Flash bracket or shoot everyting horizontal?

[n1as]

Using a 40D, should I get a flash bracket so I can turn the camera vertical, or is it just fine to shoot eveything with the camera horizontal and crop the final image vertically?

I get 2592 pixels across the short dimension of the sensor. If that were scaled to a 10" print, that would still be over 250 pixels per inch. I should be able to take a horizontal photo, and crop the center to print just a vertical 8x10, right?

[SBCmetroguy]

Why not just purchase a bracket and save yourself a lot of cropping? Seriously, I never thought I would love a bracket until I got mine... been glad ever since.

[Zansho]

Get a flash bracket and save yourself tons of time editing for crop. It's also worthwhile to have if you have any long lenses, as sometimes the flashgun will catch the tip end of the lens barrel. It's also great to have for throwing shadows more "behind" the subject instead of to the side, and and help eliminate some red-eye as well.

[scot079]

Yep get a flash bracket and off shoe cord. I use a Custom Brackets Digital T (~$50) but i have a Newton flash rotator on my perpetual gear wish list.

[n1as]

DRAT Drat drat - that's NOT what I want to hear

The reason to not get a bracket is cost. I'm a believer in having the right tools for the job. If I get a bracket it will be a Newton folding flash rotating bracket and I'll be spending $200 or so on it. Plus another $70 on the TTL flash cable.

If I could just shoot horizontal (bouncing the flash, of course) then I'd save $270.

I suppose I could buy a cheaper bracket but from what I've read, most folks aren't that thrilled with the $80 units.

Well, I was planning on the Newton, I guess I'll continue to plan on it.

[chs4]

If I could just shoot horizontal (bouncing the flash, of course) then I'd save $270.

What's your time worth and how much cropping do you foresee doing? May not be such great savings in the long run.

Get the bracket...you know you want to.

[JWright]

What flash are you using? Most of the Canon flashes will swivel allowing you to bounce them off the ceiling when the camera is in portrait orientation. Even though I have a rotating flash bracket that will elevate the camera a foot above the camera, I rarely use it, choosing instead to keep the flash mounted to the camera and just bounce off the ceiling when I rotate the camera vertically.

[n1as]

Camera is a 40D, 580 EX-II flash with a Demb bounce card. Yes, I can swivel the flash to bounce of the ceiling for H or V shots ... but the problem is when I have to take non-bounced shots using just the direct flash. I plan to use the Demb card to bounce the flash but it will still be pretty harsh & direct and will cast shadows that are unflattering.

- Keith -

[asysin2leads]

I have the Stroboframe Flip Bracket. I like it, but it takes a little bit of getting used to. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...p_Bracket.html

My dad is a fabricator and he's making me a flash bracket similar to this (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/464814-REG/Custom_Brackets_CBMINIRC_CB_Mini_RC_Camera_.html
. It will be laser cut and powder coated. That way I can work with the grip on my camera.

[tonylong]

Originally Posted by n1as

Camera is a 40D, 580 EX-II flash with a Demb bounce card. Yes, I can swivel the flash to bounce of the ceiling for H or V shots ... but the problem is when I have to take non-bounced shots using just the direct flash. I plan to use the Demb card to bounce the flash but it will still be pretty harsh & direct and will cast shadows that are unflattering.

- Keith -

When you're doing direct flash, you are indeed screwed. In fact, direct flash can be pretty ugly whether in portait or landscape mode.

The trouble with brackets is when you're out of the "studio" -- on the move, in the city, grabbing shots, making do with the environment and either don't have a bracket mounted or don't have one with you -- you have the 580, which has a built-in bounce card. I'd use that together with an attached diffuser and see what you can get. Experiment with different angles and use flash compensation!

It would be nice if we could carry around reflectors and brackets everywhere we go, but not so practical. If portrait mode gets the shot, you have to twist things around as much as you can, because those flash shadows can be ugly!

[n1as]

Originally Posted by asysin2leads

I have the Stroboframe Flip Bracket. I like it, but it takes a little bit of getting used to. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...p_Bracket.html

That's the other bracket I considered. I've heard from several that it leaves something to be desired. So rather than spending $70 on something that is a bit heavy and awk to use, I'm going to spend $200 on something that really does the task.

[Time Thief]

Buy a Newton and enjoy. I love mine.

[sapearl]

Hi Keith..... ah, choices choices choices.....

I hate buying things twice. I research what works and really does the job right, and then I save up and buy it. Stroboframe makes some very adequate and economical brackets that won't break the budget and will hold up ok just so long as you don't abuse them. Better brackets like the Newtons are far more expensive, but are far lighter and perform FAR better. You can see mine here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=338933

I've had mine for about 2 years and 12,000+ pictures now and have been very pleased with its performance. My particular model does not fold perfectly flat like some, but it takes up very little space in a bag. You can easily pack soft things around it too. - Stu

Originally Posted by n1as

DRAT Drat drat - that's NOT what I want to hear

The reason to not get a bracket is cost. I'm a believer in having the right tools for the job. If I get a bracket it will be a Newton folding flash rotating bracket and I'll be spending $200 or so on it. Plus another $70 on the TTL flash cable.

......

[sapearl]

Oh - forgot to mention. Yes, sometimes I will shoot horizontal and then crop. But that's pretty rare for me.... I mean why lose all those good pixels if it can be avoided? That's why I bought the 5D in the first place .

[asysin2leads]

Originally Posted by n1as

That's the other bracket I considered. I've heard from several that it leaves something to be desired. So rather than spending $70 on something that is a bit heavy and awk to use, I'm going to spend $200 on something that really does the task.

Don't get me wrong. It's a nice bracket, but I just don't like the fact that I have to take my grip off to use it. That's my biggest complaint.