Need Recomendations

I have a Rebel XT with a grip, and I just bought a 430 EX flash for it. Can someone recommend a bracket for this setup for mounting the flash rather than the hot shoe, and since I am relatively new at all this flash thing, can you tell me if there is an advantage to using a bracket. Thanks.

Brackets are tough and very personal in most cases. Two types, camera flip (which I prefer and use) or flash flip. Prices can run from $75 to well over $300 depending on what you want. The addition of the grip on your camera complicates the camera flip brackets because of clearances for the camera. I use a Stroboframe camera flip but not with a grip on the camera. You can always take the grip off for flash work. It will save you some money on the bracket.

Advantages are many. The flash is always positioned over the lens and raised whether you shoot in landscape or portrait. It reduces red-eye and because of it's position will push the shadows down behind the subject.

Thank You Dave that was a very good introduction to this question I have. Is the reason for the camera flip over the flash flip primarily one of economics because of the price difference? And here comes the kicker, is a bracket someone can build oneself?

With the flash flip brackets the flash unit is moved as the camera is rotated. When you use a diffuser like a Lumiquest ProMax it just gets a bit strange moving the flash/diffuser combination. The flash head does stay positioned properly with the flash flip units whereas it stays in landscape mode with the camera flip. The flash flip units are generally a bit more common and less expensive (not by much) than the camera flip units I believe.

Make one yourself? If your handy. I have a friend who is a machinist who has volunteered to make me a dupe of the Stroboframe CameraFlip unit. I would want it modified so the grip could be added to the camera if desired. I haven't taken him up on the offer yet.

Check out the Stroboframe units at:
http://www.tiffen.com …tml?tablename=s​troboframe

And then you can check out my dream unit at Custom Brackets:

http://www.custombrack​ets.com …rodView.asp?idp​roduct=121

The Custom Brackets are outstanding but beyond my financial capabilities right now.

There are many other really top notch brackets available.

Unless you have special needs, go with the basic Stroboframe. they run about $50.00 USD. The primary advantage to mounting the flash above and off the camera is to lend a little modeling to the subject. On-camera-flash tends to flatten the picture. The off-camera flash takes the light source off-axis and makes the lighting look nore natural. It also eliminates the awful side-shadow caused by on-camers flash used on a subject too close to a wall.

And don't forget you need an Off-shoe cord 2 to connect the flash to the hot-shoe. That's about another $40 to $50.

Titus213 wrote in post #2769263
With the flash flip brackets the flash unit is moved as the camera is rotated. When you use a diffuser like a Lumiquest ProMax it just gets a bit strange moving the flash/diffuser combination. The flash head does stay positioned properly with the flash flip units whereas it stays in landscape mode with the camera flip. The flash flip units are generally a bit more common and less expensive (not by much) than the camera flip units I believe.

Make one yourself? If your handy. I have a friend who is a machinist who has volunteered to make me a dupe of the Stroboframe CameraFlip unit. I would want it modified so the grip could be added to the camera if desired. I haven't taken him up on the offer yet.

Check out the Stroboframe units at:
http://www.tiffen.com …tml?tablename=s​troboframe

And then you can check out my dream unit at Custom Brackets:

http://www.custombrack​ets.com …rodView.asp?idp​roduct=121

The Custom Brackets are outstanding but beyond my financial capabilities right now.

There are many other really top notch brackets available.

Wow, never thought there was so much information to be looked at in brackets. And I did looked at your dream bracket, after salivating all over the keyboard I said, now that is a set up but I was afraid, very afraid as to what it would cost.

Modine wrote in post #2769500
Unless you have special needs, go with the basic Stroboframe. they run about $50.00 USD. The primary advantage to mounting the flash above and off the camera is to lend a little modeling to the subject. On-camera-flash tends to flatten the picture. The off-camera flash takes the light source off-axis and makes the lighting look nore natural. It also eliminates the awful side-shadow caused by on-camers flash used on a subject too close to a wall.

Yes the standards are beginning to look beteer and better ($).

Titus213 wrote in post #2771169
And don't forget you need an Off-shoe cord 2 to connect the flash to the hot-shoe. That's about another $40 to $50.

When you are all done it is an expensive proposition, but then again what in this hobby isnt? Time to start looking at flea markets, hahahaha. Either that or as you said make friends with an enterprising machinist.

Well like always, one asks, and there is someone here to help with the right answers. I thank all of you, who with your answers started me pointed in the right direction to research this better.

After all the reading the thing that bothered me most was the fact that I have a grip that i have become extremely fond off that I do not want to remove while using a braket and that led me to this:

http://www.adorama.com​/SB300334.html

This one will hold my Rebel XT with grip in place. Thanks all of you once again, you are aces.