Archive 2008 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

davidrwilliams
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p.1 #1 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

I'm planning to order an RRS B87-B flash bracket to mounted on the tripod ring of my new 180L for macro use.

I'm presently using the RRS Wedding Pro bracket for general flash bracket use on my 5D and am happy with this bracket but wonder if I'd be better to consolidate down to one flash bracket by using the B87-B with the Portrait Perfect package (which adds an MPR-CL bar/clamp to mount the B87 bracket to the camera body).

One of the functional differences between these two bracket systems is the accessibility of the lens focus and zoom rings when using the Portrait Perfect setup in portrait orientation - as shown in the image shown on the top-right of the RRS tutorial page referenced below, when shooting portraits the MPR-CL is positioned at the bottom of the set-up and looks like both this clamp and the B87 bracket may interfere with the ability to control the zoom and focus rings in this orientation.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/flash/03.html

Anyone have experience in using the Portrait Perfect package that can advise if the MPR-CL and/or B87 bracket do cause usability issues with the lens, or whether you can still access the lens controls?

I'm shooting with a variety of lenses, so would appreciate if you could advise which lenses you are using with the Portrait Perfect set-up.

Edited on Aug 03, 2008 at 02:28 PM

Aug 03, 2008 at 01:00 PM

Roland W
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p.1 #2 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

I use the RSS B87-B flash bracket for portrait shooting, but I never use it as shown in the RSS photos. I simply must have good access to the focus and zoom controls with my left hand, and that comes from 40 years of using SLR's. I mount the system to the bottom of the camera by attaching to the L plate, and then I mount the arm so that it goes up and over on the right side of the camera. The flash bracket is easy to "reverse" to allow the front side of the flash bracket to face forward, so that part is no problem.

The big issue comes up when you want the center of the arc of the bracket to be aligned with the center of the lens. For the RSS method, most cameras are about the same width to the left side of the bracket, so you are usually close enough. But for mounting on the bottom, the height of the camera comes into play, and it varies quite a bit with the type of body, and of course if you have an optional battery pack and grip attached to the camera. I have done adaptations using RSS multipurpose plates and blocks of metal, and have setups that match my 5D with no grip, and also my 1D series cameras. If I remember right, the 5D with no grip is usualble on the bottom with the standard RSS hardware, but I doubt that it will work with the grip on.

I would suggest that you go ahead with getting the B87-B, and see what you think. If you are handy with adapting things, you should be able to make a setup that will work for you with the bottom mount and right side arc setup. If it all works out, you can sell your Wedding Pro bracket.

One factor for me is that I learned to shoot in portrait by holding the standard grip, and thus my hand ends up on the top of the camera. I thus never need a grip, and don't even use the alternate grip when I am shooting with the 1D series cameras. The arc on the right works perfectly for this, because my left hand can release the lock, and hold the flash as I rotate the camera with my grip hand. I can then lock it down if I am going to stay in that position, or leave the knob loose if I am going back and forth. The change from portrait to landscape is very fast for me, and I make use of it quite a bit when shooting. The Wedding Pro bracket does not make too much sense to me for quick changes, but perhaps it is possible. The RSS method of mounting the bracket also allows the quick change type motion, but does seriously block lens access, except if you want to reach in from the bottom.

The RSS side mounting method does leave the bottom of the L bracket available for tripod mounting while in landscape, but if you want to go to portrait on the tripod quickly, you are out of luck, because the rail that you can easily mount to is oriented 90 degrees to the L plate. My adaption plate has an added dovetail plate on the bottom, so that I can change the camera from portrait to landscape quickly, just like an L plate should work. Many would not use a B87-B with tripod setups, but I do like to go on and off a tripod for some flash work.

Aug 03, 2008 at 08:24 PM

davidrwilliams
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p.1 #3 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

Thanks Roland - your reply has given me plenty to think over.

I shoot with a 5D with grip, so maybe the larger B91 bracket would provide enough clearance to work from a bottom mount/right bracket set-up.

Aug 04, 2008 at 02:01 AM

rkgatteleport
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p.1 #4 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

Hi,

I got the smaller one of these units (B85-B) since I normally shoot with a 20D w/o
the battery pack and wanted to keep the flash in as constant a position as
possible over the lens in both vertical and horizontal orientation (RRS has a
comment about this in their propaganda somewhere). I'm actually a little
confused about which one I "should" be using, due to RRS's mixed up sizing
recommendations, but...

On the plus side, the units are light, pretty well made, and keep the flash in a constant
position over the lens in the horizontal/vertical positions (so I can use one of
Chuck Gardner's nifty flash diffusers). I tested mine out last weekend at an event
(unpaid) and found the end results were excellent... It is also cool in that it can
be folded up into a very compact package for a flash rig that keeps the flash at
a constant position WRT the lens when shooting both vertically and horizontally.
(I have an older Newton rotating flash bracket that is kind of a pain to pack around).

On the downside, you have to get the tension adjustment on the foot that goes on
the ring Just Right, or you either end up having to apply waay too much force to
move it, or the unit flops over to one side or the other on its own - I found I was
fiddling with the knob entirely too much while shooting (maybe it'll get to be less
noticeable after I use it more). I'm also unsure I like having the flash holder
placement by the focus/zoom rings on the lens and having to reach around it
to get to them. In use it didn't seem that bad, but again it kind of slowed me
down, so...

I also tried using it as a "normal" flash bracket on my 70-200 L IS and 300 F/4. aside
from it being a little close to the units, it did seem to work, so...

Best,

rkg
(Richard George)

Aug 04, 2008 at 09:47 AM

Roland W
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p.1 #5 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

Regarding the knob used to hold the flash in place on the arm, I quickly gave up trying to set a tension that works, and just clamp the flash in place with the knob. It is fairly fast to loosen the knob to change the flash position, and then firm it up when you get it set.

Aug 04, 2008 at 12:11 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #6 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

I've been considering this as well, and am confused aout one thing:

When mounted in the "RRS" way, (George's second pic) can the camera be quickly mounted to a tripod in portrait orientation or not? If not, it's almost criminal for RRS not to mention this.

Roland, will your "added dovetail plate" trick work in the normal configuraton, or only with the bracket reversed? I use a battery grip & large L-plate, so ....

Edited on Aug 04, 2008 at 09:19 PM

Aug 04, 2008 at 09:17 PM

Roland W
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p.1 #7 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

For George's second picture, which I called the RSS way, the dovetail that is part of the flash package is pointing forward and backward. So if you went from landscape with the L bracket dovetail aligned left to right, and rotated the camera to portrait orientation, the dovetail would not go into the quick release without releasing the ball head, and rotating the quick release 90 degrees, and re clamping. Plus you loose your ball head aim, which slows you down even more. Not a smooth and fast operation, and requires a third hand to do with out putting the camera down, or remembering to rotate the ball head before un clamping the camera. It is doable, but it is not what I want to fight with. I want mixed on tripod and off tripod flash shooting to be fast and simple, so I can concentrate on the shots and the exposure issues, and not need to think about the steps it takes to go back and forth from portrait to landscape.

My added adaption dovetail plate is hard to explain, and I do not have an easy way to give you an actual photo right now. So I will do my best with words. This is for a camera that is high at the bottom, like a 1D series, or a camera with a battery pack/grip on it. You have a quick release clamped on to the bottom of the camera. You have a flat piece of aluminum bolted to the bottom of the quick release that sticks forward. You have a medium length multi purpose rail mounted on top of the piece of aluminum, using additional spacer plates as required, to get the multipurpose rail to the correct height so that when you clamp the curved arm on it, the lens is centered in the up down direction. You can still adjust the whole thing left and right on the L plate bottom dovetail, to get the centering correct for left and right. And to top it all off, you add a short multipurpose rail on the bottom of the alluminum plate, mounted in the left and right direction, so that the whole thing can drop into a quick release on a tripod that is in the normal left and right orientation for an L plate. It is a bunch of stuff, and requires planning and fabrication, and it is not cheap with three RSS parts involved, but it works for me.

Reaching in from the bottom with the normal RSS configuration is OK if you can get used to it, but it is harder when the camera is on a tripod, because the tripod head is kind of in the way. For me I just kept reaching in from the side for the zoom or focus with my left hand like I have been doing forever, and hitting the side mounted rail, and it drove me nuts. I am too old to learn much new stuff, and I like to build things, so I just went ahead and did it. Not for everyone, but something to think about.

Aug 04, 2008 at 10:57 PM

GeorgeK-NJ
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p.1 #8 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

This plate will mount to the rail, to provide the dovetail in the right direct you need so you do not need to repositoin the ball head,

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/Itemdesc.asp?ic=MPR%2DDVTL&eq=&Tp=

Aug 05, 2008 at 06:28 AM

Roy Pertchik
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p.1 #9 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

Can you say why you don't like the "Wedding Pro Bracket"? You mention "be better off consolidating down to one bracket.." But you would only need to bring the wedding pro to weddings and events, and the macro bracket to buggy places :-) Is this a case of gear lust or is there a down side to the much less cumbersome looking flip style Wedding Pro Bracket?

Edited on Aug 06, 2008 at 06:49 AM

Aug 06, 2008 at 06:49 AM

davidrwilliams
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p.1 #10 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

Roy: I use a diffuser or omni-bounce on my flash virtually all the time.

When the Wedding Pro bracket is flipped from landscape to portrait, the flash also changes it's orientation to portrait. This is great for flash coverage without a diffuser as it keeps the flash pattern oriented with the shooting orientation, but it results in a standard bounce diffuser being offset to the right of the lens centre-line by distance equal to the height of the flash head plus the diffuser (about 8 inches in my case).

Switching from landscape to portrait with an omni-bounce (which requires an upwards-firing flash) requires that the flash head be switched from 60 degree vertical-bounce to 60 degree horizontal-rotate, which is a pain with my 550EX due to its separate locks for bounce and rotate.

Although the WPF-1 is a great bracket for it's intended use, I''d prefer not to carry two brackets if one will meet my requirements for both macro and standard flash bracket uses.

Aug 06, 2008 at 12:54 PM

Roy Pertchik
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p.1 #11 · RRS Portrait Perfect Package

Makes perfect sense to me. Thanks

Aug 06, 2008 at 01:17 PM


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