Flash Bracket, what do you think of it?

[Song4themoon]

I bought one of those where the camera slides horizontal or vertical however you need it.

After a few times of setting it up and trying it out I can say for sure that I hate it. That thing is so big it makes taking pictures a hassle and I can barely press the button to take the picture because it takes both my hands to even hold the camera straight with all that weight and the huge "construction"

Anyone else feel that way? Are there better brackets? I want to be able to take portrait format pictures and still keep the flash straight for perfect bounce effect

[cyclohexane]

I personally just hold the flash in my hand off-camera, usually with a SC-29 off-camera TTL cord attached. Sometimes I'll also control the flash off-camera wirelessly with a second flash on the hotshoe using Nikon's "Creative Lighting System". Of course, I usually don't do this for a long period of time.

Really Right Stuff has a nice-looking one in their new PDF/print catalogue (I didn't see it on their website) but I haven't used it. It'd be the first one I'd try (I haven't really been a big fan of any of the Strobo/Flip/whatevers at local camera stores here and back home), but I don't have L-plates for all my cameras yet.

[BearLeeAlive]

I use the Stroboframe Quick Flip Flash Bracket, I find it sheds a much nicer light on the subject and virtually eliminates red eye. A huge plus of this and brackets like you is that they keep the flash above the lens when doing shooting portrait. This eliminates that horrible shadow line along the side of the subject. Mine is not a huge one, I don't think you can use a pro body or a battery pack with it. It is a we bit cumbersome, but not too much of a bother, and the results are worth it.

[gryphonslair99]

Hard to beat

Custom Brackets QRS-35 Bracket

Custom Brackets QRS-EV Bracket

[br32124]

I use the Stroboframe Camera flip and would not be without it. I even use it on the tripod without a flash to be able to easily rotate the camera when needed. It's a carry over from my film days when you needed it to load my old Nikons properly. I guess I have gotten used to it. It also gives me a good grip to hold on to. I think I have used every flash diffuser made and the camera flip is the best (I feel) way to put the shadows out of the way-- with or without a diffuser.

[Uncle Frank]

Flash brackets put the flash head at a higher level, which places shadows "below" the subject, and eliminates red-eye. But it's primarily the way they eliminate side shadows in portrait mode that makes them are necessary evils for event photographers. So if you are willing to restrict your indoor shooting to landscape orientation, and don't mind fixing the occasional case of redeye, you can get by without one.

I use the CB Junior, which isn't too heavy, but having the flash raised above the camera changes the center of gravity, and takes getting used to. Brackets also make the photographer very conspicuous (not to mention a little geeky), but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It helps identify the working event photographer from the casual shooters.

[Nikonfreak]

I have the CB Junior as well. It works quite nicely.

The only beef I have is that I ended up putting two strips of electrical tape on the bottom cork so that the camera wouldn't "slip". It seemed no matter how tight I clamped the camera down after a little while I was straightening the camera again as the bracket would turn when I'd go vertical under the weight shift.

Two pieces of electrical tape on the cork eliminated camera slip.

There's a quick fix for you all..

Julio

[Stormdancing]

With the CB brackets, do you flip the flash over or does that camera turn?

[Uncle Frank]

Originally Posted by Stormdancing

With the CB brackets, do you flip the flash over or does that camera turn?

Both. These pictures should explain.

[AJW390]

I also have the CB junior and I like it. The only thing I would suggest "adding" to it is the camera antitwist bar which I think is ridiculously expensive at $14 for a little tiny bar but it does work so I guess it is worth it. It screws onto the back or front bottom of the CB junior.Then you don't have to use the black electrical tape. The bar stops the camera from shifting or moving especially with longer/heavier lenses.