Please help me choose a flash bracket

[Sathi]

Sorry if this has been posted 100X before but I just spent a couple of hours reading the bracket threads and I still do not understand what bracket I need. I know why I need the bracket, but since I have never used one I do not know how they actually operate. From the pictures I can see that you are able to flip the camera around for vertical orientation...but what else does it do?

I just bought a canon 100mm macro and a set of kenko extension tubes and would like a flash setup to go with this. The setups in the macro forum seem to have the flash positioned right next to the front of the lens on a twistable arm type jammy. Is that a certain kind of flash bracket or something you rig? Thats another thing it is hard for me to tell what is a custom mod and what is off the shelf.

Oh...I am looking for something as cheap as possible too :)


I'll need an extension cord too right? Will this one work with my 20D and 430EX? This legit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALZO-Off-Camera-shoe-synch-cord-for-CANON-ETTL-flash-48_W0QQitemZ280115669630QQihZ018QQcategoryZ64354QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

thanks

[joshandlauri]

get a flexible flash bracket and the cord of course, this one is the one I'm getting, you can put the flash right next to what your trying to take a pic of.

http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Flip-Flash-Camera-Bracket/dp/B00009R93R/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-6138899-6556860?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1179884142&sr=8-3

[Titus213]

As a disclaimer - I don't shoot macro. But I use a bracket for flash work. I like the Stroboframe CameraFlip because it lets the camera move without disturbing the flash orientation. Typically you want a bracket that will keep the flash above, and centered over the lens. That's the normal desire. Shooting macro puts a whole other spin on things. The Stroboframe CameraFlip keeps the flash back over the camera body rather than out in front next to the lens.

I don't think I would consider the unit joshandlauri posted above for the work I do. I'm not sure it would be ideal for macro either.

[Kadath]

Another satisfied delta flip user here

[Curtis N]

I don't think there is any single bracket that works well for both general portrait/candid/party type shots and macro work. Very different needs require different gear.

The Stroboframe Cameraflip that Titus mentioned is a great bracket for the price. It ain't perfect, but the advantages of the higher priced brackets are in ease of use, not image quality.

And you need a TTL cord, but you can use the same one with different brackets.

[Sathi]

I bought the Delta Flip from the link that joshandlauri provided. I figured I couldn't go wrong for the price. Thanks!

Could someone maybe explain to me the advantages of the stroboframe style as opposed to that twistable delta flip style? From a noob point of view, the twistable arm style looks like it can be positioned in far more positions more easily, including the position the stroboframe holds the flash. What is the down side? Doeas the twistable arm style not hold the flash steady or something?

[Titus213]

Sathi,
I've not used the Delta Flip. In most flash photography I believe the idea is to keep the flash above and centered over the lens. This pushes the shadows down and behind the subject. This can generally be accomplished quickly with little fuss with a fixed position bracket that either allows the flash to flip or the camera to flip. I suspect that is not the case in macro flash work.

As Curtis mentioned, there just isn't a need in most photography to put the flash anywhere else on camera. You are looking for something that will work quite different.

I believe a macro ring flash might work well for your needs but the price is quite high. I'd be interested in hearing how you make out with the Delta Flip as it is quite a departure from the conventional bracket.

[Sathi]

Thank you for your response. I will let you know how I make out. I hope to be able to use the bracket for wedding photography as well as macro. If it cannot fulfill a dual purpose i'll just get another one for that role. For $40 I don't expect the world. I also saw some interesting mods to this bracket in a few threads that I will probably try out.

[angryhampster]

3rd proponent for the delta flip :)

You will have to put a couple of washers in the screw on the base though. For some reason, the supplied fastener is too long by a couple of millimeters. $.10 worth of washers makes it perfect.