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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D

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szerangue
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Feb 8, 2007, 11:53 PM

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Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D	Can't Post

Anyone uses one of these?
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Brackish
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Feb 9, 2007, 6:00 AM

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szerangue
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Feb 9, 2007, 10:20 AM

Post #3 of 26 (1674 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks,,, I don't understand that Pro and Pro-M with the grip on the Pro being on the right side, the same side as the shutter release button... But it does not recommend the Pro-M with the handle on the left side if you are going to use a Speedlight transmitter (which I do not have, but I am not sure if will have that in the future)
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

videochicke
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Feb 9, 2007, 10:35 AM

Post #4 of 26 (1671 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've used a friend's camera with and without one. The bracket does improve the quality of the vertical shots but personally I cannot stand the extra weight. A sto-fen thingy for the flash or the Gary Fong thing really softens the shadows when you shoot vertical so that is what I prefer.
Julie

Brackish
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Feb 9, 2007, 11:08 AM

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DarrenS
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Feb 9, 2007, 11:49 AM

Post #6 of 26 (1665 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

I use the Custom Brackets QRS-35-EV. Works well. Kinda hard figuring out all the pieces you need however, and they add up. B&H website is good that way; they list all the extra pieces right under the main bracket assembly.

You don't need to push a button to turn the camera, you just turn it. Takes a fraction of a second. It's very high-quality gear, made in the USA. You can really tell the difference between images shot with the bracket and without (when using flash). Never get red-eye and the shadows are way better. That 'foot' thing drove me nuts tho. I cut it off with a hacksaw.

(This post was edited by DarrenS on Feb 10, 2007, 12:05 AM)

Brackish
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Feb 9, 2007, 7:25 PM

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DarrenS
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Feb 9, 2007, 7:55 PM

Post #8 of 26 (1646 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

There are a couple. The main thing is shadows look better in portrait orientation (on shoe you tilt camera and the flash tilts with it...not ideal). I shoot portrait about 70% of the time, so it's a signifigant benefit to me. Also, keeping the flash further away from the lens avoids red eye without having to use the super-duper-annoying (not to mention amature) red eye reduction feature. Red eye reduction feature pisses people off, and usually makes them blink in the photo anyway. You can correct red eyes in post of course but it takes too much time to make it look nice.

Brackish
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Feb 9, 2007, 8:28 PM

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Shadow
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Feb 9, 2007, 9:52 PM

Post #10 of 26 (1633 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have one. It does add weight, but on the filpside it offers a better grip so there's a trade off.

the brand that I got was alzo. It was a Christmas gift. There's a type of off camera sync cord that you can buy that is cheaper than the canon but seems to work fine. Although I have only worked with it a few times so I can't really give a full evaluation of it.

I like it, but it is probably a personal choice. If you don't mind a bit extra weight (it isn't that much heavier) and would rather have a better grip, then it is a good idea.

Like Julie, I use a stofen and find that works nicely. I do like the bracket though.
Can you borrow one and see if you like it?

DarrenS
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Feb 9, 2007, 11:50 PM

Post #11 of 26 (1621 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes I would. Keep in mind 'Custom Bracket' is the name of the company not the product. They make several different systems. Mine is here: http://www.custombrackets.com/...iew.asp?idproduct=26 That thing that sticks out bottom-right of the picture is what I hacked off. Now it fits in my bag. I never set my cameras down anyway.

Hey you can't go round the Internet with the name Brackish without a bracket! It wouldn't be very brackish of you. Laugh

(j/k)

Edit: I had the wrong URL. It's corrected now. Apparently there's a new version out with 'roller berrings' which I assume makes it easier to rotate. I have no problem rotating mine but a lady or weaker man might. Mine's a bit stiff but I like it like that.

(This post was edited by DarrenS on Feb 10, 2007, 12:08 AM)

videochicke
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Feb 10, 2007, 10:10 AM

Post #12 of 26 (1592 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

With the Gary Fong thing, do you really even need a flash bracket?
I think I've seen some photogs by me using just the
Fong Light Sphere II without using a bracket at all.

No flash bracket needed at all. I think I found out my problem using a bracket yesterday. A video camera really is held in your right hand. After 1000 weddings. my right arm has some strength I guess. The flash bracket is held in your left hand. I have a little girl wimpy left arm. The camera feels like a brick in my left hand.
Julie

Jenn M
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Feb 10, 2007, 11:56 AM

Post #13 of 26 (1577 views)
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Re: [videochicke] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

Good point about the strength issue. Maybe that's why I find it so awkward, as well. I'm used to holding my left arm close to my body for added stability, as well, so holding the bracket felt strange.

I got a cheap one off ebay to try it out before investing in a better one. I got the Flash-flip kind and I can definitely see the benefit to the Camera-flip kind instead - quicker and less awkward.

I can't decide whether it's worth getting a better one. As far as weddings go, I want to take a minimalists approach, so switching gear doesn't seem practical. I would use it mainly for the formals b/c IMO that's when 'appearance' counts more than content, meaning - the shadows would take away from a formal shot more so than random candids. Again, just my opinion.

Did you get one for yourself? Would you?

RustyB
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Feb 10, 2007, 9:56 PM

Post #14 of 26 (1554 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

Like Jenn says, I also like to keep a minimalist approach. With video, I've bought every damned gadget and bracket that B&H has listed on their website, because I thought I "needed" it, or saw people using them on the internet. I've got boxes full of junk, actually, almost all of it ended up in the VU for-sale forum. After actually getting a lot of real-world exprerience shooting wedding video, I can't stand any sort of bracketry.

I'm just an amateur photog, and have never shot a wedding, but I see a lot of wedding photogs that don't use any kind of brackets. I also have seen some very experienced pros who have mastered the use of their bounce head flash, and tell me they don't like any kind of diffusion attachment in most cases.

So I guess it's a matter of shooting with what you have, then deciding if a bracket is going to solve some lighting issues that would improve your photographs. Otherwise, you may have to start another box of junk you don't use, and a little chunk off the bottom line.

I only used the Demb Diffuser Pro+Flip-It combo for a while before selling my DSLR, and just recently got a new swivel head flash so that I could use it with my 35mm's. But, the shots I've taken so far, haven't shown any problem with red-eye, and you can position the head in such a way to get some nice lighting effects. Pus, with the flip-it on the back, you can control the amount of light you throw forward thru the diffuser...

It's a little bit better than using a Sto-Fen OmniBounce (I have three of those as well), but it comes at the cost of being a little bit more awkward to carry around...although not as awkward as a big goofy bracket. I can at least still use it with with a neckstrap, if I were to use it to shoot an event/wedding gig.

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

(This post was edited by RustyB on Feb 12, 2007, 9:41 AM)

videochicke
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Feb 10, 2007, 11:59 PM

Post #15 of 26 (1545 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Unless my left arm gets stronger, I wouldn't bother with a bracket. I just can't hold the camera with it.
Julie

Brackish
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Feb 11, 2007, 2:28 AM

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RustyB
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Feb 11, 2007, 2:43 AM

Post #17 of 26 (1539 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

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Is that an auto-winder/motor-drive on that Olympus?
How many frames per second?

Yeah, it's just a basic winder that will do 2.5fps. Although, too much at that speed, and I'd go broke rather quickly. Tongue

http://www.mir.com.my/...er/winder2/index.htm

Brackish
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Feb 11, 2007, 4:48 AM

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RustyB
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Feb 11, 2007, 5:14 AM

Post #19 of 26 (1529 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

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The Olympus cameras were always known for being small
and light in comparison to the other major brands, such
as Minolta, Nikon, Pentax, etc. Do you like
having a small cam? Or wish for something more
substantial in the hands.

I held a Canon 400D/XTi at the store and it really
did seem rather small - maybe too small - but
maybe you get used to it. For example, not all
of the fingers of your right hand fit onto the surface
of the camera - the pinky and ring finger slide off
the small cam body.

Yeah, the Olympus OM cams are smaller/more lightweight than my other vintage SLR's, but with the heavy metal winder attached it's perfect for my hands.

I think all of the new prosumer DSLR's could probably benefit greatly from a grip...attached or built in, especially if you do a lot of portrait stuff. The short time I had the Olympus E-500, it was very comfortable in my hands, but not having a vertical grip to hold onto sucked.

Wow, they just showed tiddies on Turner Classic Movies! Laugh

Dina Meyer on Starship Troopers...top of the line ones!!! I guess they figure nobody is watching at 3:30am. Laugh

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Brackish
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Feb 11, 2007, 8:08 AM

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RustyB
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Feb 11, 2007, 8:32 AM

Post #21 of 26 (1511 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

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Wow, they just showed tiddies on Turner Classic Movies! Laugh

Dina Meyer on Starship Troopers...top of the line ones!!! I guess they figure nobody is watching at 3:30am.

Oh yeah? Well, I just saw "I Know What You Did Last Summer",
with Sarah Michelle Geller and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Not bad.

You ever held a 30D? It's a lot bigger than the XTi. Maybe even on

the large size for someone with small hands.

Yeah! A couple of the best pairs all in one scene...in the same bed! Laugh

But did they show them nekkid on TV? And that was just the sex scene in Starship Troopers....I wasn't paying attention to see whether they edited out the nude shower scene or not. Tongue

I was just looking at a 30D in Fry's Electronics the other day, which didn't have a battery grip attached, which made it seem a lot less substantial than the ones I'd handled at weddings belonging to the photogs. With the grip attached, like you say, they do almost even seem big for someone like me that has small hands.

It's hilarious, all the DSLR's in Fry's don't have lenses attached, and the mirrors are all busted to pieces, along with the bodies, battery doors missing, rubber grips torn off, etc. Laugh

I don't know how they get so busted up, seeing as how they're attached to the display stand, but it's probably a good way to see which ones are built tougher than the others.

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Shadow
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Feb 12, 2007, 10:38 AM

Post #22 of 26 (1475 views)
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Re: [videochicke] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Julie,
What you need is an 18lb baby who likes to be carried around all day. Carry him in the left arm and do stuff with your right.

I would think my left arm is probably stronger than my right these days.

You can borrow him anytime!! Wink

RustyB
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Feb 12, 2007, 5:43 PM

Post #23 of 26 (1468 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

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I bet you're very thankful for autofocus, for one-armed shooting!

Do you have a special lens protector, to fight sticky kiddy fingerprints? I have to keep a bottle of compressed air on my desk, to constantly blow cat hair off the lenses and scanner, and use it to scare the cats off the desk every 37 seconds. Lenses are like magnets for wet cat noses. Kinda like video camera lenses are a magnet for childrens' fingers at a wedding reception. Laugh

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Shadow
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Feb 12, 2007, 5:54 PM

Post #24 of 26 (1465 views)
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compressed air on my desk, to constantly blow cat hair off the lenses and scanner, and use it to scare the cats off the desk every 37 seconds.

I can picture scurrying kitties. Laugh

Toogy
User

Feb 12, 2007, 8:42 PM

Post #25 of 26 (1460 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Ideas on a flash bracket for my 30D [In reply to]	Can't Post

Speaking of brackets, I do have a Custom Brackets Bracket, that is very high quality and works great. However I only used it for two weddings last year. I find it just too big and awkward overall. It definitely improves vertical shots, but I'd rather just deal with the odd vertical shot with bad shadows than haul that beast around all day.
------------------------->
Jeff Toogood
Digital ISO

http://www.digitaliso.ca/blog
http://www.pbase.com/toogy

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