Custom Brackets PJ Vs. Stroboframe

[MediaMagic]

I recently received my order for the Custom Brackets QRS35-PJ. The light weight version of the huge QRS35-EV that I use regularly for pod work (and have lugged around for candids at the expense of my arms/shoulders). I figured I'd give the PJ a try because of the simple fact that I already have a gazillion accessory plates for the Custom Brackets frames.

Well, here's the deal. I'm used to rotating the camera counter clockwise to achieve vertical shots. My QRS35-EV also rotates counter clockwise. Having my right hand above the camera just feels right, or using the shutter on the Big Ed for multiple vert shots. On the PJ, the camera rotates CLOCKWISE, placing the shutter release under the camera, and the Big Ed shutter completely out of reach on the left side. I've looked at disassembling and reassembling in a different configuration, but it doesn't appear to be an option.

Is this normal for the lightweight brackets? Do the Stroboframe's use this clockwise rotation as well?

Does anyone else use this PJ model? The weight is nice, but damn, it feels completely "funky" (to borrow a technical term) for vertical shots.

David

Here's a link to the Custom Brackets 35mm page for reference:

http://www.custombrackets.com/35mm%20Format/Index.html

[DaveG]

MediaMagic wrote:
I recently received my order for the Custom Brackets QRS35-PJ. The light weight version of the huge QRS35-EV that I use regularly for pod work (and have lugged around for candids at the expense of my arms/shoulders). I figured I'd give the PJ a try because of the simple fact that I already have a gazillion accessory plates for the Custom Brackets frames.

Well, here's the deal. I'm used to rotating the camera counter clockwise to achieve vertical shots. My QRS35-EV also rotates counter clockwise. Having my right hand above the camera just feels right, or using the shutter on the Big Ed for multiple vert shots. On the PJ, the camera rotates CLOCKWISE, placing the shutter release under the camera, and the Big Ed shutter completely out of reach on the left side. I've looked at disassembling and reassembling in a different configuration, but it doesn't appear to be an option.

Is this normal for the lightweight brackets? Do the Stroboframe's use this clockwise rotation as well?

Does anyone else use this PJ model? The weight is nice, but damn, it feels completely "funky" (to borrow a technical term) for vertical shots.

David

Here's a link to the Custom Brackets 35mm page for reference:

http://www.custombrackets.com/35mm%20Format/Index.html




The term "lightweight" and "camera rotating" are mutually exclusive I would think. Any of the Stroboframe C/R brackets are heavy and it sounds like it'd be almost impossible to use vertically. I almost think that there must be a way to reconfigure the Custom Brackets QRS35-PJ since EVERY camera should rotate with the shutter button up.

One thing that I did notice was when I read the write up on this at Amazon.com was that you can't use this bracket on a tripod. I think that a lot of the utility of a bracket would be lost if this was the case. I mean when I 'm shooting groups at a wedding I'd like to be able to take the camera+bracket+flash and just lock it onto a tripod with a quick release plate. The last thing that I'd want is to reconfigure the camera set up as I move from shot to shot.

[MediaMagic]

DaveG wrote:

The term "lightweight" and "camera rotating" are mutually exclusive I would think. Any of the Stroboframe C/R brackets are heavy and it sounds like it'd be almost impossible to use vertically. I almost think that there must be a way to reconfigure the Custom Brackets QRS35-PJ since EVERY camera should rotate with the shutter button up.

One thing that I did notice was when I read the write up on this at Amazon.com was that you can't use this bracket on a tripod. I think that a lot of the utility of a bracket would be lost if this was the case. I mean when I 'm shooting groups at a wedding I'd like to be able to take the camera+bracket+flash and just lock it onto a tripod with a quick release plate. The last thing that I'd want is to reconfigure the camera set up as I move from shot to shot.


Yes, I agree, the terms should be mutually exclusive. The setup you mention of going from tripod to handheld and back is exactly what the QRS35-EV achieves with the quick release tripod mount. It functions and operates exactly as one would expect.

There are several situations where I do nothing but walk around taking candids and never touch the tripod. This lighter version (PJ), at first glance, seemed to be a good idea because I'm used to its bigger brother and have all the necessary add on parts to outfit it. Basically the problem lies in the mount. On the PJ, the bottom of the rotating rails are mounted on the "stem" on the left side. On the EV, the *side* of the rail mounts to the stem. Since it uses the identical rail system as the EV, the orientation of the rails on the PJ is off by 90 degrees because of that side mount. It's easy to see in a picture, but hard to explain. If you look closely at the pictures in the link in the opening post, you can see that all the cameras rotate shutter up on all the brackets except the PJ which can only rotate shutter down. How completely bizarre.

I've been messing with it but there just isn't a way to configure the thing to rotate the shutter upwards. It's designed to rotate clockwise to vertical.

I'm pretty sure this one is going back. It simply feels too strange. I'll just put up with the extra weight of the EV.

[DaveG]

Check out the Stroboframe Pro-T.

It's a flash flip, rather than a camera rotating bracket; but it's light, strong and has the shutter button up when you shoot vertically. It also can be used on a tripod.

[MediaMagic]

DaveG wrote:
Check out the Stroboframe Pro-T.

It's a flash flip, rather than a camera rotating bracket; but it's light, strong and has the shutter button up when you shoot vertically. It also can be used on a tripod.


I checked out the Stroboframe Pro-T and Press-T. Both look good. I especially like that you are holding the camera normally (left hand on lens) as opposed to holding the bracket.

I have a couple of questions for you.

I am looking at the anti-twist plates (looking at Adorama, as that's where I'll be returning the PJ). I don't see the 10D specifically listed, but I would guess that it's the same as the D-30. The one listed for the D-30 also mentions an elan model and specifically states "w/o vertical grip". Okay, I give up, what's the anti-twist plate necessary for the 10D with the BG-ED3 battery grip?

Also, do I need to buy the standard hot shoe mount? or something different for using the canon off shoe cable?

With the Custom Brackets, I had to buy a specific attachment for using the off shoe cable rather than the standard shoe mount.

Thanks,
David

[DaveG]

MediaMagic wrote:
DaveG wrote:
Check out the Stroboframe Pro-T.

It's a flash flip, rather than a camera rotating bracket; but it's light, strong and has the shutter button up when you shoot vertically. It also can be used on a tripod.


I checked out the Stroboframe Pro-T and Press-T. Both look good. I especially like that you are holding the camera normally (left hand on lens) as opposed to holding the bracket.

I have a couple of questions for you.

I am looking at the anti-twist plates (looking at Adorama, as that's where I'll be returning the PJ). I don't see the 10D specifically listed, but I would guess that it's the same as the D-30. The one listed for the D-30 also mentions an elan model and specifically states "w/o vertical grip". Okay, I give up, what's the anti-twist plate necessary for the 10D with the BG-ED3 battery grip?

Also, do I need to buy the standard hot shoe mount? or something different for using the canon off shoe cable?

With the Custom Brackets, I had to buy a specific attachment for using the off shoe cable rather than the standard shoe mount.

Thanks,
David

The anti-twist plate that I have is marker 35-R. Ask B&H (or even email Stroboframe) to see if there's a better one. Mine has a curled lip that presses up against one side of the BG-ED3 to keep it from twisting. It occurs to me that if the plate was bit bigger and had both sides curved then it would install more quickly and would be less inclined to slip, even if I get sloppy during installation..

You will need to buy the shoe mount - but there is only one as far as I know. I use it with the remote cord and the "standard" (and probably only) show works fine.

[Lord_Malone]

I thought about getting the CB qrs-35-pj myself. What turned me off was the fact that it rotates clockwise as opposed to counter-clockwise. I'd really hate to lose the ability to use the vertical shutter release, and I think having to use the normal shutter in a clockwise position within a bracket would just be too wierd. I've grown acustomed to always rotating the camera counter clockwise when shooting portrait. I don't know what those guys at CB were thinking when they designed the PJ version of their popular flash bracket to work that way.