bracket for 40D and 580EX II

[Sibil]

What are the factors I should consider in choosing a bracket for my 40D and 580EX II flash?

The more I search and read, the more things get confusing.

From what I have read so far:

1. Price vs quality (obvious)
2. Camera model (obvious)
3. Portability/foldability (obvious)
4. Tripod mounting feature (obvious)
5. Diffuser on the flash (is this a factor?)
6. Flash rotation features (I assume this is for wall bouncing, correct?)
7. Camera rotation feature (portrait vs landscape, I assume this is for ergonomics, correct?)

I am not too clear on the last three. Is there anything else I should consider?

Also, what kind of cable do I need to trigger the 580EX II on the bracket and maintain its ETTL functionality?

What if I wanted one flash in the hot shoe and one flash on the bracket. How would I trigger both?

Links would be great. Many thanks for any help.

[jeromego]

What are the factors I should consider in choosing a bracket for my 40D and 580EX II flash?

The more I search and read, the more things get confusing.

From what I have read so far:

1. Price vs quality (obvious)
2. Camera model (obvious)
3. Portability/foldability (obvious)
4. Tripod mounting feature (obvious)
5. Diffuser on the flash (is this a factor?)
6. Flash rotation features (I assume this is for wall bouncing, correct?)
7. Camera rotation feature (portrait vs landscape, I assume this is for ergonomics, correct?)

I am not too clear on the last three. Is there anything else I should consider?

Also, what kind of cable do I need to trigger the 580EX II on the bracket and maintain its ETTL functionality?

What if I wanted one flash in the hot shoe and one flash on the bracket. How would I trigger both?

Links would be great. Many thanks for any help.

check out www.custombrackets.com you can customize your bracket there. thats where i got mine and its perfect. as for the cord, you can get the canon OC3 ETTL cord to retain ETTL function. if dont want the original canon cord you can check out www.flashzebra.com they have one.

[Sibil]

check out www.custombrackets.com (http://www.custombrackets.com) you can customize your bracket there. thats where i got mine and its perfect. as for the cord, you can get the canon OC3 ETTL cord to retain ETTL function. if dont want the original canon cord you can check out www.flashzebra.com (http://www.flashzebra.com) they have one.

Thanks for the reply and the links. I appreciate it. What kind of cord would I need to trigger two flashes. one on the hot shoe and one on the bracket?

[funhouse69]

This is very subjective so a lot of people will have their own opinion as to what is right / good for them. I ventured down this road recently.

After a lot of research on this site as well as others - I went with the Really Right Stuff WPF-1 (Wedding Pro Flash Bracket) found here http://reallyrightstuff.com/flash/04.html because I already had an "L" Bracket for my camera. Originally this seemed ideal for me. It is extremely light weight, well made and folds flat and relatively cheap. The only issue I had was the orientation of the flash head when in portrait mode. This might not be an issue if you aren't using some kind of light modifier like I wanted. You can use things like Stofen but you can't use something like a Lumiquest.

Based on this I returned the WPF-1 and went with the RRS B87-B Flash bracket. This is a much better solution for me as it still has all of the qualities that I wanted. It is light weight, very well made and is easy to store (as it is in two pieces that can lay down flat.). This also gives the proper flash head orientation when in both portrait and landscape more. The only downside was cost of this solution but ends up being comparable to other well known ones. You can find this one here...
http://reallyrightstuff.com/flash/03.html

[funhouse69]

Oh and by the way I have the 40D and 580EX II

[Sibil]

funhouse69 and jeromego;
Both reallyrightstuff and custombrackets seem to have high quality and flexible brackets which are meant for pros and way out of my budget ($50) range. Thanks for the recommendations.

I was looking for something basic and far less expensive which would allow me to have two flashes on the hot shoe and the bracket without interfering with one another.

As far as flash connection is concerned, I think I may have found the answer. According to page 106 of 40D's manual, 'A flash unit attached to the camera’s hot shoe and a flash unit connected to the PC terminal can both be used at the same time.'

This will allow me to put a manual bounce flash on the bracket, connected to the side PC terminal, and use the 580EX II in the hot shoe, in ETTL mode; although, I was looking for the reverse configuration.

[Titus213]

Thanks for the reply and the links. I appreciate it. What kind of cord would I need to trigger two flashes. one on the hot shoe and one on the bracket?

What are you shooting that you want two flash units basically on the camera?

Most typical brackets are not designed to allow two flash units to be used this way. At least the brackets I've seen aren't.

[Sibil]

What are you shooting that you want two flash units basically on the camera?

Most typical brackets are not designed to allow two flash units to be used this way. At least the brackets I've seen aren't.

I want to experiment with this setup shooting basketball since I have some old gear sitting around. See my post here.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=646645
One manual flash to bounce off ceiling or walls and the other in ETTL mode to control exposure. Granted, I haven't read anything as far as people in indoor sports try this setup, but why not.

I know I can setup a tripod or something for the second or a third manual flash and trigger those via wireless triggers, but, the gyms my kids play in are community centers where there are no rails or bleechers, and where kids run all over the place, and an unattended tripod won't be safe.

[bobbyz]

Bogen has a flash bracket which I think is reasoanle in price. But you need to check flash on monopod threads in the sports section. It will only allow 1 flash though. But youc an use a boegn flex arm with clamp to put another flash. Personally I wouldn't shoot indoor sports with multiple flashes on camera. Better to go off camera flash. You can use superclamp to install flash at lot of places.

[Titus213]

I want to experiment with this setup shooting basketball since I have some old gear sitting around. See my post here.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=646645
One manual flash to bounce off ceiling or walls and the other in ETTL mode to control exposure. Granted, I haven't read anything as far as people in indoor sports try this setup, but why not.

I know I can setup a tripod or something for the second or a third manual flash and trigger those via wireless triggers, but, the gyms my kids play in are community centers where there are no rails or bleechers, and where kids run all over the place, and an unattended tripod won't be safe.

Not sure how mixing ETTL and manual will work but here's an idea from another forum member: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=585916

I figure a two head configuration, one pointing up the other straight ahead?

Now to figure out how to mount it all on a bracket - I assume for landscape/portrait orientation?

[apersson850]

Seems like you are looking for something like this?

I've used it to get a lot of illumination when shooting outdoors at night.

The flashes are a Metz 45 CT-1 and a 580 EX II. I let the Metz provide the overall illumination and zoom the 580 EX II to 105 mm focal length, regardless of what I actually use on the lens. Thus the 580 provide illumination for the main subject (assuming it's reasonably centered) and the other one some light around the main subject.

Mixing non-TTL (thyristor with own sensor) and E-TTL II works unexpectedly well. By setting a working aperture on the 45 CT-1, I can adjust exposure from that flash by changing the aperture. As there is no communication with the flash, it will not know, but still try to expose as set on the flash itself.
Then I can adjust exposure from the 580 EX II by using the normal FEC. The E-TTL II will measure the 580 EX II alone (pre-flash), and thus expose for the main subject on its own. Since the other flash will add on light, I can set FEC a bit negative.
Then the Metz fires when taking the image only, and then measures the actual illumination from both flashes, and turn off itself when it thinks it's OK.

It takes a few test flashes to find the correct aperture "fooling" of the Metz and the FEC for the 580 EX II, since it depends upon the environment (dark trees, rain, yellow house walls, snow) how much you get back from the surfaces. It's a bit like shooting in M mode. Once you get it right, you can just fire away.

[Sibil]

Seems like you are looking for something like this?

Yes, that's the kind of configuration I am looking for.

Thanks a bunch for sharing how you setup the camera and flashes. That'll be very useful when I get there.

[Sibil]

Not sure how mixing ETTL and manual will work but here's an idea from another forum member: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=585916

I figure a two head configuration, one pointing up the other straight ahead?

Now to figure out how to mount it all on a bracket - I assume for landscape/portrait orientation?

Thanks for the link to that thread. It does give me ideas on how to mount the configuration on a bracket.

Yes, two head configuration, one pointing up or to the walls, and the other pointing straight.

Not sure how mixing ETTL and manual will work

Until yesterday, I thought one flash in manual and the other in ETTL would be a simple setup; that is, until I started reading dozens of threads, stickies, and other reference tutorials on the 580EX II and how ETTL works. My eyes were red and my head was dizzy. I am now realizing that ETTL is not that simple and is almost like a black magic, especially in multi-flash setup. That, and some references to how inferior the design of the 580EX II is, has given me buyers remorse and I haven't even received my 580 yet. :(

[Titus213]

ETTL certainly has its detractors but not to be discouraged - it does work. As with most automation tools it just works better when you understand what it's trying to do.

The 580EX II is an excellent flash with a wide range of options and capabilities available. I can't imagine you've made a mistake with it.

[Sibil]

ETTL certainly has its detractors but not to be discouraged - it does work. As with most automation tools it just works better when you understand what it's trying to do.

The 580EX II is an excellent flash with a wide range of options and capabilities available. I can't imagine you've made a mistake with it.

Thanks for the reassurance. I look at it as a learning challenge and what makes photography a fun hobby, albit frustrating at times, now that I have had a good night of sleep.:D