Camera bracket & TTL cable comparisons

LiveAwake

I'm just buying my first flash bracket to help me with candid portraits and wedding/event type shooting.

I went to my local shop and compared a bunch of options. The one I really wanted was (of course) way spendy (I was looking at the CB digital Pro-E kit, for $250).

I kept looking and saw the Stroboframe Camera-Flip, which is very similar. I picked one up for $90, and definitely felt some sticker-shock when the TTL cable cost me another $90 (the guy at the shop said that they stopped carrying the off-brand cables because they always broke).

I prefer to support my local shop when I can, but I came home and did some looking online - I can definitely get the Camera-Flip for less (Amazon.com for $66), and they even have it paired with a TTL cable for $99. Then, with even a little more looking, I saw what appears to be a re-branded model of the exact same bracket called the Opteka FB-10 for only $28 ($36 after shipping) (!!!).

So. I haven't opened the packages on the items I just bought yet, and I have 15 days to return it if I wish. Here are my questions:

. 1) Has anyone used the TTL cable provided by Stroboframe in the kit version? Is it junk or will it be just as good as the one I just paid $90 for made by Nikon?

. 2) Has anyone used the Opteka FB-10, and is it in fact the same bracket as the Stroboframe, just re-branded?

As I said, I'm willing to pay a few extra bucks to support my local store, but with price differences this big, I can't justify it if either of those options will work just as well for me.

Thanks for your input!

AlbertZeroK

I have a background in electronics and can tell you clearly that cables sometimes cost more because they are better. I have the canon off flash cable, I think I'll have it for years to come. I wouldn't trust any other cable unless I could see it before I bought it - I'm not saying they are bad, but cheap cables plague me all the time at work, so I'd stick the the canon cable.

As for the frame, the Opteka is a knock off, not a re-badge of the stroboframe, they are not the same bracket. That being said, I have a stroboframe and don't care for it much, likely because the off flash cable hits the bracket when I flip it. I've resorted to using it only with an ungripped T2i I borrow from the office - but for my gripped T2i, 30D or 50D, It doesn't have enough clearance. Also, it's a bit more flimsey than I'd like, of course, I put a 580exii on it, so it's a heavy flash. I'll likely sell the Stroboframe but I'm game to try it for an upcomming pageant I've been volunteered for to shoot.

ziggy53

For off-camera cables I prefer the following to actual Canon cables:

http://www.adorama.com/FAOCSCCAN.html?searchinfo=canon+off+camera

The reason I prefer these is because of the end that holds the flash onto the bracket. On the genuine Canon part it is a plastic piece, held together with 4 very small and very short screws. Some folks also had problems with the metal shoe loosening on the OC-E2, but I haven't seen too many reports of the OC-E3 with that problem. Too many people have had this part break to call it reliable.

The Adorama cable, at least I hope they have not changed the design, uses an extruded and machined aluminum part to hold the flash onto the bracket. I believe this is a much more secure design.

I normally chain 2 of the Adorama off-camera cords together to help reduce the cord strain as neither a single Canon nor the Adorama cord is long enough to provide a comfortable level of cord strain for my liking, and neither has very good strain relief either.

I cannot find the Adorama cord design anywhere else.

Some images of the aluminum part:

LiveAwake

AlbertZeroK wrote: »

As for the frame, the Opteka is a knock off, not a re-badge of the stroboframe, they are not the same bracket. That being said, I have a stroboframe and don't care for it much, likely because the off flash cable hits the bracket when I flip it.

Thank you both for the info.

I think I'm going to stick with the Nikon cable, since it could come in handy to have the AF light on the hot shoe anyway.

I did want to correct the quote above, however. On a chance, I ordered the Opteka, and it most certainly IS the exact same bracket. It even says "stroboframe" on the plastic under the foam grip, and I can see where someone removed the stroboframe and tiffen stickers that are on the model I bought at the local shop. 100% identical brackets.

I do have the same issue, though, with the TTL cable running into the grip when I flip the camera (thought I wouldn't because I shoot D300 w/out the grip, but I want to have an RC-2 quick release connector on there so I can attach and detach my camera quickly, and with that and the larger nikon cable connector, it still bumps). I'm working on a make-shift solution to give me an extra bit of clearance. I'll post here if I come up with a good one.

Art Scott

A really good falsh bracket will be adjustable for use with / wo battery holders or with a film camera a motor drive.....
non of these super cheap brackets do that...doesn't look like there is room on that base for and rc2 platform+camera
without hitting the foam part of the handle.....my other problem with it is the flash is still too close to the camera....
it needs to be higher.......a good stroboframe R4B like THIS ONE ON EBAY exactly what I use now and have used for a little over 25 yrs.....
Started out with a Stroboframe RL2000 when i went to shooting 35mm from Med foramt...
when i buy a new bracket it will be a Newton Bracket like this one .......the reason being that it folds flat to go into camera bag...I will also be sending
my RC2 platform to be custom fit to the bracket instead of the one that comes with it............I will have to get a flash riser to raise the flash 3 more inches for my style of shooting.

Good luck with your choices.