580EX and Flash bracket question

[gh patriot]

I am going to buy my first flash, a 580 EXII very soon and need some help from you guys.

1. I shoot a gripped 40D and am purchasing a 580. I need to know what else you would reccomend purchasing. Let me explain. I want a flash bracket for starters but there are so many. Ive looked at Custom Brackets and Dotline products. I want to use the frame for night sports attached to a monopod and portrait/event photography. Id like to be able to grip the camera and not the actual frame.

2. Do I need to purchase an off shoe cord? Do some come with them? Also do I need an anti twist plate?

3. Also Id like to get a bounce diffuser, any suggestions on that would be appreciated.

I probably left out some importand questions that need to be asked so please let me know what they might be. I really want to get out of the strictly ambient world and I need your help on the correct equiptment.

Thanks,

Kevin

[gh patriot]

How about just a flash bracket recomendation for a griped 40D

[gonzogolf]

You will need an oc cord, I recommend the ones from flashzebra.com, as well built as the canon ones and cheaper. You might find a package with a cord and bracket, but those are usually the cheap stuff. As for brackets, there are two kinds to consider, without getting into name brands specifically. The first is the flash flip kind where the camera stays in position and the arm on the bracket flips to match the camera orientation. The second kind is camera flip, the camera rotates on the on the bracket while the flash stays in position above the lens. I'd recommend the camera flip style because that allows you to use a greater variety of flash modifiers. For example the lumiquest or bounce card style modifiers are great, but on a flash flip bracket they end up bouncing light sideways where they would stay upright on a camera flip style bracket. Not sure what you mean about mounting on a monopod, but thats my bracket advice.

[tgara]

I am going to buy my first flash, a 580 EXII very soon and need some help from you guys.

1. I shoot a gripped 40D and am purchasing a 580. I need to know what else you would reccomend purchasing. Let me explain. I want a flash bracket for starters but there are so many. Ive looked at Custom Brackets and Dotline products. I want to use the frame for night sports attached to a monopod and portrait/event photography. Id like to be able to grip the camera and not the actual frame.

2. Do I need to purchase an off shoe cord? Do some come with them? Also do I need an anti twist plate?

3. Also Id like to get a bounce diffuser, any suggestions on that would be appreciated.

I probably left out some importand questions that need to be asked so please let me know what they might be. I really want to get out of the strictly ambient world and I need your help on the correct equiptment.

Thanks,

Kevin

The setup I use is the Really Right Stuff "L" bracket and the Really Right Stuff Wedding Pro flash bracket. The L bracket is key because for your application it will mount the flash bracket and be able to attach to a monopod at the same time.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/Itemdesc.asp?ic=BGE2-L40&eq=&Tp=

http://reallyrightstuff.com/flash/04.html

At a minimum, you'll need a off-shoe cord with the above setup. I sometimes use the ST-E2 wireless transmitter with my 580EXII (which is very cool), but you'll also need a cold shoe adaptor as well to connect the flash to the bracket. My advice would be to keep it simple for now and just get the cord.

[mattograph]

FWIW, you seem to be on a very similar track to many folks. Including myself.

I bought the flashbracket and the bouncers. Then, the more I read, the more I realized that no one who shot work I liked used either.

Well, the bouncer does have some limited use.

I sold my flashbracket -- It barely saw any use. Get the ETTL cord and learn to shoot off-hand. You will like the results much more.

[gh patriot]

Well I know that Im ordering some pocket wizzards and a 580ex II so far. Now im wondering how useful a flash bracket will be...

[gonzogolf]

Well I know that Im ordering some pocket wizzards and a 580ex II so far. Now im wondering how useful a flash bracket will be...



What sort of work will you be doing? A flash bracket is indispensable if you do event work like weddings where you have to rely on near camera flash. I have to disagree with mattograph about handholding, it works for a few shots, but I cant imagine doing a wedding and 3 or 4 hour reception walking around holding my flash and running the camera with the other.

[mattograph]

OP didn't say anything about shooting weddings right now. Even if he did, though, it really isn't that big of deal Besides, the bracket doesn't do anything to improve the quality of the photos in my opinion, although it is useful ing getting the flash in position on the portrait side of things.

On bracket is the same as on camera. The results will reflect that.

[gonzogolf]

OP didn't say anything about shooting weddings right now. Even if he did, though, it really isn't that big of deal Besides, the bracket doesn't do anything to improve the quality of the photos in my opinion, although it is useful ing getting the flash in position on the portrait side of things.

On bracket is the same as on camera. The results will reflect that.


OP said event photography which can have the same challenges. And on bracket is not the same as on camera, you get your flash above, directing the shadows downward behind the subject. There are ways to get around this problem in some places, but sometimes you cant bounce and gotta shoot direct.

[Titus213]

One thing I saw was the mention of a monopod for night photography. I dont' think a flash rotator will work well in that environment.

[gh patriot]

I would like to use it for night football, the friday night lights if you will. Ill need to switch from portrait to landscape and still maintain the flash above the lens while attached to the monopod if possible. Also events and maybe some weddings. I would like to keep the flash centered over the lens while shooting in portrait. Im also ordering the 24x24 inch lastolite Eazybox softbox to use with the 580 EXII for portraits on location.

[sdipirro]

You might want to check out the Newton Di400CR bracket. It's the camera rotating style bracket, where the flash stays put above the camera. It can be mounted on a monopod/tripod. It works well with bounce cards and something like the Lumiquest system. You can adjust the flash height some, to give you some control over that.

You mentioned the 24"x24" Ezybox, and in case you're thinking about something that I also thought about, let me add one thing. I thought it might be cool to mount my 580EX with this Ezybox on my Newton Di400CR bracket, but it's just too big and heavy to do that on this bracket. When you plan to use the flash with the Ezybox, you want it mounted separately, on its own lightstand.

[mufutau55]

This is what I use and it's nice and get the job done. See link below:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=478297&is=REG

Mufutau

How about just a flash bracket recomendation for a griped 40D

[mattograph]

Admittedly, I am not a football shooter -- but why is the flash bracket so important?

[gh patriot]

Admittedly, I am not a football shooter -- but why is the flash bracket so important?

To keep the flash above camera lens while shooting portrait.

[gh patriot]

This is what I use and it's nice and get the job done. See link below:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=478297&is=REG

Mufutau


Thanks

[CoonCreek]

In the Sports Talk section there is a picture (somewhere?) of a POTN member who uses a monopod with the flash mounted at the bottom attached with a sync cord. This set up allows him to get the light up into the helmets to see the players faces better. I haven't tried it but would like to at some point.
Just a thought.

[Gatorboy]

In the Sports Talk section there is a picture (somewhere?) of a POTN member who uses a monopod with the flash mounted at the bottom attached with a sync cord. This set up allows him to get the light up into the helmets to see the players faces better. I haven't tried it but would like to at some point.
Just a thought.

Here is a thread I started a few years back on the subject. Midway down the first page are photos of my setup.

Night Football / Flash Below Camera (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=227467&highlight=flash+football)

[gh patriot]

Here is a thread I started a few years back on the subject. Midway down the first page are photos of my setup.

Night Football / Flash Below Camera (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=227467&highlight=flash+football)


Sweet, no bracket needed.