One bracket extends the flash about a foot above the camera body so as to eliminate redeye. (Manfrotto brand bracket.)
The other bracket repositions the flash to the side of the camera when the camera is turned from landscape to portrait mode. This minimizes shadows behind the subject when shooting portrait mode. (Custom Brackets brand.)
Nothing wrong with using one if that's what works for you. They are stiff pretty popular, particularly the various custom models on the market. I used to use one for events many moons ago, but shed it when I decided I wanted to lighten the load and carry less crap.
I think the bracket in the below linked-video is the one I have that helps with reducing shadowing behind the subject. You can go to the 3:50 point in the video clip to see how the flash can be flipped to stay above the camera when shooting in vertical portrait mode.
Lots of votes for "NO".
Do the NO voters use a on camera flash? If not, what do you use.
The bracket looks like a simple way to keep the flash connected to the camera, while enhancing pics.
Am I missing something?
SweetMk wrote:
Lots of votes for "NO".
Do the NO voters use a on camera flash? If not, what do you use.
The bracket looks like a simple way to keep the flash connected to the camera, while enhancing pics.
Am I missing something?
Flash brackets are from the days where iso 400 was your limit before grain got crazy so flash was used a lot to get more light meaning red-eye and the portrait orientation flash shadow were an issue. These days with good high iso bouncing flash and blending it with ambient is possible and more widely used along with frequent off camera use due to cheap radio triggers. Bracket or not, on-camera flash looks like on camera flash.
Mark_L wrote:
Flash brackets are from the days where iso 400 was your limit before grain got crazy so flash was used a lot to get more light meaning red-eye and the portrait orientation flash shadow were an issue. These days with good high iso bouncing flash and blending it with ambient is possible and more widely used along with frequent off camera use due to cheap radio triggers. Bracket or not, on-camera flash looks like on camera flash.
This.
I have not had red eye in a single wedding photo of the 100,000+ I have shot, and never used bracket yet used plenty of on camera flash.
SweetMk wrote:
Lots of votes for "NO".
Do the NO voters use a on camera flash? If not, what do you use.
The bracket looks like a simple way to keep the flash connected to the camera, while enhancing pics.
Am I missing something?
I use a mix of available light, OCF and bounce. I do not use direct flash ever. Thats pretty much what I used a bracket for. Direct flash.
I have a friend that uses one only because he says it makes him look more professional. But he also said he is taking half of 2013 off because he needs surgery on his wrists and back from the added bulk and odd way he has to carrying things.
