brighten up the colors enough so the image looks better without an extender, but I think you'd notice the difference between having an extender or not.
What's the reaction of the bird when the flash fires (nothing, going away, ...)?
Some don't like it but most don't care. Birds are as individual as people so you'll get lots of different reactions, I've had hummingbird flinch once then feed on the next trip to the feed they've sat on the flash unit.
Tim,
Thanks for the video on fill flash. I have never tried fill flash before. I have a Nikon D750 with 200mm to 500mm lens and although I shoot manually I generally use auto ISO. Many times my iso comes in over 2500. I'm in west Texas. I will try complete manual mode and lower my iso and shutter speed if necessary.
I think I would like to try a TTL flash for mobility as I do a lot of hand held shots or with a monopod. Will any Nikon flash work or can you recommend one that would compliment my setup? I usually shoot within 20 feet of the birds. Thanks for any suggestion you may have.