good flash bracket for an L bracket?

catspaw

Flash brackets seem to be only second to bounce cards in the sheer numbers of choices out there. However, I'm not keen on removing my L-bracket just to attach another bracket to the camera. Okok, so maybe I'm being picky but I figure with as many choices out there as there are, this isn't impossible. RRS's flash bracket in fact *requires* an L-bracket, except the orientation of the flash is a bit off when in portrait mode.

What do you use? What do you prefer or have seen used? thank you!! :bow

Scott_Quier

Disclaimer: I've never used any RRS equipment .... but they do have a reputation.

I took a quick look at their product pages. As I have stated before, their Wedding Pro Flash Bracket is not so well designed. But, if you are married to RRS equipment (BTW, that's not a slam - they do make good equipment) it seems what you are looking for is one of their B-Series flash brackets.

catspaw

Scott_Quier wrote:

Disclaimer: I've never used any RRS equipment .... but they do have a reputation.

I took a quick look at their product pages. As I have stated before, their Wedding Pro Flash Bracket is not so well designed. But, if you are married to RRS equipment (BTW, that's not a slam - they do make good equipment) it seems what you are looking for is one of their B-Series flash brackets.

Actually, I don't own a single RSS item right now I just know they have a good reputation. My L brackets are from Kirk (well, still deciding on the D300 bracket, but the local photo store carries Kirk ones) and other items from Acratech, so ... yeah.

no marriage however will look into the B-Series, thanks!

Robinivich

I don't own a flash bracket meant for taking pictures of "normal" things, or an L bracket for that matter, but the macro bracket I do have (wimberley's) attaches to arca-swiss style plates, a la RRS, Kirk, and Wimberley. I expect you'll want to look at these three to see if you can find what you want. I did this when looking for a macro bracket, saw a lot of different solutions to the same problem, and settled on the one I liked best.

catspaw

*bump*

anyone else?

catspaw

Update
If anyone is curious, I ended up with the Custom Brackets QRS-H2


$199 plus another $50 for the attachment brackets I needed. Still less then the $355+attachment bracket for RSS's version that no one seems to use.

It comes with a grip and attaches on the OTHER side than this photo shows (although perhaps you can do either side if you are left/right handed? Might have to play with that, asn I'd like to keep access to my grip.



My local store (Pictureline) helped me out with this one. I played with the CB Junior and while nifty and compact, it simply did NOT allow for proper flash positioning in portrait mode. Big draw back.

Some of the supports/handles on this bracket can be removed -- or so I've been told from reports of other customers who have modified theirs to suit their own needs. YES it is big but it does provide some height adjustments and the rotating portion is solid and very well made.

I have not yet shot with it, but it's generally lightweight (especially when compared to camera/lens weight!) and mostly definitely a solid strong built.

Course, this brings in the entire question of transporting a flash bracket, harder plastic flash diffusers and other such. I'm not sure if I see a lightweight kids sized suitcase in my future or what, but it'll have to be something. I'm sure Sponge Bob will come to the rescue

P.S.
it does not have a quick release to my L bracket but it DOES have a nifty screw (no L hex wrench needed!) to screw INTO the L bracket (since at least the Kirk ones have a hole for that). I can easily tighten this enough by hand and remove it within 30 seconds if needed. And in retrospect, I'm not sure I'd want to be holding onto a flash bracket with my camera's weight ONLY secured by a hand tightened quick release clamp. Meep!

aj986s

Not long ago I picked up this Stratos bracket from B&H. Not sure if total pro grade, but works fine for me, and has built-in the Arca-Swiss style quickrelease base, at the base of the handle.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/297506-REG/Stratos_SI835F_835F_Folding_Flash_Bracket.html

catspaw

aj986s wrote:

Not long ago I picked up this Stratos bracket from B&H. Not sure if total pro grade, but works fine for me, and has built-in the Arca-Swiss style quickrelease base, at the base of the handle.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/297506-REG/Stratos_SI835F_835F_Folding_Flash_Bracket.html

Alas, that type of bracket (and the CB Junior) has the incorrect orientation for the flash in portrait mode. Most of the cheaper ones do because it IS something difficult to get around. Hence my search for something a bit better with correct flash orientation (no sideways flashes) when in portrait mode. Thanks though!

Cygnus Studios

I went with the Manfrotto 233B. A tad bulky but love it

catspaw

Cygnus Studios wrote:

I went with the Manfrotto 233B. A tad bulky but love it

Ooo, that's one I had not heard of. I can't tell from the online descriptions if it lets the camera rotate / or rotates the flash 90 degrees so it remains upright in portrait mode. That was the biggest problem I was having in one that would do that. Geh, what a hunt! It looks like a great product though, might get one for my backup camera! thanks!!

Cygnus Studios

Check it out it is a great bracket. You can mount left or right handed, and yes it always keeps the flash horizontal.

The only thing that I would change would be to add the ability to slide the flash from side to side while extended. There are times where I would love to move the flash a few inches.

catspaw

Cygnus Studios wrote:

Check it out it is a great bracket. You can mount left or right handed, and yes it always keeps the flash horizontal.

The only thing that I would change would be to add the ability to slide the flash from side to side while extended. There are times where I would love to move the flash a few inches.

I did check it out, but I didn't see images showing exactly how it'd handle portrait mode. Most of those build like this don't keep the flash upright in portrait mode, so without an image, it's a wee bit tricky to 'guess'.

edit: reviews say "This bracket gets the flash extremely high over the lens. The only downside, the flash is to the side of the lens." which is really NOT ideal or acceptable. I want to keep the flash above the camera and upright.

aj986s

Please don't shoot this newbie for asking.....but when in Portrait mode, wouldn't you want the flash oriented the same way, so that the light output pattern continues to match the camera's now-vertical framing?

catspaw

aj986s wrote:

Please don't shoot this newbie for asking.....but when in Portrait mode, wouldn't you want the flash oriented the same way, so that the light output pattern continues to match the camera's now-vertical framing?

Yup, that's what I'm aiming for and the bracket I got (the custom brackets one from an earlier post I did) does do. Cheaper brackets just hold the flash and even if you can rotate it 'upright', it still ends up on the SIDE of the camera, where it gives side shadows in portrait mode. However, for the price some folks find this acceptable -- or don't shoot in portrait mode.

Cygnus Studios

catspaw wrote:

The only downside, the flash is to the side of the lens." which is really NOT ideal or acceptable.

That is exactly the problem that I encounter. It is like the old brackets. Now on the plus side, it really puts the flash up high, keeps the correct orientation, and it easy to adjust.
When in portrait settings, the flash is closer to the body so it works better. It is in landscape that the flash is so far away ( 3 inches ) to the side that it gets a bit funky.

aj986s

With the Stratos bracket that I bought (and mentioned earlier in the thread), I thought it achieved the goal of keeping the flash above the camera and oriented properly.

When in landscape mode, it looks like this:




And when in Portrait mode, you simply flip the arm holding the flash 180 degrees, and it looks like this:


Isn't this correct?

catspaw

aj986s wrote:

With the Stratos bracket that I bought (and mentioned earlier in the thread), I thought it achieved the goal of keeping the flash above the camera and oriented properly.

When in landscape mode, it looks like this:




And when in Portrait mode, you simply flip the arm holding the flash 180 degrees, and it looks like this:


Isn't this correct?

That keeps it above the camera, but the flash itself is rotated. Which works if you are using a DIRECT flash on the person/object, but if you are trying to bounce it or angle it at all, you suddenly have a different linear plan to work on.

aj986s

catspaw wrote:

That keeps it above the camera, but the flash itself is rotated. Which works if you are using a DIRECT flash on the person/object, but if you are trying to bounce it or angle it at all, you suddenly have a different linear plan to work on.

I guess this is where I'm a bit puzzled. With respect to orientation, I would think its a good idea for the flash dispersal pattern to mimic the camera's frame. I believe the flash's pattern is more rectangular. So if the flash remained in landscape mode, while the camera was rotated to portrait, isn't is possible that light coverage won't be even across the frame? Although I guess for close work, the coverage probably isn't a problem.

Also, my flashes (Canon 420EX and 580EXII) have both bounce and swivel. In portrait mode, I could still bounce (via swivel) but arguably swivel is now limited to one direction only (via bounce). I admit there would be some compromises, but it seems that this bracket would be suitably flexible for most shooting scenarios, without being too cumbersome.

Cygnus Studios

aj986s wrote:

I guess this is where I'm a bit puzzled. With respect to orientation, I would think its a good idea for the flash dispersal pattern to mimic the camera's frame.

Think about it like this. The area that you wish to light up does not change with the orientation of the camera. Once you have your settings for the flash, it is easier for you to change your camera from landscape to portrait.
If you change the position of the flash, your setting will be changed also. During events where you will shoot in multiple modes, it makes your life easier to keep the flash at a given location and setting.

catspaw

Cygnus Studios wrote:

Think about it like this. The area that you wish to light up does not change with the orientation of the camera. Once you have your settings for the flash, it is easier for you to change your camera from landscape to portrait.
If you change the position of the flash, your setting will be changed also. During events where you will shoot in multiple modes, it makes your life easier to keep the flash at a given location and setting.

and don't forget, all the OTHER lights in the room don't change either -- when you turn your camera, the room lights don't rotate 90 degress too .

or if they do? that's rather cool! :ivar

chrismoore

catspaw wrote:

If anyone is curious, I ended up with the Custom Brackets QRS-H2


$199 plus another $50 for the attachment brackets I needed. Still less then the $355+attachment bracket for RSS's version that no one seems to use.

I have had this bracket on my Amazon wish list for a few months. I've never owned a flash bracket and was wondering what extra parts did you need? I'd be using it on a 5D with 580EX II.
Thanks

catspaw

chrismoore wrote:

I have had this bracket on my Amazon wish list for a few months. I've never owned a flash bracket and was wondering what extra parts did you need? I'd be using it on a 5D with 580EX II.
Thanks

The lovely folks at my local photo store (Pictureline) helped me find the bracket to attach the camera to the entire set up as well as the flash. From what I've seen there's also other choices, like quick release attachments, etc. Personally, I wanted a screw attachment. Seemed a bit more secure.

chrismoore

catspaw wrote:

The lovely folks at my local photo store (Pictureline) helped me find the bracket to attach the camera to the entire set up as well as the flash. From what I've seen there's also other choices, like quick release attachments, etc. Personally, I wanted a screw attachment. Seemed a bit more secure.

Thanks. There's no camera store in my town so I do most of my shopping online. Would it be something like this?
Chris

catspaw

chrismoore wrote:

Thanks. There's no camera store in my town so I do most of my shopping online. Would it be something like this?
Chris

that's not what I got but it might be one of the variations. let me go grab the box and give you the part numbers.

OK

primary bracket QRS-E2

from the box:

REQUIRED ITEMS:
Camera mounting plate - I got the CB CMP Camera Plate $49
Flash mounting plate - I got the FCN Canon/Nikon cords off camera cord 1 OC-E3, SC-17, SC-28, SC-28 (it's quite adjustable)
QR Tripod Quick Release for mountain bracket to tripod -- I in fact did NOT get this but might go back and get it.

there's also a list of 'Options Items' listed on the box:
STRAP - handle with adjustable strap
QR-C kit - camera quick release and subplate
QR-C - camera quick release
C-SP - camera quick release subplate
AB - camera to tripod plate - accessory polate for radio slaves
MC - cold flash
LF - L-Flash bracket moves flash forward / back
FR - for second flash
battery holders
conversion kits for Acra swiss & Bogen tripod heads


I suspect that like most camera companies out there, they have AWESOME customer service (I have yet to find one that does not!) and they list their ph# as 800-530-2289



good luck!

chrismoore

catspaw wrote:

that's not what I got but it might be one of the variations. let me go grab the box and give you the part numbers.

OK

primary bracket QRS-E2

from the box:

REQUIRED ITEMS:
Camera mounting plate - I got the CB CMP Camera Plate $49
Flash mounting plate - I got the FCN Canon/Nikon cords off camera cord 1 OC-E3, SC-17, SC-28, SC-28 (it's quite adjustable)
QR Tripod Quick Release for mountain bracket to tripod -- I in fact did NOT get this but might go back and get it.

there's also a list of 'Options Items' listed on the box:
STRAP - handle with adjustable strap
QR-C kit - camera quick release and subplate
QR-C - camera quick release
C-SP - camera quick release subplate
AB - camera to tripod plate - accessory polate for radio slaves
MC - cold flash
LF - L-Flash bracket moves flash forward / back
FR - for second flash
battery holders
conversion kits for Acra swiss & Bogen tripod heads


I suspect that like most camera companies out there, they have AWESOME customer service (I have yet to find one that does not!) and they list their ph# as 800-530-2289



good luck!

That's very helpful, thanks so much!
Chris