Flash Bracket (RRS vs Custom Bracket)

I'm looking to buy my first flash bracket. Basically I'm willing to spend the $300 or so since I know this is something I will use a lot. Deciding between the ones from Custom Backet (Digital Pro series) versus the ones from Reallyrightstuff (B87-B). My questions are:

1) Rotating camera (Custom Bracket) versus rotating flash (RRS). Any benefit 1 over another?

2) I seem to like the relative compactness of the RRS bracket versus the bulkier one from CB. Although the CB ones seems to be able to fold up while the RRS one doesn’t seem like it can. From my standpoint I’m just thinking the easier it is to fit in my camera bag the better.

3) CB’s one is 7 inches high. RSS comes in 3 sizes (4”, 5” and 7”). What size should I get?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

CB and RRS brackets are both fine....and I am sure owners of them (which I am not) can advise you.

I would suggest you add Newton Brackets http://www.newtoncamer​abrackets.com/ to your list. A search will turn up many, many posts providing insight and recommendations on them.

The RRS Wedding bracket will fold flat.
Here is the RRS page, featuring a video.

It seems like that one you don't have have much flexibility in terms of how much you want the camera or flash to rotate.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5827403
It seems like that one you don't have have much flexibility in terms of how much you want the camera or flash to rotate.

Flash bracket likes/dislikes/needs can be very personal. If that function is important, it will be trade off against others....weight, size, etc.

jrsforums wrote in post #5827716
Flash bracket likes/dislikes/needs can be very personal. If that function is important, it will be trade off against others....weight, size, etc.

I have to agree. Sort of a dumb question but once you have the bracket on do you guys usually use a neck strap? I usually like shooting with a handstrap but it looks like once I put on the bracket that will not be possible anymore...

On another note, I gather when I get my bracket I'll need to buy a sync cord so I can attach my 580EXII back to the hot shoe. What kind of wireless substitues do I have for the sync cord and do they work better/worse than just using a simple sync cord. I'm asking because I know down the road I'll want to wirelessly trigger my flashes for other uses instead of using a cord. Thanks!

The Canon wireless transmitter works, but I don't think you want that unit in your hotshoe simply to control the flash which is inches away on the flash bracket!!!

Look at the Newton...they have a version which folds flat. And the Newton is very light and compact compared to CB and RRS, and you can use a neck strap or a hand strap just fine!

Wilt wrote in post #5828333
The Canon wireless transmitter works, but I don't think you want that unit in your hotshoe simply to control the flash which is inches away on the flash bracket!!!

Look at the Newton...they have a version which folds flat. And the Newton is very light and compact compared to CB and RRS, and you can use a neck strap or a hand strap just fine!

I think weight wise the Newton is about the same as the RRS (12 ounces)/ Newton (13 ounces). It is only the Custom Bracket that is essentially double the weight at 21 ounces. Didn't realize it was double the weight. Hmm...guess it's either RRS or Newton for me.

How can you use the handstrap with the bracket attached? Doesn't most brackets screw into the bottom plate of the camera? My handstrap also screws into the bottom plate of the camera.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5828439
I think weight wise the Newton is about the same as the RRS (12 ounces)/ Newton (13 ounces). It is only the Custom Bracket that is essentially double the weight at 21 ounces. Didn't realize it was double the weight. Hmm...guess it's either RRS or Newton for me.

How can you use the handstrap with the bracket attached? Doesn't most brackets screw into the bottom plate of the camera? My handstrap also screws into the bottom plate of the camera.

And if you can live with a non-folding bracket, the Newton is a mere 8 oz.! The Newtons all have a 1/4-20 hole in the base so you can mount it to a tripod head/QR plate/handstrap

Wilt wrote in post #5829252
And if you can live with a non-folding bracket, the Newton is a mere 8 oz.! The Newtons all have a 1/4-20 hole in the base so you can mount it to a tripod head/QR plate/handstrap

Ahhhh....let me look into this.

Try

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk …3A12&_trksid=p3​286.c0.m14

I recently bought one and it is surprisingly good and well made.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5827244
I'm looking to buy my first flash bracket. Basically I'm willing to spend the $300 or so since I know this is something I will use a lot. Deciding between the ones from Custom Backet (Digital Pro series) versus the ones from Reallyrightstuff (B87-B). My questions are:

1) Rotating camera (Custom Bracket) versus rotating flash (RRS). Any benefit 1 over another?

2) I seem to like the relative compactness of the RRS bracket versus the bulkier one from CB. Although the CB ones seems to be able to fold up while the RRS one doesn’t seem like it can. From my standpoint I’m just thinking the easier it is to fit in my camera bag the better.

3) CB’s one is 7 inches high. RSS comes in 3 sizes (4”, 5” and 7”). What size should I get?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

1) I don't think either is better than the other. They both result in the flash being in the same orientation relative to the camera sensor in the portrait mode and the landscape mode.

2) The B87-B is made up of two componenents, the "ring" on which the flash is mounted and an extension plate which attaches to the camera plate or L-plate. The B87-B can be taken apart so that it can easily be stored in a camera bag.

3) The B87-B is the medium sized bracket. If you use a camera with a grip, The B87-B is the one you want. The larger one is for medium format cameras and the smaller one is better sized for cameras without a grip and no L-plate is being used.

Another suggestion to check out the Newton:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=338933

Wilt prefers the flash rotator model, I like the camera rotator model because of the square "tripod foot." But his is the lighter of the two. I've been using mine for a about two years in wedding and social event work, and it performs exactly as advertised. -Stu

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5827813
I have to agree. Sort of a dumb question but once you have the bracket on do you guys usually use a neck strap? I usually like shooting with a handstrap but it looks like once I put on the bracket that will not be possible anymore...

Are you currently using a QR system and, if so, what type? The use of the RRS brackets assumes that you have either a camera plate or L-plate that is compatible with the Arca-Swiss QR system.