Buying into the RRS system?

Buying into the Canon system allows me to have a lineup of lenses, bodies and flashes. Buying into the Lowepro system allows me to use their sliplock system and make my bags very modular. So, what about RRS?

While Lowepro has their sliplock system, RRS uses their L plate for pretty much everything that has to do with mounting onto the camera, or mounting the camera to the tripod.

So now I'm thinking about buying into the RRS system-- L plate, BH-40 ballhead (atop a cheap yongnuo tripod, heh, no money for good ones yet) and the Wedding Pro-Flash bracket. Need some comments from any users, past and present, about the system.

Lets talk about the L bracket first. From what I've seen online, it surely looks well made. My problem with using the manfrotto RC2 system (friend's one) was when I needed the camera unmounted and shot in vertical position with the grip. The edges of the rectangle were damn sharp and it really was uncomfortable shooting. Looks like RRS really has got it right and all the edges seem to be curved properly. I know-- I'm stupid if I buy into the system just because of this comfort, but lets get to the other point.

Mounting the camera onto the tripod in vertical orientation seems to be a totally smart idea for me- I shoot in vertical orientation a lot and every time I mount my camera to the ballhead and shoot vertical, my hand is positioned very awkwardly over / around the ballhead trying to depress the grip shutter. With the ballhead at that angle (90degrees to the left), the axis of movement is now to the right of my camera, so it gets really frustrating when tracking.

Oh, does the L plate for 400D with grip allow me to access the battery compartment?

So now my problem is that if I purchase the L plate, I'd have to go with arca swiss compatible ballheads. The BH-40 seems like a good design that isn't very expensive. Any comments on this one?

So now we come to flash brackets. Like I said, I shoot in vertical orientation a lot, and with my hotshoe mounted flash, I get side shadows a lot because I shoot indoors. I absolutely hate that. Before knowing about RRS, I initially looked at stroboframe, wimberley and Demb (flip it guy) brackets. The stroboframe looked okay, but it didn't allow my left hand to grasp the lens (for zooming or focusing). Wimberley didn't free my left hand too, and was even more expensive. Now demb is the interesting one- he totally goes against the rules of having the flash above the lens in horizontal or vertical orientation and goes for 'directional' lighting, something that probably would give side shadows. Doesn't matter though, reviews state that the bracket is mounted to the right and interferes with shooting with the battery grip.

How does the wedding bracket from RRS perform? I need my left hand free, and the bracket needs to be light, collapsible, study, and not break (china stuff, hehh). I've seen the portrait pro review here on POTN, but my pockets aren't that huge for me to afford it. Besides, the way it's mounted makes zooming kind of a problem for how I handle the camera.

Cheers,
Zexun

It's not really the RRS system you'd be buying into - it's the arca-swiss style system, for which there are plenty of equipment manufacturers, the most popular of which are Wimberley, Kirk, Markins, and of course RRS amongst others.

To my mind, the alternative is much worse. Being stuck with quick-release plates and accessories from your tripod maker, then having to replace them all when you change your brand of legs just seems wrong.

Plus, there's really nothing which provides more rigid contact than the arca-swiss mounts.

I don't see it as a philosophical choice -- just a really practical (yet expensive) one.

btw, don't worry about functionality or breakage with RRS stuff... just don't even give it a thought. Their stuff is really excellent, hence the price tag.

milorad wrote in post #6476073
hence the price tag.

Indeed-- the pricing is what's holding me back, fearful of committing wrongly.

What I meant about the rrs 'system' is that everything is RRS and starts from the L plate. I know kirk does L plates too, but not with flash brackets (or am I wrong?)

I wouldn't say that everything is about the L-bracket with RRS, but certainly, it does make sense to use their L-bracket as the vertical plane, when you need a vertical plane.

Given they've designed an L bracket for each camera, it makes more sense to use it than to have some generic poor-fitting L-shaped component already on their flash bracket, like everyone else does.

After your first purchase, RRS will be a fear-free situation for you. Think of it as paying to be sure, rather than risking your money. Can you tell I really like their gear?

RRS and Kirk Industries both are quality companies that make top-notch products...you won't go wrong with either one. I use L-brackets from each, and once you start using one, you'll wonder why you didn't start using one much sooner.

I have L-brackets on all three bodies (10D, 30D, 5D) and have access to all necessary ports (CF card, battery, remote connection)...I suspect that you'd be just fine with the 40D. As I said, each company makes great gear, and their prices are about the same. However, if you want to use a lever clamp on top of your ballhead, then RRS is the way to go since Kirk only makes screw clamps. I should add that my Kirk L-brackets are fully compatible with my RRS lever clamps...never had any issues with looseness or slop.

As far as a ballheads go, you may also wish to consider the Markins M10 (same class as the BH-40). The BH-40 has been reported by some users to have a little "droop"...something to consider if you going to have a weeding bracket, etc. attached to your gear.

argyle wrote in post #6476362
As far as a ballheads go, you may also wish to consider the Markins M10 (same class as the BH-40). The BH-40 has been reported by some users to have a little "droop"...something to consider if you going to have a weeding bracket, etc. attached to your gear.

Yeah I'll probably consider another ballhead especially when my flash bracket starts to weed

I need more information about the wedding bracket though, like general comments about its weight / performance, whether the flash is aligned yada yada..

Cheers,
Zexun

According to the RRS catalog info, the wedding pro bracket setup weighs 10.6 ounces. From looking at the pictures in the catalog, the flash is aligned with the center of the camera in both the landscape and portrait positions. Can't tell you how well it works...you may want to try the wedding forum and hear it from folks that may actually use it.

Wedding Pro Flash Bracket

The L plate does not interfere with the battery compartment. Highly recommended. I automatically buy an RRS L plate when I buy a camera body. It is an essential accessory in my book. If you want to use portrait orientation on a tripod, it is much, much better to use the L plate than to cantilever the camera out over the side of the ballhead (not stable).

Again, with RRS, it is not RRS you are getting into but an industry wide standard A-S. You can find many ballheads and plates from a variety of manufacturers that will work with this unlike the proprietary systems from Manfrotto and others. Besides being non-proprietary, it is just a much better system for stability.

The BH40 is very nice (I've owned one) but I''d strongly recommend you look at the Markins Q3. I think it is a a better ballhead and it is lighter too. It comes with an A-S compatible head on top but you can add (or substitute) a RRS QR lever on top if you would like.

See http://www.markinsamer​ica.com

Finally, I think you have your priorities a bit backwards. You should concentrate on the legs before you concentrate on the ballhead. it is going to do you little good to put a high tech fancy ballhead on top of poor legs. The ballhead can do nothing to damp out vibration - that is what the legs do.

I suggest you read this:
http://markins.com/cha​rlie/report4e6.pdf
to understand more.

J.

That makes sense, about getting a tripod that damps vibrations out, but i've also read somewhere here on potn that I should invest in a ball head first. I could be wrong though.

Would you call a Manfrotto 190xproB a good tripod? I'm only 165cm and don't mind heavy things-- unless I bring them on vacation of course. Add on a Markins Q3 and RRS L bracket..

"buying into" the RRS system will the best and smartest move youll ever make, and youll realize that right after you get the first piece in your hands. I have done several in depth reviews on some of their products and have more coming. You can see them here: LINK, LINK, LINK

Only problem I saw when looking at the RRS flash bracket, is that you need to reorient the flash when you are for instance bouncing off a wall to your left, and then re-orient the camera...

I'd give the Newton Di100FR2 Flash Rotator a good look.

If I ever have money to burn, I know I'll get one (or the RRS Portrait Perfect)...

Two threads: One, Two.

There are a few more threads about flash brackets, including these: One,Two, three. (Hope I didn't dupe threads )

Headshotzx wrote in post #6477000
That makes sense, about getting a tripod that damps vibrations out, but i've also read somewhere here on potn that I should invest in a ball head first. I could be wrong though.

Would you call a Manfrotto 190xproB a good tripod? I'm only 165cm and don't mind heavy things-- unless I bring them on vacation of course. Add on a Markins Q3 and RRS L bracket..

You may have read that here, but it would be wrong.

The legs are more important. That said, save your money and get the whole thing at once and get the good stuff. You will save money in the long run.

Read these:
http://bythom.com/supp​ort.htm
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/t​ripods_&_heads.shtml

J.

René Damkot wrote in post #6477242
Only problem I saw when looking at the RRS flash bracket, is that you need to reorient the flash when you are for instance bouncing off a wall to your left, and then re-orient the camera...

I'd give the Newton Di100FR2 Flash Rotator a good look.

If I ever have money to burn, I know I'll get one...

The other alternative is to use something like the Gary Fong whaletail and then you might not need a bracket.

j.

René Damkot wrote in post #6477242
Only problem I saw when looking at the RRS flash bracket, is that you need to reorient the flash when you are for instance bouncing off a wall to your left, and then re-orient the camera...

Check out the RRS 'portrait perfect' package for flash brackets. I'm not sold on the wedding one either.

milorad wrote in post #6477281
Check out the RRS 'portrait perfect' package for flash brackets. I'm not sold on the wedding one either.

Yea nor was I and thats why I ended up with the perfect portrait package.