Kirk FB 8 Macro Flash bracket

[Nikonfreak]

I've had a request for a review on the Kirk FB 8 Macro flash bracket....

I'd been looking for an inexpensive macro flash bracket for quite some time and I came across the FB8 made by Kirk Enterprises (Kirkphoto.com).

There are several variations on this bracket, one with dual flash mounting options, etc..., but the one I'm talking about is specifically the FB8, single flash bracket, which retails for about $70.00 USD.

They say you get what you pay for. Well, in photography, you usually get half the value of what you pay for and then you have to go buy it again. Let's cut to the chase. The FB8 is ok. It's not fantastic, but it's not bad. If you want to get the flash off your hot shoe, and you don't want to drop $250-400 for one of those other brackets out there, this is about the only option that makes sense as far as I'm concerned unless you are one of those McGuyver kind of folks that can use a tin can and a coke bottle and make a Hassleblad.

This bracket could be a super home run and I'll explain why it's not in just a bit....

There are two versions of the FB8 as well. One version mounts to a lens plate and the other screws into the tripod socket of your camera. Mine is the latter.

Why?

Because I use the Really Right Stuff plates on my cameras. My D100 and my D200 have the "L" brackets from Really Right Stuff on them. They're fantastic, and they have an additional tripod socket drilled into the plate, allowing me to screw the FB8 to either the lens plate (RRS again, with a tripod socket hole as well) or my "L" bracket on the camera.

Mounting on either one will not make a difference on placement of the flash as it's adjustable left to right for about 5 inches on the bottom where the plate attaches to the camera.

The flash is able to be positioned high above the lens or right on the end of the lens (WONDERFUL), but.... the problem is? The flash is on it's side. the wonderful spread from your flash isn't going side to side as intended...it's going vertical. When shooting macro... I now have to leave the sto-fen diffuser on the flash or at 1:1 the flash could miss the subject altogether.

Worse, using the Nikon 200 f/4 Macro with the Nikon 5T or 6T means your lens is super light hungry AND you've got to step it down to get any resemblance of any kind of depth of field. You're flash placement should be exactly where you need the light.

Here's an example... http://www.pbase.com/loansharkx/image/54902253

A baby red ant. The "rocks" are grains of sand... using the Nikon 200 f/4 and the 6T close up diopter.

I use the SC 17 sync cord with my setup, even though I could use the SB 800 wireless. I choose not to. The cord wraps around the bracket and should I choose to take the flash off the bracket, I can still position it anywhere without worries about wireless connections firing or not or whether the sensor on the flash is picking up the signals, etc. (Call me old school)

Overall, the bracket will get the job done and you will have to fiddle with it a bit.

If you want an inexpensive macro flash bracket option, this is it.

Or, you could skip it altogether. Nikon has answered the prayers of macro shooters and the R1C1 macro flash system is a dream from what I understand. If you want to save a bit, trigger it with the D200's on camera flash in commander mode and just get the R1 unit for roughly $429. The whole kit is about $630 with the commander unit. For the nearly $300 some brackets will run you, the R1 kit is an option for the dedicated macro enthusiast.

If you're a weekend macro buff or dabbling. Go with the FB8 or one of the variations. It'll frustrate you at times, but it will do the job if you are patient and you'll save a few bucks for the new Nikon 105 f/2.8 VR coming out.

Julio (Nikonfreak)

www.pbase.com/loansharkx

[Nikonfreak]

Above is a shot of the bottom of the bracket, mounted on the RRS D100 "L" bracket.* You can slide the Kirk bracket in or out depending on where you want placement of the flash itself.

Here's a shot of the way the flash will be "looking" from the position of the mount.

[Nikonfreak]

And finally a side profile of the D100 with it mounted on it.*

You can see that the flash can slide forwards or backwards depending on the length of the lens you have mounted.

In addition, you can adjust the arm so that you can have the flash higher above the lens depending on the angle to the subject you might want.

[Winnie]

Julio,

Thanks for the review, very much appreciated and just the sort of info I was after. I'm not sure it's quite what I am after and I am not keen on the flash positioning. I will keep looking and might have to 'manufacture' something .

Cheers

Alex