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11/05/2004 03:57:41 AM · #1 |
I have been looking into getting a flash bracket for my Canon elan 7 film camera and Sigma 500 DG Super flash. I have some questions, that maybe someone can help me out on.
1) of course, can you recommend a good bracket to fit a Canon with the vertical/battery grip? One that doesn't interfere with the second shutter release. Also it occured to me when I was looking at some ads online that some of the cheaper flash brackets, the vertical grip would be could be on the left side (or the flash upsidedown) in portrait mode. Is this right or am I looking at it wrong?
2) I bought the Lumiquest ProMax System when I bought my flash. I have been using the diffuser on camera, and think it works great, but does anyone here use the diffuser while it is on the bracket? Would there be any advantage to using them both together?
3) ...if so how do you center the diffuser over the lens when in portrait mode. The Diffuser makes the flash super tall.
4) I also just bought the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 (since I foung a used one for a good price) to use with a Flash Bracket setup, instead of the Off-Camera Shoe Cord. I have yet to really test this out. Now I have read that in some situations the flash may fail to fire because it doesn't see the IR beam. Will I have problems with this setup? Should I have gotten the cord instead?
I also just bought a used Canon SpeedLite 420ex to use (basically play with) the ST-E2's Ratio features. It hasn't arrived yet.
Message edited by author 2004-11-05 03:59:03.
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11/05/2004 06:01:30 AM · #2 |
I use the Newton Newton Di400CR flash bracket.
Bad photo of my setup but at least it shows what you're asking about
1. This setup (along with many other brands) take the vertical shutter release into account and you should have no trouble with it. I would suggest that once you find one you like just ask around and see who uses that type; I'm sure you'll get a list of things they like about their bracket choice and maybe some they don't. This bracket works for me and I handhold it with the 550EX with the ProMax system and the EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS so the weight of the bracket is next to nothing (my wife thought B&H had shipped an empty box when it came to the house).
2. I always use either the ProMax system to which you referred or the StoFen OmniBounce on top of the flash when its mounted to the camera either directly or via the flash bracket. After trying the toys on the flash I find that I don't like the flash without some modification. I'm' sure you don't have to use a modifier on the flash (and may people here may not) but I just like to do what you're asking about.
3. One of the main purposes of the flash bracket is so that you can rotate the camera while holding the flash bracket still. The flash bracket will always be held as you see it in the photograph above; the camera, however, will rotate within the flash bracket. I place the bottom of the flash bracket (where it can mount to a tripod) in my left hand and hold the FoV ring or focusing ring of the lens with my left fingers. I hold the battery grip in my right hand and when I want to shoot portrait, I simply pull up with my right hand and the camera begins to pivot within the bracket so that it ends up on its side with the vertical battery grip ready for me to grab with my right hand; I never have to let go of the bracket or the lens.
4. Yeah, that may be a problem. You can get the off camera shoe cord and mount the ST-E2 to that on top of the flash bracket to give the ST-E2 a more clear field of view for those times when you have the 550EX or the 480EX mounted on tripods (I've done that) but using the ST-E2 to fire a bracket-mounted flash can be a pain. You must bounce the flash out of the ST-E2 off something to get it to fire the bracket-mounted flash unit that is realistically just a few inches above it. If you happen to be outdoors (where I like to shoot) you may be out of luck unless you're close to tree or your subject or . . . .
I have used the 550EX on a tripod as a key light and the 480EX on another tripod with the ratios set on the ST-E2 and that worked very well.
I'm betting you'll like your setup. Good luck and post some of those photos.
Kev
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11/10/2004 12:04:41 AM · #3 |
Thanks Kevin, for all the usefull info. I will check out the Newton Flash Bracket.
James
Message edited by author 2004-11-10 00:05:01.
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