Good bracket for 5dmkII

Wilt speaks the truth. Robert Newton is a great guy. I've spent many hours on the phone discussing his bracket as well as others.

The bracket is lightweight, folds down flat for storage and portability, and even if you bought every optional accessory for the bracket, it still works out to be less expensive than some other brackets.

I'm very particular and don't like compromise. I don't feel I've compromised anything by buying the Newton Flash Rotator.

One day after a 12 hour wedding shoot, my arm was a little bit tight and sore so I assembled my rig and weighed it.

Approximately 10 pounds for:

gripped 5D w/ 2 batteries & hand strap
24-70
580exII
Lumiquest Pro-Max system
oc-e3
cp-e4

And yes, I admit that by the end of the night, it did feel a bit heavier than when the day started but was totally manageable - no complaints.

As to your comments:

1. I did not find it cumbersome shooting in portrait mode and at times I left my hand in the hand strap in portrait mode without feeling uncomfortable.
   
2. I did notice a couple of times when I went to set the rig down (to change lens or cf card) it did rotate out of the detent but I just assumed it was from the extra weight of the cp-e4. When not using the extra pack for the flash it has not rotated on its own.
   
3. The 24-70 is/was my most used lens at the wedding and I never noticed any issues with zooming.

coleygm wrote in post #8504476
I will say though that even though i do like my custom bracket, the three things i don't like about it are

1. It's hard to use the vertical controls when you rotate it as the plate gets in the way where your hand usually would be.
   
2. It sometimes rotates on it's own and crap does that hurt. The reason for this comes into my third dislike, but basically if you have your right hand on the camera and your left hand on the lens (assume zoom lens here)...the think will rotate on it's own to vertical mode sometimes. If i used nothing but primes this wouldn't be a problem as i'd have my right hand on the camera bracket handle.
   
3. The rotating bracket is in the way of the zoom ring of some flashes. ...so it's basically clutsy to get to the zoom ring as the bracket lines up with it. Not a problem on my 70-200 but a big problem on my 24-70.

would love to hear how others work with these issues and/or if there's a better way to work with the bracket.

Peace
Mark

....all right, Mark made me curious, so I weighed my typical rig on the custom bracket:
CB pro-M
1DS
24-70
EX430 w/oc cord

...approx 7 pounds.

OK, now you have me curious........I now shoot with a 1D3 so I guess tomorrow after work I will have to load up the Pro-M and see how much lighter it is LOL.

Peace
Mark

george m w wrote in post #8511574
....all right, Mark made me curious, so I weighed my typical rig on the custom bracket:
CB pro-M
1DS
24-70
EX430 w/oc cord

...approx 7 pounds.

The Custom Brackets Pro M is 23 oz, the Newton flash rotator is 8.5 oz

I don't have a scale but I've shot for hours at a time with my D700, Newton Flash Rotator, SB-900 and alternating between a 24-70mm and 70-200mm lens. If you never take the rig away from your face it can get a bit tiring but ordinarily I don't experience any problems or fatigue.

I really enjoy the Newton bracket. I'm very glad I made that choice.

Since we're comparing rigs...

40D+ 17-55mm + RRS L bracket
Metz 54MZ + OC-E3
Newton flash rotator
5 lbs. 6oz.


For comparison I used to lug a medium format rig around at weddings (around 1-10 B.D. 'before digital')

Bronica ETRSi + 45-90mm zoom + speed grip
Metz 45CL
Newton flash rotator (the same one!)
9 lbs. 1 oz.

can someone kindly show me a photo of a gripped 5DMK2 in use with any of hte above brakcets?!

I'm a big fan of the Justrite Flash Brackets. http://www.justritebra​cket.com/Products.html
Pricey but worth it in my opinion.

I use this one from StroboFrame

http://www.amazon.com …cs&qid=12608511​96&sr=8-17

coleygm wrote in post #9199098

Hosted photo: posted by coleygm in
./showthread.php?p=919​9098&i=i250288549
forum: Flash and Studio Lighting

thanks Greg!

John Photography wrote in post #9202377
thanks Greg!

Welcome...it is a great bracket, but heavy for some. I posted some pros a cons about it in an earlier post, but still happy with it overall.

coleygm wrote in post #9202429
Welcome...it is a great bracket, but heavy for some. I posted some pros a cons about it in an earlier post, but still happy with it overall.

my thoughts exactly. i was looking at the CB Junior, cuz' i dont' want anything too heavy since i'll be gripped as well.