Why use a side mounted flash bracket

PaulfromTexas · 03-08-2011, 07:23 PM

i searched but couldnt find an answer. i understand the concept of a flash bracket, but do not understand a side mounted one that buts the flash right up next to the lens.

an example would be the CB-RC mini flash bracket. whats the point?

**GregK8** · 03-08-2011, 10:40 PM

Illuminating close-ups?

**seventhdr** · 03-08-2011, 11:25 PM

I dislike putting a flash directly on top of any camera. I think that it is placing too heavy a load on the hot shoe on the camera, and I've seen too many stories of woe were dropping or hitting the flash has damage the hot shoes of either the camera or the flash.

I prefer the side mounting of the flash to avoid damaging the camera.

regards

Chris Stone

sterretje · 03-09-2011, 12:52 AM

I asked a similar question a while ago: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-camera-field-accessories/83516-market-flash.html

calicojack · 03-09-2011, 05:59 AM

Originally posted by PaulfromTexas

i searched but couldnt find an answer. i understand the concept of a flash bracket, but do not understand a side mounted one that buts the flash right up next to the lens.

an example would be the CB-RC mini flash bracket. whats the point?

In my opinion, the only purpose of a bracket with this congfiguration is simply to sell it. "If you make it, they will buy it."

Ratmagiclady · 03-09-2011, 06:06 AM

I think he means, why one that is just a flat bracket and doesn't elevate the flash: with that, it's basically just that sometimes you don't need that elevation: Some fill techniques actually mean you can/want to put the light close to the lens axis, and there's just times when you're shooting in close quarters where the actual height of the flash is in the way or vulnerable or likely to be obstructed.

(Like, while chasing birdies in underbrush to take a stab at last month's contest. *whistle whistle*

)

I think I've seen a couple of paparazzi types with a setup like that amid general throngs on TV, could prevent shadows from hat brims that way, maybe.

Wheatfield · 03-09-2011, 06:28 AM

If you are shooting verticals (a lot of candid wedding photography is shot that way), then it puts the flash above the lens and obviates shadows to the side of the subject.
The shadow cast by a shoe mounted flash when the camera is vertical scream incompetence.

calicojack · 03-09-2011, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by Ratmagiclady

<snip> could prevent shadows from hat brims that way, maybe.

but it will make everyone's eyes so red... And the light will be so flat.... But you're right, someone will want their flash located there.
Brian T

slip · 03-09-2011, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by PaulfromTexas

i searched but couldnt find an answer. i understand the concept of a flash bracket, but do not understand a side mounted one that buts the flash right up next to the lens.

an example would be the CB-RC mini flash bracket. whats the point?

I am going to venture a guess that when a flash is on it's side it would like the subject a little bit more on one side then the other to help get rid of the "deer in the headlight" look. not sure why a person would not want the flash elevated and on the side of the camera as well, though

cheers

randy

PaulfromTexas · 03-09-2011, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by slipchuck

I am going to venture a guess that when a flash is on it's side it would like the subject a little bit more on one side then the other to help get rid of the "deer in the headlight" look. not sure why a person would not want the flash elevated and on the side of the camera as well, though

cheers

randy

exactly. if it were elevated or elevated and to the side it would make sense, but this one puts the flash just to the right of the lens. its not really a big deal to me personally, but i was just wandering if anyone out there used something like this. it just seems to me that it would move the harsh shadow from straight back to the left of the subject.

Ratmagiclady · 03-09-2011, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by calicojack

but it will make everyone's eyes so red... And the light will be so flat.... But you're right, someone will want their flash located there.
Brian T

That's about balance. If you're like me and try to keep flash power as low as you can, the flash can just be easing the shadows and sometimes you *do* want to be close to the lens or not casting shadows from hats or obstructions (like in staircases sometimes) And you can choose your direction. I've been known to go so far as to invert the camera to position the flash for a shot, (my K20d and grip are uncommonly good for this, actually.)

Of course, if you're using bounce and swivel, especially off the ceiling or card, a couple of inches matter less.

Suffice it to say there's kind of a lot of reasons one might use a bracket like that. They're also nice and compact.

I'm kind of sold on a Demb bracket, (Or a copy of such I might make myself, with my own refinements added,) which, combined with a bounce card can let me position the flash just about any which way without being huge or in the way,

PaulfromTexas · 03-09-2011, 03:05 PM

i must have overlooked a couple of replys. i guess what ive gathered so far is that a small bracket to put the flash on the side of the camera does have a few applications, but not as many as say an over camera style bracket.

thanks for the replys everyone

calicojack · 03-09-2011, 03:11 PM

I generally use a Stroboframe Flip Flash bracket which holds the flash directly above the lens in either orientation. I keep the flash head pointed forward and mount a Photoflex XTC inflatable soft box onto it.
Brian T

slip · 03-09-2011, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by PaulfromTexas

i must have overlooked a couple of replys. i guess what ive gathered so far is that a small bracket to put the flash on the side of the camera does have a few applications, but not as many as say an over camera style bracket.

thanks for the replys everyone

I was reading a wedding photography book and it said that bouncing the flash off a wall instead of the ceiling is much more natural looking.... maybe that is why it is mounted to the side of the camera. think I need to buy it

Amazon.com: Captured by the Light: The Essential Guide to Creating Extraordinary Wedding Photography eBook: David Ziser: Kindle Store

randy

aleonx3 · 03-09-2011, 07:50 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

If you are shooting verticals (a lot of candid wedding photography is shot that way), then it puts the flash above the lens and obviates shadows to the side of the subject.
The shadow cast by a shoe mounted flash when the camera is vertical scream incompetence.

Wheatfield gets it right... for both horizontal and vertical shots, the flash (with this bracket) is slightly above the lens which will minimize the shadow casting from the side without this bracket. Without this bracket, I keep the shots horizontal and crop later to avoid shadows.

03-08-2011, 07:23 PM	#1
PaulfromTexas Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 96	Why use a side mounted flash bracket i searched but couldnt find an answer. i understand the concept of a flash bracket, but do not understand a side mounted one that buts the flash right up next to the lens. an example would be the CB-RC mini flash bracket. whats the point?

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03-08-2011, 10:40 PM	#2
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	Illuminating close-ups?

03-08-2011, 11:25 PM	#3
seventhdr Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,440	I dislike putting a flash directly on top of any camera. I think that it is placing too heavy a load on the hot shoe on the camera, and I've seen too many stories of woe were dropping or hitting the flash has damage the hot shoes of either the camera or the flash. I prefer the side mounting of the flash to avoid damaging the camera. regards Chris Stone

03-09-2011, 12:52 AM	#4
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	I asked a similar question a while ago: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-camera-field-accessories/83516-market-flash.html

03-09-2011, 05:59 AM	#5
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124	Originally posted by PaulfromTexas i searched but couldnt find an answer. i understand the concept of a flash bracket, but do not understand a side mounted one that buts the flash right up next to the lens. an example would be the CB-RC mini flash bracket. whats the point? In my opinion, the only purpose of a bracket with this congfiguration is simply to sell it. "If you make it, they will buy it."

03-09-2011, 06:06 AM	#6
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	I think he means, why one that is just a flat bracket and doesn't elevate the flash: with that, it's basically just that sometimes you don't need that elevation: Some fill techniques actually mean you can/want to put the light close to the lens axis, and there's just times when you're shooting in close quarters where the actual height of the flash is in the way or vulnerable or likely to be obstructed. (Like, while chasing birdies in underbrush to take a stab at last month's contest. whistle whistle ) I think I've seen a couple of paparazzi types with a setup like that amid general throngs on TV, could prevent shadows from hat brims that way, maybe.

03-09-2011, 06:28 AM	#7
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	If you are shooting verticals (a lot of candid wedding photography is shot that way), then it puts the flash above the lens and obviates shadows to the side of the subject. The shadow cast by a shoe mounted flash when the camera is vertical scream incompetence.

03-09-2011, 06:31 AM	#8
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124	Originally posted by Ratmagiclady <snip> could prevent shadows from hat brims that way, maybe. but it will make everyone's eyes so red... And the light will be so flat.... But you're right, someone will want their flash located there. Brian T

03-09-2011, 06:31 AM	#9
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Originally posted by PaulfromTexas i searched but couldnt find an answer. i understand the concept of a flash bracket, but do not understand a side mounted one that buts the flash right up next to the lens. an example would be the CB-RC mini flash bracket. whats the point? I am going to venture a guess that when a flash is on it's side it would like the subject a little bit more on one side then the other to help get rid of the "deer in the headlight" look. not sure why a person would not want the flash elevated and on the side of the camera as well, though cheers randy

03-09-2011, 12:09 PM	#10
PaulfromTexas Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 96 Original Poster	Originally posted by slipchuck I am going to venture a guess that when a flash is on it's side it would like the subject a little bit more on one side then the other to help get rid of the "deer in the headlight" look. not sure why a person would not want the flash elevated and on the side of the camera as well, though cheers randy exactly. if it were elevated or elevated and to the side it would make sense, but this one puts the flash just to the right of the lens. its not really a big deal to me personally, but i was just wandering if anyone out there used something like this. it just seems to me that it would move the harsh shadow from straight back to the left of the subject.

03-09-2011, 02:57 PM	#11
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by calicojack but it will make everyone's eyes so red... And the light will be so flat.... But you're right, someone will want their flash located there. Brian T That's about balance. If you're like me and try to keep flash power as low as you can, the flash can just be easing the shadows and sometimes you do want to be close to the lens or not casting shadows from hats or obstructions (like in staircases sometimes) And you can choose your direction. I've been known to go so far as to invert the camera to position the flash for a shot, (my K20d and grip are uncommonly good for this, actually.) Of course, if you're using bounce and swivel, especially off the ceiling or card, a couple of inches matter less. Suffice it to say there's kind of a lot of reasons one might use a bracket like that. They're also nice and compact. I'm kind of sold on a Demb bracket, (Or a copy of such I might make myself, with my own refinements added,) which, combined with a bounce card can let me position the flash just about any which way without being huge or in the way,

03-09-2011, 03:05 PM	#12
PaulfromTexas Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 96 Original Poster	i must have overlooked a couple of replys. i guess what ive gathered so far is that a small bracket to put the flash on the side of the camera does have a few applications, but not as many as say an over camera style bracket. thanks for the replys everyone

03-09-2011, 03:11 PM	#13
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124	I generally use a Stroboframe Flip Flash bracket which holds the flash directly above the lens in either orientation. I keep the flash head pointed forward and mount a Photoflex XTC inflatable soft box onto it. Brian T

03-09-2011, 07:37 PM	#14
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Originally posted by PaulfromTexas i must have overlooked a couple of replys. i guess what ive gathered so far is that a small bracket to put the flash on the side of the camera does have a few applications, but not as many as say an over camera style bracket. thanks for the replys everyone I was reading a wedding photography book and it said that bouncing the flash off a wall instead of the ceiling is much more natural looking.... maybe that is why it is mounted to the side of the camera. think I need to buy it Amazon.com: Captured by the Light: The Essential Guide to Creating Extraordinary Wedding Photography eBook: David Ziser: Kindle Store randy

03-09-2011, 07:50 PM	#15
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by Wheatfield If you are shooting verticals (a lot of candid wedding photography is shot that way), then it puts the flash above the lens and obviates shadows to the side of the subject. The shadow cast by a shoe mounted flash when the camera is vertical scream incompetence. Wheatfield gets it right... for both horizontal and vertical shots, the flash (with this bracket) is slightly above the lens which will minimize the shadow casting from the side without this bracket. Without this bracket, I keep the shots horizontal and crop later to avoid shadows.