educate me... flash brackets.

I have the stroboframe quick flip 350 and love it..the flash does not have to be repositioned when flipping from horizontal to verticle..you set it by flipping it verticle and then adjust the head until it is equally over the lens, tighten the screw and that is..never need to be adjusted again.

Make sure you can handle the extra weight of the bracket. The center of gravity is difficult to handle sometimes with the camera, flash further on top and a long lens. If you are serious about buying one, make sure you actually look at all the ones on the market. B&H & Adorama both have good specifications listed for the weight and how the bracket flips or the flash flips, etc. There are good choices out there. I tend not to use a bracket if I can avoid it, too heavy for me. But I know some pros that go with the pro body and a Quantum flash because that has to be on a bracket, but it's a lot smaller to handle.

i bounce and use a bracket.

I've been using the Really Right Stuff Wedding Pro Flash Bracket, and I really like it. A lot. It attaches to your camera's L-plate and it's stable as all get out - and it folds out to accomodate between landscape & portrait format shooting in a second.

http://reallyrightstuf​f.com …esc.asp?ic=WPF%​2D1&eq=&Tp=

What's great is it folds up into a tuckaway little nothing and fits into almost any little crevice inside your bag. It's "really right".

could i get some examples? specifically with the flash straight on?

i still cant get it past my mind that the light is still going to be as harsh as a straight on flash.

also, doesnt raising the flash increase the effective distance where you can shoot? since subjects closer wouldnt be covered completely by the flasH?

e r y k wrote in post #5076831
could i get some examples? specifically with the flash straight on?

i still cant get it past my mind that the light is still going to be as harsh as a straight on flash.

also, doesnt raising the flash increase the effective distance where you can shoot? since subjects closer wouldnt be covered completely by the flasH?

Some brackets compensate for the increased height by pointing the flash slightly downwards a few degrees. Others allow you to adjust the flash angle to suit your needs depending of the actual flash height and the subject distance.

e r y k wrote in post #5076831
could i get some examples? specifically with the flash straight on?

i still cant get it past my mind that the light is still going to be as harsh as a straight on flash.

also, doesnt raising the flash increase the effective distance where you can shoot? since subjects closer wouldnt be covered completely by the flasH?

Direct flash with a bracket isn't less harsh. It can appear that way though because of where the shadows fall.

What does a flash bracket get you? If you put your flash on the camera and use it in portrait orientation, you will get a shadow on the left side of your subject (camera right), eliminating this shadow is the primary reason for a flash bracket. By raising the flash up a little, you also decrease the chance of red-eye. The other thing a bracket gets you is ease of use. If you are bouncing the flash then you never have to change the head. If you use the flash on camera then you must change the head everytime you change orientation.

There is an argument out there as to how high to raise the flash above the camera. Some brackets jack the flash 6 or more inches above the camera, while some only go little if any above the normal height. Going higher means less of a chance of red-eye, but then you have to worry you will get shadows under the nose, chin and eye sockets.

In the pictures above, provided by CDIfoto, that is a Newton Flash Rotator bracket. He uses the philosphy of just raise the flash a little. This is also the backet I use. I love mine and wouldn't use anything else. Part of what sold me was how light and compact it is. It is one of the lightest out there. Its not the cheapest. They run about $200 but you will never have to buy another.

I don't get red-eye while using mine and all you do is flip it up and wah-lah, your good to go. I wouldn't do a wedding without one. There are lots of opinions on this matter and you will have to decide for yourself. I can only tell you my experiences. I know Mr. Newton will gladly talk to you if you have any questions about his products. He also has a camera rotator model. Which one to use? If you mainly use the camera hand held then I believe he reccommends the flash rotator and if you use a tripod alot then the camera rotator model is best for you.

One other reason I chose the flash rotator is that I use a 24-105. The zoom ring is very close to the camera body and is very narrow. The camera rotator has part of the backet going up the left side of the camera and I was worried it might get in the way a little of my lens zoom ring. This and my main use is weddings so its mostly hand held. Hope some of this helps. Mark

cdifoto wrote in post #5076898
http://i14.photobucket​.com …ear/2007-07-16-newton.jpg

Thanks, Don. That picture with the flash in transition really helped show me how the flash rotator bracket works and I can now see that that's exactly what it is, a flash rotator.

No problem Leo. One bad thing about Newton's website is his demos are pretty lacking.

I also use the the 24-105 for wedding work and have Newton's camera rotator model. As Time mentions, the zoom ring is a little on the close side but it is not a problem in actual usage. Once your fingers "find" the zoom ring it's adjustable very quickly. You can do it easily without taking your eyes away from the viewfinder.

==>

Time Thief wrote in post #5076971
...........One other reason I chose the flash rotator is that I use a 24-105. The zoom ring is very close to the camera body and is very narrow. The camera rotator has part of the backet going up the left side of the camera and I was worried it might get in the way a little of my lens zoom ring. This and my main use is weddings so its mostly hand held. Hope some of this helps. Mark

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e r y k wrote in post #5076831
could i get some examples? specifically with the flash straight on?

i still cant get it past my mind that the light is still going to be as harsh as a straight on flash.

Here's one example with a 580EX-II speedlite on a RRS WPF-1 bracket:

Interesting thread. I would love to see a before and after shot for comparison. A bracket wasn't even on my shopping list. To be honest they just looked like old fashioned gadgets. I am very quick with my flash head. I stand corrected.

^^^ So would I.

I have been interested in buying one but I would like to see with it and without it.