Flash bracket advice....

photoshoot

Good afternoon, all....

I apologize if this is not the place to post this, but I just need some advice on a good flash bracket to use on a D700 with a battery grip. I mainly need this bracket for shots of people taken vertically, and I've noticed some swivel (the camera) so that the flash still remains as it were if the camera were horizontal, and some don't. Anyone have suggestions? Hopefully not wanting to spend more than $300, but that may be impossible. Also hoping to get something really lightweight (but not cheaply made) as I don't need to carry much more weight around on these skinny arms! Would love something that's easy to uninstall in an instant as I really don't like carrying bulky equipment at all but want to ditch the side shadows you get if you don't use a flash bracket when your camera is vertical.

I have gone to our local vendor in town, but not much to offer. We buy almost everything off the Internet anyway, but after trying the four at the vendor, I learned my main complaints were not enough finger room, cheaply made or the kind that had the swivel option feels cheap and clunky. If there is an alternative option to using a bracket (other than just not using flash or using a flash cord ) I'm interested in hearing your ideas as well.

Thank you!

ziggy53

I moved this to Accessories where I think you will find a knowledgeable audience.

dadwtwins

My last wedding I had to buy a new flash bracket since my 2 year old decided to use my last bracket as a hammer.

I ended up buying the RRS Wedding Pro Flash Bracket.

I freaking loved it as soon as it was mounted on my camera. The quality is amazing as everything I buy from RRS. It works flawlessly and it is designed very well.

Do I sound like an ad???

Scott_Quier

dadwtwins wrote:

My last wedding I had to buy a new flash bracket since my 2 year old decided to use my last bracket as a hammer.

I ended up buying the RRS Wedding Pro Flash Bracket.

I freaking loved it as soon as it was mounted on my camera. The quality is amazing as everything I buy from RRS. It works flawlessly and it is designed very well.

Do I sound like an ad???

Am I missing something? The web-site photos show it, I think, to be a flash flipper - meaning that it's more cumbersome to use when wanting to go from landscape orientation with the flash boucing off ceiling to portrait orientation withe flash bounced off ceiling.

I have and frequently use the Newton Di100FR2 Flash Rotator. The name of this not withstanding, the bracket allows the camera to be rotated under the flash - meaning that you don't have to adjust the flash head when rotating the camera from landscape to portrait orientation. It weighs in at about 8.5oz (maybe as much as 10oz when you add in some of the bits and pieces). In addition, it's adjustable to accomodate your camera with or without a battery grip.

I know I sound like a ad for the bracket - sorry I'm just a really satisfied customer - I bought one, loved it so bought another for my second camera.

dadwtwins

Scott_Quier wrote:

Am I missing something? The web-site photos show it, I think, to be a flash flipper - meaning that it's more cumbersome to use when wanting to go from landscape orientation with the flash boucing off ceiling to portrait orientation withe flash bounced off ceiling.

I have and frequently use the Newton Di100FR2 Flash Rotator. The name of this not withstanding, the bracket allows the camera to be rotated under the flash - meaning that you don't have to adjust the flash head when rotating the camera from landscape to portrait orientation. It weighs in at about 8.5oz (maybe as much as 10oz when you add in some of the bits and pieces). In addition, it's adjustable to accomodate your camera with or without a battery grip.

I know I sound like a ad for the bracket - sorry I'm just a really satisfied customer - I bought one, loved it so bought another for my second camera.

RRS has a similar type of bracket --> Portrait perfect bracket

I just preferred the collapsible to flat version then the arced version. Switching from portrait to landscape is one of the reasons why I liked my flash bracket so much. IT has a quick release lock (push button) at the hinge which makes it very easy to switch from one view to the other. But I am sure it is just personal preference on which type is easier for the photographer.

photoshoot

dadwtwins wrote:

RRS has a similar type of bracket --> Portrait perfect bracket

I just preferred the collapsible to flat version then the arced version. Switching from portrait to landscape is one of the reasons why I liked my flash bracket so much. IT has a quick release lock (push button) at the hinge which makes it very easy to switch from one view to the other. But I am sure it is just personal preference on which type is easier for the photographer.

Thank you both for your suggestions!

http://reallyrightstuff.com/flash/03.html This one is similar to the ones I've seen at our local vendor. The one I tried was a bit clunky and my fingers kept getting pinched, but this one may be better.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/flash/04.html Thank you for the advice on this one, too! But to me this one does seem a bit cumbersome for randomly flipping back and forth a lot, and especially for the type of photography I most enjoy (trying to go as unnoticed as possible)

http://www.newtoncamerabrackets.com/new_page_24.htm This one may be a good fit for me so far. Doesn't look big at all, and it looks easy to use. What are the drawbacks to this one, though? Looks like it gives you plenty of finger room for the buttons, but I'm wondering if it gets in the way for turning the lenses.....And I mainly use my right hand to turn the lenses, so wondering if the bulky side can be flipped/ flopped.

Thanks all.....and any other suggestions?

Rebecca
www.beyondathousandwords.com
Just a newbie to most of you, but loving every minute behind the lens

TonyL

I use the Demb flash bracket.
He is modifying it for use on my E-3 with a grip, but it is simple and strong.

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/bracket/

kdog

Scott_Quier wrote:

Am I missing something? The web-site photos show it, I think, to be a flash flipper - meaning that it's more cumbersome to use when wanting to go from landscape orientation with the flash boucing off ceiling to portrait orientation withe flash bounced off ceiling.

I have and frequently use the Newton Di100FR2 Flash Rotator. The name of this not withstanding, the bracket allows the camera to be rotated under the flash - meaning that you don't have to adjust the flash head when rotating the camera from landscape to portrait orientation.

One of the supposed advantages that RRS claims is that when switching to portrait mode, the flash is also placed into portrait mode. Is that less important to you than maintaining the bounce-off-the-ceiling angle?

Thanks,
-joel

Scott_Quier

photoshoot wrote:

Thank you both for your suggestions!

http://www.newtoncamerabrackets.com/new_page_24.htm This one may be a good fit for me so far. Doesn't look big at all, and it looks easy to use. What are the drawbacks to this one, though? Looks like it gives you plenty of finger room for the buttons, but I'm wondering if it gets in the way for turning the lenses.....And I mainly use my right hand to turn the lenses, so wondering if the bulky side can be flipped/ flopped.

Thanks all.....and any other suggestions?

Rebecca
www.beyondathousandwords.com
Just a newbie to most of you, but loving every minute behind the lens

Rebecca,

Can't talk about the RRS equipment as I don't think I've ever held any of there stuff in my hand.

As to the Newton Bracket - as with all things, it's not perfect.

• It's designed to allow the photog to use his/her left hand to manipulate the lens - as is the usual way of doing things and to hold/manipulate your camera with your right.
• The flipping mechanism is a friction device - if not set just right (and it comes from the manufacture pretty good), the rotation can be either difficult to effect or too easy. The bracket comes with wrenches to allow you to adjust this as you see fit - and it's an easy adjustment.

As you say you are a noobie - may I make a suggestion? Learn to adjust the lens and hold the bulk of the weight of the camera/lens combination with your left hand. Use your right hand to adjust the controls of the camera and to press the shutter release. Doing so will have serious impact on your ability to get the shots you want, when you want them, and with a minimum of hand-switching, muss, or fuss. With cameras today, using your left in such manner works; zoom adjustments don't have to be super precise and the focus is handled by the camera. Even if you are doing manual focus, using the left hand will soon become second nature.

Scott_Quier

kdog wrote:

One of the supposed advantages that RRS claims is that when switching to portrait mode, the flash is also placed into portrait mode. Is that less important to you than maintaining the bounce-off-the-ceiling angle?

Thanks,
-joel

What's important to me is

• Keeping the aspect of the flash the same. This means that if the flash head is pointing up before changing the orientation of the camera, I want the flash head pointing up after the change in camera orientation. I really don't want to have to make two adjustments when I'm in a rush - like when I'm photographing the bride coming down the isle.
• I also want to keep the lens in the same position relative to the lens. That means that if the flash is above the lens before a camera orientation change, then I want the flash above the lens after the camera orientation change.

These two, taken together, ALWAYS means that the flash doesn't move when I change the camera orientation, regardless of where that flash head may be pointing.

photoshoot

Scott_Quier wrote:

Rebecca,

Can't talk about the RRS equipment as I don't think I've ever held any of there stuff in my hand.

As to the Newton Bracket - as with all things, it's not perfect.

• It's designed to allow the photog to use his/her left hand to manipulate the lens - as is the usual way of doing things and to hold/manipulate your camera with your right.
• The flipping mechanism is a friction device - if not set just right (and it comes from the manufacture pretty good), the rotation can be either difficult to effect or too easy. The bracket comes with wrenches to allow you to adjust this as you see fit - and it's an easy adjustment.

As you say you are a noobie - may I make a suggestion? Learn to adjust the lens and hold the bulk of the weight of the camera/lens combination with your left hand. Use your right hand to adjust the controls of the camera and to press the shutter release. Doing so will have serious impact on your ability to get the shots you want, when you want them, and with a minimum of hand-switching, muss, or fuss. With cameras today, using your left in such manner works; zoom adjustments don't have to be super precise and the focus is handled by the camera. Even if you are doing manual focus, using the left hand will soon become second nature.

Thank you, Scott. Not sure what I was thinking other than thinking wrong, but yes I do use my left hand for focusing lenses! I use my right hand mainly to make adjustments to on-camera buttons and remove lenses, but not focus the lens. Thanks, again. Sorry, I probably got you to scratching your head on that one!

Scott_Quier

photoshoot wrote:

Thank you, Scott. Not sure what I was thinking other than thinking wrong, but yes I do use my left hand for focusing lenses! I use my right hand mainly to make adjustments to on-camera buttons and remove lenses, but not focus the lens. Thanks, again. Sorry, I probably got you to scratching your head on that one!

In which case, the Newton Bracket will work for you - it's just a matter of, "Are you comfortable with it?" Only you can answer that question.

As for the RSS equipment - it has a reputation of being the best of breed. Never used it, so I don't know, but that's what I've heard.

urbanaries

listen to scott on the bracket advice! I did and couldn't be happier with the Newton.

puzzledpaul

<< listen to scott ... >>

I did on a previous occasion when he was giving similar (f. bracket) advice.

Whilst I didn't buy a Newton, I ended up making a 'special', based on similar principles - but dedicated to macro work.

So, thx for the 'heads up'

pp

photoshoot

urbanaries wrote:

listen to scott on the bracket advice! I did and couldn't be happier with the Newton.

Thanks for the advice!

Art Scott

Scott_Quier wrote:

What's important to me is

• Keeping the aspect of the flash the same. This means that if the flash head is pointing up before changing the orientation of the camera, I want the flash head pointing up after the change in camera orientation. I really don't want to have to make two adjustments when I'm in a rush - like when I'm photographing the bride coming down the isle.
• I also want to keep the lens in the same position relative to the lens. That means that if the flash is above the lens before a camera orientation change, then I want the flash above the lens after the camera orientation change.

These two, taken together, ALWAYS means that the flash doesn't move when I change the camera orientation, regardless of where that flash head may be pointing.

I agree ...... I do not want my flash to rotate at any time.....main reason aside from what Scott has alread stated is.....that shoe is a weak point and they do / will break....at times very easily.........

I currently use Strob Frame Pro...but I am considering the Custom Brackets Pro model......one of the nice things is Custom Brackets puts a foot on the pro models so the camera can sit up while attached...........