What flash bracket do you use

[Tripod]

Looking to get a flash bracket to use with a EOS 1D MkII and 550EX. Anyone get a recomidation?

[IanD]

Check out the Wimberley F-1. wicked rig.

[Belmondo]

Check out the Wimberley F-1. wicked rig.

They call it F-1 because it costs about the same as a F-1 race car.

[Tom W]

usually, I use the shoe, bounce flash, and the Lumiquest 80/20 bounce thing. Its been a good combination so far. I do have a Manfrotto bracket of some sort that telescopes, angles, and other sorted things. If I can't bounce, I will use it to get the flash up higher away from the lens.

[ssim]

I recently got the Manfrotto 233B and then put a mini head ball on it. It is pretty cool.

[Tom W]

Sheldon, that's the one I have. Its very adjustable.

[mikesd]

Another Manfrotto 233b here also.

[Tom W]

Yep - there it is:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/38929902/medium.jpg

[DaveG]

Yep - there it is:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/38929902/medium.jpg

Can you get the flash over the lens - DIRECTLY over the lens - in both horizontal and vertical shooting positions?

If you can't. then that bracket is going to be useless. 99% of the reason that I use a bracket is to remove side shadow from behind the subject, and the only way that can be done is if the shadow falls behind the subject, and not to one side.

Flash side shadow is unaccepable in a professional image and I would expect to be screamed at in any newsroom in the country if I turned one in!

Perhaps that bracket does allow the flash to be positioned over the lens but I don't see that in the photograph.

[Tom W]

Yes, Dave, you can. Its easy in horizontal, but a bit more annoying in vertical since its not a swing bracket.

It pivots at the bottom of the upright shaft so that you can align it right over the lens. At the top is a small ball head so that you can level your flash.

Personally, I prefer to mount the flash on the shoe and use the lumiquest for ordinary flash people shots, if there is no ceiling bounce available. The bracket has found more use for setting up awkward lighting angles for macro-type shooting.

[IanD]

They call it F-1 because it costs about the same as a F-1 race car.
True, it is expensive, but it is very adaptable to almost any situation. Bonus is that it comes apart and stows away in a side pocket of your camera bag. I'll set it up and take a picture of it.

[Belmondo]

True, it is expensive, but it is very adaptable to almost any situation. Bonus is that it comes apart and stows away in a side pocket of your camera bag. I'll set it up and take a picture of it.

Thank you, sir. I'd like to see it.

[cactusclay]

I've heard some people complain about the stroboframe camera flip, but if the nuts are all adjusted right, it seems to do the trick for me and cost around seventy bucks. The flash is right over the lens in both positions.

[ssim]

Here is the Wimberley F-1 Tele Flash Bracket on the new tripod.
The way this bracket mounts is on the from of the lens plate. There is also and adaptor to mount the bracket on the camera body. Picture of that to follow.
http://www.pbase.com/ssim/image/39671135.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/ssim/image/39671136.jpg

[HJMinard]

I haven't used one, but these Really Right Stuff (http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/flash/index.html) brackets look nice. Does anyone have any experience with these?

[FlipsidE]

I got a ton of recommendations about the Stroboframe Pro-T back when I was looking into brackets. But, now I must say that I just do not like that thing. I would much prefer something else that could still put the flash dead center over the camera even in portrait mode.

I dunno...maybe I just dont' know how to use it correctly, but it gets in the way quite a bit.

FlipsidE

[DocFrankenstein]

I'm surprised I haven't seen the manfrotto bracket before. Seems like the right one for me, especially for the price.

[blackviolet]

i use the rotating custombracket. it's quick, it's solid, and my primary flash remains directly over the lens. if i'm shooting skateboard or blade comps, i'll use the second flash - otherwise i'll generally remove the sunpak and its bracket.

it definitely takes many events to get used to the angled handle. lens changing and camera removal are very easy. i did have to put some rubber cement on the cork plate, to prevent body-twist, but one application is still going strong :)
http://www.pbase.com/image/39704656.jpg

[Tapeman]

Custom Brackets CB Junior.

About a hundred bucks.

[LouDawg]

I have the Stroboframe Pro-T. Very satisfied.

[FlipsidE]

I have the Stroboframe Pro-T. Very satisfied.

- Maybe you can help me out with how it's supposed to work then. I just don't get it. I have the Pro-T, and I find that the bar on the right gets in the way more than it helps. Makes it MUCH harder for me to use. Am I doing something incorrectly?

FlipsidE

[Tom W]

Yes, Dave, you can. Its easy in horizontal, but a bit more annoying in vertical since its not a swing bracket.

It pivots at the bottom of the upright shaft so that you can align it right over the lens. At the top is a small ball head so that you can level your flash.


Dave, I have to correct myself - you can center the flash over the lens, but it will not be straight, unless you put a ballhead on the top of the bracket. I have a couple of small ones that will fit, but a ballhead doesn't come with the Manfrotto bracket. Plus, if you use it, the upright shaft will be angled, making the handle less useful.

[danphoto1]

I have a 1 d and use the Strobeoframe Pro T and the Quick flip 350 you have to take the top peice out and thred the screw int the bottom of the flash. both work very well if you use the pro t you need to get non slip plate to steady the bracket .

[darkdrakon]

I personaly use a Stroboframe pro\RL I never tried it with the markII but it works great with my 10D. as the plate where the camera sits is adjustable I dont think it would be a poblem to set up.

[Tripod]

Thanks for the input every one. This deffently gives me a good place to start.

[markubig]

I got a ton of recommendations about the Stroboframe Pro-T back when I was looking into brackets. But, now I must say that I just do not like that thing. I would much prefer something else that could still put the flash dead center over the camera even in portrait mode.

I dunno...maybe I just dont' know how to use it correctly, but it gets in the way quite a bit.

FlipsidE

I just got the StroboFlip VH2000. It's compact, affordable (~$70), and keeps the flash above the center of the lens in horizontal and vertical positions. It'll keep it over the lens in between also.

This is great for me because I wanted the ability to keep the flash above the center of the lens in both position, but didn't want a monstrous camera system. I also didn't want to sell a kidney for thiis flash bracket.

Here are pictures with my Drebel and battery grip