Stoboframe Barackets..., Nope. [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

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dpanicc1

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 07:31

DaveG

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 11:03

I used a stroboframe bracket at a wedding I shot this weekend and frankly I don't think they're worth the extra effort. The results using the 550EX and a diffuser or bouncer attached to the flash unit seems to do just fine. So I guess the bracket will be collecting dust. People are either for or against brackets and I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the subject.

//dan

How do you get the flash over the lens when you shoot a vertical photo without a bracket? The side shadow that a hotshoe mounted flash throws is unacceptable in professional photography and that's why you use a bracket.

Period.

And a diffuser won't help even a little.

Cordell

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 11:32

Dan, I have to agree with you. However Dave has a point to. If you are using the flash flip kind you are absolutely right. The bracket gets in the way. If using a camera flip the bracket becomes more useful. I have the Stroboframe and find myself going back and forth during a wedding. I'm tired of that though. Gotta get my hands on a camera flip.

theoldmoose

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 12:40

I have the Stroboframe VH2000, which is a flash flip, but better -- it has an articulated flip that keeps the flash upright, so you don' have to keep changing your bounce setup, and also adjusts so that the flash stays centered over the lens in both horizontal and vertical modes, even if the body has the battery grip on it.

A lot of camera flips simply don't work correctly, if you have the grip on the body, as it shifts the camera too far to the left when in vertical mode, and there isn't either any or insufficient adjustment in the flash flip mechanism to deal properly with it.

This is something that you really need to go to a local, well-stocked store to try out. Bring *all* your gear, including tripod and quick-release mounts, etc. as well as your largest lenses. Check the whole system out, including clearance for things like using an ST-E2 on the camera, which may stick out too far and get in the way of some flip mechanisms.

Also, the VH2000 has an offset mounting plate, which could get in the way of some tripod quick-release levers. Fortunately, mine was not a problem, but depending on the tripod head design, it could be a problem area.

Test, test, test, and then only buy the system that works for you (and get it from the local store that let you take over their frame corner for an afternoon while you tinkered).

If you intend to continue to use camera-mounted flash of any kind for serious work, you really need to do this. Otherwise, go to floor floods, etc., and keep the flash off of the camera.

scottbergerphoto

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 13:39

The Stroboframe Pro-RL is a camera flip that keeps the relationship between the flash and angle of the lens constant.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=117422&is=REG
Regards,
Scott

robertwgross

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 13:43

For weddings, I shoot about 70% in vertical/portrait mode and 30% in horizontal/landscape mode. Also, probably 95% use flash. I would never dream of shooting a wedding without a flash bracket.

---Bob Gross---

rodbunn

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 13:44

I have the camera flip and have used a few but I can't find
one that will work with BOTH the Vertical Grip and the Off-
Camera-Shoe-Cord on my A2's or my 10D ???

Has anyone found a "Camera Flip" that will wotk when the
camera has the grip and the shoe-cord on it ?????? The shoe
cord hits the post (the flash bracket handle) .

I would really like to find one like that . . .

THANKS!!! Rod

scottbergerphoto

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 13:49

DaisyHead

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 13:54

I second the Stroboframe PRO-RL. It's probably Strobo's best bracket for rectangular shooters. I used it for weddings with Bronica and Mamiya 645 and now for Canon.

DaisyHead

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 13:54

I second the Stroboframe PRO-RL. It's probably Strobo's best bracket for rectangular shooters. I used it for weddings with Bronica and Mamiya 645 and now for Canon.

rodbunn

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 13:57

I can't FLIP the FLIPING camera when I have the
grip + Offcamera shoe cord both on the camera.....

The Shoe cord hits the handle of the Flash Bracket !

Thanks, Rod

HOW does the 550ex attach to the PRO-RL ? Is it a shoe or
does it screw into the bottom of the off-camera-shoe cord?
THANKS...

ps. I have the "Camera Flip" bracket at this URL:
http://www.tiffen.com/Stroboframe_ProRL_page.htm

DaisyHead

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 15:42

The flash --> off-camera shoe cord --> shoe mount on the bracket.

rodbunn

9th of August 2004 (Mon), 16:20

I've broken off two off-camera-cords in "shoe" holders. They
don't last long. Now I put my cord into a metal screw holder
that fits into the shoe holder........

Rod

theoldmoose

10th of August 2004 (Tue), 10:58

The Pro-RL may work fine for folks with square-format cameras, but I found that it definitely did *not* work for a 300D with grip (that is, to keep it centered over the lens), unless you used the guick-release flash shoe and wanted to loosen and slide it back and forth on the flash boom. You might want a QR flash option, though, if you like to grab the flash off the boom on a regular basis and hold it at various angles above the camera.

I also don't much care for the way Strobo's flash mounts grip the off-camera shoe. The whole affair looks like it puts quite a lot of stress on the off-camera shoe. That's why I prefer (unless I need direct-cable functions that the 550EX can't support as a wireless slave) to use the ST-E2 on the camera, and the 550EX 'bare' in the Strobo's flash mount. The 550EX mount looks much more sturdy than the off-camera shoe for that purpose.

This whole debate underlines my plea to go to a store that stocks the stuff you are interested in (and other brands/types you might have thought you weren't) and TRY THEM OUT, before you buy. Otherwise, you are quite likely to have a case of buyer's remorse, and a pile of metal that you really aren't happy with. Make sure it works the way you want to work, and with the equipment you want to use it with.

DaveG

10th of August 2004 (Tue), 11:35

My biggest gripe about the camera rotating brackets is the weight. They are significantly heavier than a flash flip type. For my wedding style the camera rotating bracket would be very useful especially when doing group formals. I could rotate the camera while keeping the centre of gravity directly over the centre of the tripod. I could zoom in and out and pretty much do all of the wedding formals - vertical and horizontals - without having to move the camera.

But I do other things besides weddings, and I still need a bracket for those assignments. I just can't see handholding the camera/flash/bracket for any length of time. And that's where I really need a bracket: When I'm handholding, don't want the side shadow, and could use an extra arm.

roppelt

10th of August 2004 (Tue), 16:42

I also give my vote to the pro RL I shoot engament party's for a friend wile he shoot's all the weddings :twisted: and I could not get by without it ... I don't do weedings :P.... oh yea I use a 10D with the Big ED and have no problems rotateing the camera.

unners

11th of August 2004 (Wed), 02:41

just a question about shooting vertical with a camera mounted flash:
why is it that having the flash on the side of the camera is so frowned upon when it would be a similar effect to holding the flash off-camera and to the side?
thanks for any replies
dave :)

robertwgross

11th of August 2004 (Wed), 03:43

Try it and you'll see.

If you mount the flash unit directly on the camera all in vertical mode, then the light will create shadows either going to one side or the other side. This looks pretty unnatural.

If you mount the flash unit in some fashion so that it is directly above the camera, then the only shadows will be directly below the subject, which is a little more like mid-day sun.

If you mount the flash directly at the lens, then you tend to have the red-eye problem, so it is best to keep it a few inches away from the lens.

---Bob Gross---

unners

11th of August 2004 (Wed), 06:45

thanks bob
i'm just about to order a second 550ex because i am doing some ball/formal photography and i was hoping to use the slave above and to the side as the main light with some fill from the on camera flash. only problem is i'll be shooting vertical a lot. for that kind of thing, do u think a flash bracket is needed?
thanks again
cheers
dave

dpanicc1

11th of August 2004 (Wed), 09:02

//dan[/quote]

How do you get the flash over the lens when you shoot a vertical photo without a bracket? The side shadow that a hotshoe mounted flash throws is unacceptable in professional photography and that's why you use a bracket.

Period.

And a diffuser won't help even a little.[/quote]

Yeah I know, but it sure sparked a nice thread on the subject. Thanks for everyone's comments. I could never not use a bracket.

robertwgross

11th of August 2004 (Wed), 11:25

As I get beyond "portrait distance" to my subject, like a bride and groom, I still keep my 550EX working on a flash bracket at the camera. As I get farther back with a large group, then I split it off and put one flash to the left side and one flash to the right side with a wireless master sitting on the camera. The intention is to get more uniform light across the whole width of a large group.

I don't know what subject you are after, so I can't explain.

---Bob Gross---