OK. so I need a flash bracket

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kevmalone

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I do a lot of cycling photography and with the flash on the hot shoe I her those annoying side shadows so I need something to bring the flash nearer to the lens.
I've seen the Custom Brackets Mini-RC but it seems a bit pricey for what it is at £32.
Is this what they cost or are there alternatives. Google is not my friend on this occassion and even if it were you never get a real ida of what they're like.
What do you guys use?

TIA.
 
I think that he means closer to the flash (in a forwards way) to stop the shadow that you get because the lens is in the way...
 
I was searching eBay for the flash bracket I have and I came across this product, which I have not seen before. I don't know how pleasant it would be in actual use, especially if repeatedly adjusting camera orientation, but it looks like a very lightweight solution to keeping the flash above the lens, which is the reason people usually use a flash bracket....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Transformable...s_JN?hash=item5883315de5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Here's what I have....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Flash-Bracket...s_JN?hash=item23020f40b6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I also have....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Flash-Bracket...s_JN?hash=item53dd2b9aaa&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Both mine do the job but neither one is very nice to use - but what can you expect for the price? The really "good" flash brackets seem to cost in the region of £200-£300 ish. You don't get much engineering quality for £14 delivered :)
 
crashtestmac I think that he means closer to the flash (in a forwards way) to stop the shadow that you get because the lens is in the way...
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I meant.
This is what I've been looking at so far but was after alternatives (if there are any...
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=18394&1=Custom+Brackets+CB+Mini-RC

Also, all the pics I see of these seem to have Canons attached. Does anyone use these with Nikon? I have a gripped D80.
 
Hi Kev

Dont know if this is what your after, Flash In The Pan has some I think Clicky Linky

Original Image Flash In The Pan

3782828194_76c00ece91.jpg

HTH

Dave
 
Hi guys. I do have a TTL lead to connect the camera to the flash.
This has certainly given me food for thouht. So how are these things for comfort? And more importantly, do they do the job?
 
kevmalone said:
This is exactly what I meant.
This is what I've been looking at so far but was after alternatives (if there are any...
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=18394&1=Custom+Brackets+CB+Mini-RC

Also, all the pics I see of these seem to have Canons attached. Does anyone use these with Nikon? I have a gripped D80.
Click to expand...

Yes, but moving the flash closer to the lens axis means increased risk of redeye. Of course, redeye is more easily dealt with than flash shadows, but most bracket solutions I am familiar with serve to increase separation between lens and flash, so that redeye is reduced, and also position the flash above the lens so that the shadows fall invisibly behind the subject instead of beside it.

That Speedgraphic product is OK as far as shadows are concerned, if you only use it in portrait orientation, but what happens if you are frequently swapping back and forth between portrait and landscape? Also, with a long lens especially - say 70-200 - the chances of redeye look likely to be increased significantly. Personally I do not see much advantage in such a bracket, but I guess we all have our own different needs.

Oh, as for lens hood shadows, with a more conventional bracket, you'd need a pretty big lens to cause a problem. What kind of lens create its own shadow when used with a hotshoe mounted flash - maybe a 400/2.8 or something of that ilk, but that little bracket won't address that problem. Have I missed something?

THIS is a flash bracket!
 
THIS is a flash bracket!

I was interested until I saw the price!
 
Eisbar said:
THIS is a flash bracket!

I was interested until I saw the price!
Click to expand...

Yes, it is kind of "spendy" and also a bit hefty for a full day's use at a wedding, for example. I actually nearly bought one, but changed my mind when I considered the weight of that with a 1D3, 70-200/2.8IS and 580EX.

Still, it does demonstrate the two key attributes that most people seek in a flash bracket - separation between flash head and lens, and to maintain the flash position above the lens at all times. It also happens to have a very slick action, which my cheap eBay brackets do not.

If you want a light and compact, but slick product, it might be worth checking out the Newton brackets They seem to be well recommended, but they're not cheap either.

Personally, I will bounce the flash indoors, or use it just for fill outdoors, so I do not usually have a problem with shadows. I keep my eBay cheapies just in case.
 
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