flash bracket

[bigadg]

are flash brackets worth the money
do they make much difference, and are the available in the uk
stu

[robertwgross]

If you are shooting lots of flash photos, like groups of people at a wedding, then I think a flash bracket is a very good thing.

Note that for all EOS cameras and Speedlite flashes, you are probably going to have to have the off camera shoe cable to connect those two for one foot or so. There are other more complex alternatives, like using the STE2 and all that.

---Bob Gross---

[DaveG]

are flash brackets worth the money
do they make much difference, and are the available in the uk
stu

Flash brackets are critical if you want to avoid flash "side shadow". For example when your flash is in the camera's hotshoe and you are shooting horizontally, the flash is directly above the lens. The flash throws a shadow but the lens can't "see" it because it falls directly behind the subject's head. As soon as you turn the camera to shoot a vertical composition the flash is on the left side (almost always) and it will throw a shadow all along the right side of the subject.

With a flash bracket you would pivot the flash so it stays directly above the lens and you have no side shadow even with a vertical composition.

When I do a wedding presentation I go out of my way to point out that my (direct flash) photographs have no side shadow, and explain why. Now any "pro" who has side shadows in their portfolio has some explaining to do. Side shadow is a sign of an amateur, or a pro that doesn't care; and a fair comment I think.

I use the Stroboframe Pro-T bracket, and I assume that Stroboframe is sold in the UK. If you get one you'll need the accessory shoe and the BE1 anti-twist plate; assuming you have a 10D or a 20D and a vertical grip. I think that the BE1 will work on those cameras without the grip but I'm not sure.

[scottbergerphoto]

In addition to what Dave stated, a flash bracket eliminates Red Eye by increasing the angel between the flash and the lens-subject axis.
Scott

[robertwgross]

I'll add that it is absolutely important to have a flash bracket that has "flip over" capability.

In the old days, the super cheap brackets simply held the camera and the flash firm, and that was it. Well, that doesn't really solve the shadow problem if you shoot with the camera vertically.

I believe that nearly all decent flash brackets have a "flip over" feature. On some models, the flash is so loose that you can give a fast fling of your left arm and the flash will flip over. On other models, you have to move it over using your right hand. Whether you need it fast or slow kind of depends on how fast you have to switch from shooting horizontally to vertically. That is probably an individual preference.

By the way, the off-camera shoe cord that connects the camera to the flash is important. Instead of having it flapping around, I loosely fix it to the bracket using a simple rubber band. The cord won't be flapping around so much, which will probably help it last longer. However, I can get it loose quickly if I had to.

---Bob Gross---

[Marshall]

are flash brackets worth the money
do they make much difference, and are the available in the uk
stu
Think you have been down this road before,was the E-bay link I recommended no good ? Try Warehouse express.com or check out their multi-page ad. in Amateur Photographer.

[Tshoe]

I just wanted to add, be sure you get the Canon cord and not some off brand. I think it's the "Off camera cord 2"

Terry

[bigadg]

Think you have been down this road before,was the E-bay link I recommended no good ? Try Warehouse express.com or check out their multi-page ad. in Amateur Photographer.
yes your link was ok thanks
just wanted to see what other people thought about flash brackets
ordered one off ebay last night
thanks for all the replys
stu

[Mills]

Which bracket do you guys recommend for a 1D MK II?

[roman_t]

hello
i'm thinking of attaching two flashes to my 10d. one is sigma500 at hotshoe and another on grip/bracket via cord. where can i read about the shooting with combo like that?
thanks

[blackviolet]

mills and roman_t - i like the custom bracket (http://www.custombrackets.com/Scripts/default.asp) QRS-35-ev for my 1dmk2. the camera body rotates directly under the flash. additionally, i have mine configured for 2 flashes (not using the hotshoe, though... - why would you want to?)
you can get plates for both cameras.

http://www.pbase.com/image/39704656.jpg

[tim]

That thing looks like you should strap it to your body like steadycam thing video camera operators wear! :)

[sp00g3]

I love my stroboframe RL!!

[OceanRider]

a couple of questions. 1) can I use my battery grip with my 20D and a flash bracket

2) A friend at work has a 10D and the bracket but its mounted in such a way that it on the worng side for me can they mounted either or (left or right)
Joel

[DaveG]

a couple of questions. 1) can I use my battery grip with my 20D and a flash bracket

2) A friend at work has a 10D and the bracket but its mounted in such a way that it on the worng side for me can they mounted either or (left or right)
Joel

I use the 20D and the vertical grip with the Stroboframe Pro-T bracket. You'll need the BE1 antitiwist bracket as well. If you use this bracket without the vertical grip you'll need the 35H antitwist plate.

The riser part of the Stroboframe's bracket will be in front of your right hand, and it's quite a bit forward of the camera body. When I first saw this layout I thought that with the right (or wrong) wide angle lens the bracket itself could be in the frame. But Canon's wide angle zooms are so honking big and the front element so far forward, that this hasn't been a problem even with the 10-22.

The bracket can only be used this way. Otherwise your vertical release buton would be on the bottom left instead of top right, assuming that you could even get it to do this!

[Todd Jacobsen]

I use the 20D and the vertical grip with the Stroboframe Pro-T bracket. You'll need the BE1 antitiwist bracket as well. If you use this bracket without the vertical grip you'll need the 35H antitwist plate.

Although the Strobo Pro-RL does not have a vertical grip, it comes with a cork mount alleviating the need for the anti-twist plate. I have this bracket and it allows for on/off body flash as well as a "quick flip" capability for vertical shots. The Pro-RL comes with a grip underneath the lens (connected to the body mount) which allows one to keep the right hand free for shutter release/flash angle placement as well as keep wrist torque to a minimum (unlike the Custom bracket above).

The bracket itself is Stroboframe QR ready but I'm a Velbon QR guy.

[robertwgross]

It's a good idea to tighten the bracket every six months or so to keep it from becoming floppy.

Some models might have a problem with floppiness, but mine does not. Besides, some shooters like it really floppy. They want to just flip their wrist a certain way and have the whole works flop over. I guess if you have to rapidly switch from portrait to landscape, then the faster the better. Mine will not flip quite that easy, and I like to keep it that way.

---Bob Gross---

[poke]

If possible... can you guys post a link to the bracket you use. Saves having to google it and wade though all the crap.

Thanks

[mbze430]

I used to use a flashbracket when I was shooting film back in the days. But after getting the LGII, I find it UNNECESSARY to even use one. And much more portable than a small softbox.

[DaveG]

Although the Strobo Pro-RL does not have a vertical grip, it comes with a cork mount alleviating the need for the anti-twist plate. I have this bracket and it allows for on/off body flash as well as a "quick flip" capability for vertical shots. The Pro-RL comes with a grip underneath the lens (connected to the body mount) which allows one to keep the right hand free for shutter release/flash angle placement as well as keep wrist torque to a minimum (unlike the Custom bracket above).

The bracket itself is Stroboframe QR ready but I'm a Velbon QR guy.

The cork might be OK for the camera rotating brackets, I don't know. But it's completely useless for the flash flip style. I know that 'cause I tried it and all it did was to leave me with an adhesive residue to clean off.

[DaveG]

One thing to consider before rushing out to buy a bracket: will the AF assist light on your flash be useful when the flash is on the bracket?

I could never use my Sunpak PZ4000 with a bracket because the AF assist light on the flash did not project a beam wide enough for the lens to see it. (This may no longer be an issue for the current generation of flashes, but it was a few years back).

The Sigma 500 DG ST will work on a bracket, even at close distances.

I agree with Bob about keeping the off-camera cord out of the way. I'd either tape it to the handle or use a cable tie to keep it out of the way of the lens and out of the way of my hand. It's a good idea to tighten the bracket every six months or so to keep it from becoming floppy.

romant: why would you want to use two flashes--- and in THAT arrangement?

blackviolet, the CB Junior looks like a winner as long as it lets you trip the shutter with your right index finger. Have you used this flash bracket?


I've never had a problem with the focus assist on my 550EX and the Pro-T bracket. It's always worked.

[DaveG]

I used to use a flashbracket when I was shooting film back in the days. But after getting the LGII, I find it UNNECESSARY to even use one. And much more portable than a small softbox.

What's an LGII?

[mbze430]

Lightsphere II by Gary Fong. Check in this forum about "The Gary Fong", and the Lightsphere II. There are some pictures posted in there to give good examples of what it can achieve.

[blackviolet]

bloo dog - mate i haven't had a chance to even see it as we don't have CB here in oz. i do know i've looked at other 'right hand' brackets and found them a bit clumsy (as in conscious effort required to fire the shutter). i am also not a big fan of the pivoting-arm brackets. horses for courses, i guess...


fwiw, the af-assist lamp definitely works well on my bracket.

[Todd Jacobsen]

If possible... can you guys post a link to the bracket you use. Saves having to google it and wade though all the crap.

Thanks


Go to B&H Video, search for camera bracket, select Stroboframe models.

[MediaMagic]

Here's a link to my brackets, parts, etc. There's also some good discussion in this other thread as well.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=28081&p=170490

One bracket to avoid is the CustomBrackets PJ. The PJ, unless they've redesigned it, rotates shutter *down* for vertical. Totally bizarre and unnatural and cannot be reconfigured to rotate shutter up.

[blackviolet]

how is the pj different? it looks like it's the same rotating piece as in every other custombracket...

[MediaMagic]

how is the pj different? it looks like it's the same rotating piece as in every other custombracket...

Notice on the EV, the "rail" is mounted to the base of the L, giving a rotation of shutter up (counter clockwise to the photographer, clockwise to the viewer), but on the PJ, the rails are mounted on the side, allowing *only* a shutter down rotation (clockwise to the photographer, counter clockwise to the viewer).

I don't quite get the logic here. If you go vertical, your right hand is under tha camera, and the vert shutter is around on the left and completely unusable (unless you use your little finger/pinky). I'm sure they had their reasons for this design, but it certainly doesn't fit my needs. I sent it back after about 2 hours.

[blackviolet]

ah yeah, i getcha - wtf?!? how st00pid is that?!

[CyberDyneSystems]

I don't think I'll pull the trigger anytime soon,. but I have become deeply anamored to the RRS unit...




....which I was going to link to here,. but as often as not RRS' site is down....

They really need to work on this,. I swear there site is down 50% of the time I try to go there... I can't imagine how many sales they've lost due to this.

[poke]

Go to B&H Video, search for camera bracket, select Stroboframe models.


Thanks Todd