MagMod - MagBeam Wildlife Kit Review for Bird Photography

Hunt's Photo and Video www.huntsphotoandvideo.com was kind enough to provide me with a MagMod MagBeam Wildlife Kit to try out with my songbird and warbler photography this spring. I was able to try it out on a few outings I'm sharing my thoughts on this piece of gear.
Anyone interested in purchasing the MagBeam can use the discount link below:
www.huntsphoto...

[@22arrows]

Man so glad you did a video on this product. Ive been kicking around getting either this one or the better beamer. But never knowing anyone that actually used this made me hesitate. I think you convinced me👍

[@RayHennessy]

Happy to help Dave. I've talked to some other photographers who mentioned this kit is pretty heavy compared to the better beamer so that's something I didn't consider, just wanted to pass that info along.

[@gunny2044]

Outstanding review Ray.

[@RayHennessy]

Thanks.

[@michaelwallwork7482]

That looks a great bit of kit. Cheers Ray 👍

[@RayHennessy]

Thanks, I didn't get a ton of time with it yet but so far it's nice.

[@FollowThomas]

Looks like you had good time birding. Nice birding vlog 👍

[@RayHennessy]

Thanks it’s always a good time getting out.

[@cynthiabonnes9717]

I have been interested in adding flash to extend my time out in the field or take advantage of the birds in the forest, especially woodpeckers!! This has been very helpful! Thank you

[@RayHennessy]

Wonderful, glad it was helpful Cynthia.

[@marypar4]

Thanks Ray..just ordered one from the link. Used to use a Better Beemer but to clumsy a set up. This loo ks nice.

[@RayHennessy]

Wonderful Mary!

[@paularneson2420]

Don't you get steely eye when shooting with the flash in the hotshoe?

[@RayHennessy]

I think it depends, sometimes you do but I think it shows much more only if the flash is the main light source vs. using it as just a little fill light.

[@foosiemac]

Would liked to have seen a few comparison shots with flash and without

[@RayHennessy]

Great suggestion, if I ever shoot flash again, which I likely won't, I'll keep that in mind.

[@markloh4896]

Have you try Better Beamer Ray?,I find that the Magmod is front heavy dangling if you using flash bracket for large prime like 600mm.👍

[@RayHennessy]

I have not since I rarely use flash. It is definitely front heavy so I could see that being an issue with long term use.

[@pierresmug9329]

bonjour pour mettre le flash en HSS faut il se mettre en TTL ou en mode manuel Merci d'avance

[@RayHennessy]

You should be able to do HSS with TTL or Manual.

[@icaanul]

The gels would help the light blend so it doesn't look so obvious.

[@RayHennessy]

Agreed the gels would help the light color blend in but that direct on-camera flash for birds/wildlife always has a look that doesn't particularly appeal to me. Getting it off camera would help out but then you are talking a lot of things to pay attention to when just the birds are enough usually!

[@bynumoil9615]

Where can I buy the fresnel lens? Can’t find it on mag mod page. Thanks

[@RayHennessy]

Here ya go magnetmod.com/products/magbeam-tele-lens/magbeam-tele-lens

[@kennethcheong4498]

Do the birds fly off after the shot because of the flash?

[@RayHennessy]

Not in my experience. It's a bright sunny day so the flash is barely registered to them.

[@melizaphotoz]

Did you shoot the little yellow bird using it off camera? I love love the lighting in those 2 pics, makes them look surreal and dreamy!!! Do You remember the flash setting for it?

[@RayHennessy]

Yes, I did use the off-camera flash for the yellow Prothonotary Warbler. I have no idea what the flash setting was, it was manual power so I don't recall.

[@jfphotography69]

I have been using the magmod with wildlife extender for years now, don't use it as much as I use the magsphere for my macro photography, I don't leave home without it when doing macro.

[@RayHennessy]

Very cool.

[@stevemartin239]

Very Interesting Ray Thanks for sharing. I wonder, how far away you were with the camera mounted flash with your 300 f4 PF from the images? Thanks again.

[@RayHennessy]

I don't know exact distances but much farther than I expected this to have any effect and I had to actually dial down the flash so it was damn good.

[@Slewis71119]

Great Video, is there anyway other than just taking a test shot to determine how much exposure compensation you need?

[@RayHennessy]

I'd assume with more experience shooting like this one would get to know what amounts tend to work best in which scenarios but for me at this point it's take a test shoot and look then modify from there.

[@tonyhayes9827]

HI Ray, great vid. Does the camera still have TTL flash exposure when using the fresnel ?

[@RayHennessy]

Sure does. I think you probably need to dial it down more than without since the light is so concentrated.

[@terilapetino6337]

How are you capturing birds with such low shutter speeds? Is there a place to put gels? Thanks for the review.

[@RayHennessy]

Teri, I shoot warblers at those shutter speeds quite often. In this case however the flash is almost the main light source so that helps to freeze the subject at lower shutter speeds. Yes there is a place to put gels in which is easy and sturdy.

[@terilapetino6337]

@@RayHennessy I’m thinking if you warm the light with gels, it may not look so flashed?!?

[@RayHennessy]

@@terilapetino6337 I thought I had mentioned that in the video, if not that was my mistake. It will certainly help with the color of the light sure but the main reason it looks flashed to me is the direction and quality of the light. It's obviously flashed when the main light source (sun) is coming from behind the subject or the subject is in shade and it's lit from the flash. It's just a look that doesn't quite fit my style is all.

[@phillloyd47]

Works well but I have to question the ethics of firing a flash at wild animals, my aim is always to cause the least disturbance to the subjects.

[@RayHennessy]

I would agree with you if it was with more nocturnal species such as owls and such since that can potentially mess up their night vision. In this case it's in the middle of the bright sunny day so the effect seems non-existent. It's like when you have your own photo taken with a flash in the middle of the day, you can barely perceive it, vs. have that flash fired at night and it can be really bad.

[@dobrecristianro]

Result are okay(ish). Why I say this? Because they obviously don't look natural, you can see from the first second the flash in these photos. Might be nice for bird observers who just want to document the birds, but I would not use these pictures to show them in a gallery or to set them as a wallpaper. These look totally different from a natural light photo.

[@RayHennessy]

While I agree with you that is our opinion. Many others may feel very differently and some might like them as a look they prefer.

[@kishascape]

Putting too much strain on the flash and it’s shoe mount.