550EX and flash bracket (Naked Women Inside!)

[Scottes]

I've decided to bite the bullet and finally get the 550EX to replace my 420EX. At the same time I'd like to get a flash bracket, and I'm particularly looking for one that would be helpful for macro and almost-macro work. I have no interest in taking pictures of people if that matters, and I don't care very much about having the bracket turn for portrait mode.

I did a lot of butterfly shooting in the spring with my 100-400 L and an extension tube. So a flash mounted on the camera wasn't so great because the monster lens & hood blocked the flash. Getting the flash higher gets around this. But getting it closer to the front of the lens is very important for macro work, thus getting as large a light source as possible, effectively. I would think that such a close distance might be a problem for E-TTL - but I plan on using manual mode and the 550's power modes (1/64th, etc.). Will I be OK with this?

So I was looking at the Delta Flip Flash Bracket II (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=101857&is=REG ). This seems like I should have an easy time moving the flash forward to get it closer to the front of the lens. And I can compensate whether I use the 100-400 at 100 or 400, or even the shorter Sigma 105mm lens. I can also move it to one side if I want some type of directional lighting. With luck I might even be able to maneuver it to get the flash pointing down onto the subject. It just seems like this is a very versatile setup for macro and near-macro photos.


Any comments or recommendations? Am I thinking along the right lines and am I totally crazy?

[Scottes]

Quite shameless bump after 40 views with no replies. Does *anyone* have *any* comments about *any* point in this message?

Those who do respond will get the naked women. OK, OK - PICTURES of naked women.

Thanks :-)

[Ballen Photo]

OK Scottes, I'll take a stab at this. :shock:
IMHO, I would have concerns about the durability of the flash bracket you posted a link to on B&H's site. They dont go into any detail about the construction of this particular bracket, and from the looks of this "Goose Neck" looking contraption, I think there is a LOT of wear in the joints in this things future. I subscribe to the "K.I.S.S. method when it comes to brackets.
One more thing to consider, the 550EX head is capable of being turned down slightly to aid in shooting objects that are closer to the lens.
Keep in mind that this is only the opinion of a very opinionated person(Me). Good luck in your quest for your flash bracket. :D
........Bruce

[Jmurman]

Let us know what you find out, ok? I have no clue!

[timmyquest]

Quite shameless bump after 40 views with no replies. Does *anyone* have *any* comments about *any* point in this message?

Those who do respond will get the naked women. OK, OK - PICTURES of naked women.

Thanks :-)

:lol:

[Scottes]

Thanks Bruce. That does ease one concern about the proximity of the flash to the subject.

I am actually pretty familiar with the gooseneck stuff they use. It's called "Snap-Loc" along with other brand names, and often used in machine shops to direct coolant to very particular points during a machining operation. It's good stuff, and will last forever and a day. (If it's a cheap knock-off of Snap-Loc then I'll know within minutes of opening the box.)

Alas - KISS doesn't work here for me, as I want flexibility and versatility - the antithesis of KISS.


Picture of naked women are on the way...
None for Jmurman though. He was no help. :-)

[Tom W]

Can't tell you much about brackets, but this setup might be useful - the Lumaquest promax kit.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=32580&is=REG

[Scottes]

Can't tell you much about brackets, but this setup might be useful - the Lumaquest promax kit.

ROFL - I've got almost all of it - purchased one piece at a time because I didn't think it was worthwhile the first two times I bought something. :)

[RichardtheSane]

Scott... I may have a solution

The manfrotto flash bracket is quite handy for stuff like this.

I quickly stuck this arrangement together to see if it is approximatly what you were thinking. You could easily get the 550 closer or use a softbox/pocket bouncer on it there.

Sorry about the crappy image ;)

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/bracket.jpg

I can set it up properly and take a few snaps if you want :)

[Lamplight]

Richard, that may very well be one of the manliest setups I've seen without using giant primes. :lol:

[scottbergerphoto]

Scott... I may have a solution

The manfrotto flash bracket is quite handy for stuff like this.

I quickly stuck this arrangement together to see if it is approximatly what you were thinking. You could easily get the 550 closer or use a softbox/pocket bouncer on it there.

Sorry about the crappy image ;)

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/bracket.jpg

I can set it up properly and take a few snaps if you want :)

Richard,
That was my first and remains my favorite flash bracket. It folds up compactly and you can raise the flash to get depth to flash pictures. I got it at B&H about three years ago to work with my G2 and 420EX.
Regards,
Scott

[Scottes]

Richard, that may very well be one of the manliest setups I've seen without using giant primes. :lol:

Pah! He doesn't even have an extension tube on it!
:) :) :)

Richard, that does look pretty good. However it makes me lean more towards the Delta. I'd like to get it to be closer to the front of the lens and lower. With the Manfrotto it would then be pointing almost straight down, while the Delta allows me to face the flash down or forward if I want. I'm pretty sure the Delta is lighter, too.

But thanks for the photo! It does make me think that I like the Delta better.


Side Note: After putting "Naked Women" in the title the hit count shot up 210 views in the same time as it took 50 this morning. ROFL!

[RichardtheSane]

Extension Tubes... Pah! This is a manly setup... extension tubes are for taking photo's of flowers!!! :D :D

Seriously, that photo shows just one of the many positions the bracket can get the flash in... and it is a very sturdy bracket too!

Here is another one...

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/bracket2.jpg

If you can get you hands on both and compare them I would do so because the delta looks rather flimsy to me... and the 550 is not a lightweight! :)

[Scottes]

Flowers? ? ? Pah! Butterflies!

Hmmm.... I'm not sure that I'm going to win this argument...


OK, you're steering me towards the Manfrotto. But I'm still worried. Knowing the Snap-Loc I'm sure that the Delta is anything but flimsy. However I do admit that it may tilt with the weight of the 550. But the Delta is a lot faster to place than the Manfrotto, I'm sure. And chasing butterflies is handheld work so the weight of the Manfrotto (2.2lb) worries me.

Oh, decisions, decisions.

Why can't I just afford everything? Life would be easier...

[eric1]

what about using that dainty delta to hold a mirror or reflector to bounce your(diffused) light source. won't the reflector make your light source bigger, and softer? and you can put it right where you want it.

[RichardtheSane]

Flowers? ? ? Pah! Butterflies!

Hmmm.... I'm not sure that I'm going to win this argument...


OK, you're steering me towards the Manfrotto. But I'm still worried. Knowing the Snap-Loc I'm sure that the Delta is anything but flimsy. However I do admit that it may tilt with the weight of the 550. But the Delta is a lot faster to place than the Manfrotto, I'm sure. And chasing butterflies is handheld work so the weight of the Manfrotto (2.2lb) worries me.

Oh, decisions, decisions.

Why can't I just afford everything? Life would be easier...

OK mate, you said the word.... handheld....

And the manfrotto is great handheld as a normal bracket... but usability in the odd angles I have it in there while handheld would not be so good. To change the angles you have to untighten it, move then re-tighten. Not easy with 10d, 100-400 and 550ex.

If you plan on getting it set up how you like it and leaving it like that, the manfrotto would rock... but if you need to move it on the fly then I wouldn't recommend you get it.

Even though it does look more manly ;)

[elfyrulz]

:? naked women?

[Scottes]

If you plan on getting it set up how you like it and leaving it like that, the manfrotto would rock... but if you need to move it on the fly then I wouldn't recommend you get it.

Knowing me I'll be moving it on the fly.

That pretty much nails it for me.

Thanks Richard! You've been most helpful in this.

[RichardtheSane]

If you plan on getting it set up how you like it and leaving it like that, the manfrotto would rock... but if you need to move it on the fly then I wouldn't recommend you get it.

Knowing me I'll be moving it on the fly.

That pretty much nails it for me.

Thanks Richard! You've been most helpful in this.

No worries. :D

Now... you promised a naked woman and the native are getting restless... time to deliver ;)

[Scottes]

Now... you promised a naked woman and the native are getting restless... time to deliver ;)

PM sent....:twisted:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Manly?

With those tiny ballheads :oops:

[Scottes]

Manly?

With those tiny ballheads :oops:

Yeah, hey, that's right. I've got a 490RC4 on mine - we're talking about a weapons-grade ballhead - not some dainty little ball head like that one...

[RichardtheSane]

Manly?

With those tiny ballheads :oops:

Yeah, hey, that's right. I've got a 490RC4 on mine - we're talking about a weapons-grade ballhead - not some dainty little ball head like that one...

It may be small, but it's what you do with it ;)