Flash Bracket, which one?

I possibly looking to get a couple flash brackets for some wedding photography that I have coming up. I have never used them before and I understand their importance. I was wondering if anyone can recommend me one with a link. Are there any that do more than others? Also what accessories do I need to connect everything up?

Hope I'm not too noobish on this lol.

A well designed bracket raises a flash farther from the lens, so that there is less chance of redeye.
A well designed bracket keeps a flash over the lens axis so that there is no visible and distracting side shadow.
A well designed bracket keeps a flash over the lens axis regardless of Portrait or Landscape orientation.
A well designed bracket allows the flash to remain oriented up to the ceiling for bounce, without the photographer having to adjust the flash head when moving between Landscape and Portriat orientation.
A well designed bracket permits the camera to rotate CCW into Portrait orientation, so that the supplmental control buttons of the battery grip remain usable.

A well designed bracket does all of the above without adding excessive weight, without being too bulky, and without costing a fortune.

I do not know where 'expensive' is for you. For a working pro, I recommend very highly the Newton Camera Bracket as one product which meets all of the criteria listed. RRS costs a fortune. Custom Brackets weigh up to one pound more than a Newton. RRS and Custom Brackets are pro grade products which meet all of the criteria, too, but are either much more expensive, or heavier and more expensive.
But it is >$200 for any pro grade product (Newton, RRS, Custom), which might well be out of your budget.

This thread

And this one

And this one

Add in the Off-shoe cord or a wireless ETTL compatible flash trigger transmitter and receiver.

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com …F8&qid=13073279​61&sr=8-16

And you need this:

http://www.amazon.com …TF8&qid=1307328​202&sr=8-6

I think. I have the older model.

Personally, after owning several and playing with/researching many more I came to the conclusion a few years ago that the Really Right Stuff solution was the best out there for my needs.

Here is my review on it: LINK

I use the RRS Wedding Pro Flash Bracket

I use a Stroboframe Off-Camera Bracket

Simple is better... The Stroboframe Camera-Flip Bracket ( http://www.tiffen.com …roboframe&itemn​um=310-900 ) is well built and fairly simple in concept. I always bounce my flash and use a Joe Demb Flash Diffuser Pro ( www.dembflashproducts.​com ) to modify the light. BTW: I got my Stroboframe Bracket on ebay for les than twenty bucks including shipping...

I use a Canon Off-Camera Sync Cord to fire the flash. I could use the wireless sync capability of my 7D when using a bracket and shooting indoors but, outdoors this is a bit chancy and depends on the angle of the sun and the distance between camera and subject. So I stick with an off-camera cord.

I like the camera flip model because if you are using a flash-flip model and bouncing your flash, you need to reorient your flash every time you move from landscape to portrait position or back to landscape because the flash will be pointed in the wrong direction...

I have used a Chinese knock off of the Stroboframe Bracket and found that the camera flip did not work as smoothly as the OEM Stroboframe model.

I also like my Stroboframe Bracket because the bar on which the flash is mounted is solid and doesn't rotate. I use the flash bar as a handle to carry the rig around.

I have not yet experimented with using the 7D built-in flash as the tirgger and also to provide a bit of fill. However, I will do this at my next model shoot.

My stroboframe bracket has a 1/4 x 20 hole in the handle right above the foam grip. I have a cold shoe mounted there which could, if I desire, mount a slave flash. I have a 420EX which I will try with a mini-soft-box to provide a bit of fill when I am shooting with the off-camera cord.

However, even without additional fill, I think that my 550EX flash on the Stroboframe Bracket modified with the Demb Flash Diffuser Pro provides some very nice lighting. Here are some examples...

1.

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com …LJM#1244320241_​7kTXJ-A-LB

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com …LJM#1244551055_​ox8GE-A-LB

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com …LJM#1245211231_​aEf5x-A-LB

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com …LJM#1245211358_​fmSU4-A-LB

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com …M#1281579394_Jr​kG2Ch-A-LB

IMAGE LINK: http://rpcrowe.smugmug​.com …M#1292763344_kq​WMBgd-A-LB

I've tried a number of different brackets. Demp makes a nice one that is intended to supplement his bounce cards. I currently have a Newton in my flash case, but it rarely sees light. I have found that the flash mounted in the hot shoe, with a bounce card and bounced works well.

I shoot with a 5DMII and rely on its high ISO performance to make sure that the flash is working with the ambient light rather than as a single light source. In darker situations, i.e. receptions, I use a second flash on a stand, usually manual and rarely over 1/16th power.

I guess you could say I'm an enhanced available light photographer when it comes to weddings, events and other situations where I can not completely control the environment.

Custom Brackets Gidital Pro-M. I tried many other lighter and more compact brackets and they all worked. They did not work as well as this one though. The Pro-M is very well built and designed. Its bigger than others and a bit heavy, but its quality and ease of use show themselves very well.

I forgot to include why I chose my Custom Bracket, I like that you flip the camera easily so you can get the flash in the right place every time.

Very true Suzy. I prefer the models that flip the camera and the Pro-M has a very good and sturdy way of going that. Its very fluid and quick to change orientation so you can get the shots you want in the way you want them. Flash glip brackets do a good job also, but I find them more of a bother to me as they require more time and work to flip. If you commit to an orientation for a series of shots, they are great. However, I like being in more of a position to quickly change orientation, based on what I am seeing and the Pro-M is excellent there.

Wedding coverage photographers greatly prize not having to carry one extra pound of weight in your hands for 10 hour days! especially the forearms...bad enough having to deal with the weight of a 1Ds body and the Canon 24-70mm, without an extra pound of flash bracket!

If you used the flash, you would not need the 24-70 F2.8 so much.

For the record, I am just kidding around to have some fun. I know everyone has their own setup and way of doing this. Just providing the way I go about it. I know its a heavy bracket and I tried other solutions. This one, for me, just seems to work well.

Pricing a flash bracket by the ounce, the Custom bracket is a bargain compared to the lighter weight Newton and RRS brackets, especially the RRS...that is worse than paying for Porterhouse steak!

Wilt wrote in post #12557680
Pricing a flash bracket by the ounce, the Custom bracket is a bargain compared to the lighter weight Newton and RRS brackets, especially the RRS...that is worse than paying for Porterhouse steak!

Yes. RRS does not give them away that is for sure.

I'm not a pro by any stretch but I have used at lease two different brackets. First I started using a Stroboframe. Cheap and it works. It's small and light weight. However the issue I had with it is the rotation. When you flip it to vertical, the battery grip button is on the bottom. First it's un-natural and second, when shooting with a second body without a bracket you would tend to go vertical in the natural way. So when the images come into lightroom, some are one way and some are another. I have since switched to a Custom Bracket QRS-H2. It's solid. It is a little bulky and a tad on the heavy side but it's built strong and rotation is rock solid. There is a different plate for cameras with and without battery grips. Pricey but IMHO well worth the money.