Looking for flash bracket (D70, SB800)

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Sheldon - 02 Jul 2005 03:00 GMT

Every pro flash I've ever had connected to the camera with a bracket of
somekind, both to balance the weight and so you could easily separate the
flash from the camera to move the light source.

Anything like this I can use on my D70 and SB800? Again, looking for
something that will hold the flash on the side of the camera, yet allow me
to easily move it out to the side then snap it back into place. You know,
kinda like the old Metz and Honeywell units that created another handle on
the side of your camera.

I'd hate to think I have to use this thing on top of the camera all the
time, or have to always hold the camera in one hand and the flash in the
other. And I'm not too fond of those giant halos that circle around the
lens and hold the flash in different positions. Just want to easily pull it
off and put it back.

Sheldon

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DoN. Nichols - 02 Jul 2005 04:15 GMT

>Every pro flash I've ever had connected to the camera with a bracket of
>somekind, both to balance the weight and so you could easily separate the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>kinda like the old Metz and Honeywell units that created another handle on
>the side of your camera.

    Well ... you know that you don't need to have the flash on the
camera at all? The D70 can be set into "flash commander" mode and
control the flash with IR communications -- no wires needed.

    And -- the AS-19 plastic base even has a tripod socket, so it
can be mounted on a tripod (or any reasonable bracket) to the side of
the camera.

    Otherwise, look at pages 111 and 112 of the SB-800 instruction
manual. At the top of the first page is the SC-29, 28, or 17, which
allows you to u se the TTL flash work with the flash off the camera.

    On the second page are the brackets SK-7 and SK-E900. One or
the other should work in combination with the AS-19 speedlight stand
which comes with the SB-800.

    Personally, I don't like having an extra "handle" on the left
hand side of the camera body. I feel that the left hand is better used
to form a support cradle for the lens -- especially for the longer
lenses. That allows you to both focus (if needed) and zoom with the
left hand, and to better control the weight hanging out front of the
camera.

    The only SLR which I have ever used for which a two-handed grip
was appropriate was the Zeiss Contaflex Super, which had a lump on each
side of the lens to allow focusing by alternately pressing down with a
finger on each side of the lens. And that did not have truly
interchangeable lenses -- just front elements, and could not build up
that much weight out front.

>I'd hate to think I have to use this thing on top of the camera all the
>time, or have to always hold the camera in one hand and the flash in the
>other. And I'm not too fond of those giant halos that circle around the
>lens and hold the flash in different positions. Just want to easily pull it
>off and put it back.

    Combine the SK-7 bracket and the AS-19 stand to allow that,
along with the appropriate cable from the previous page.

    And this is just from a quick check in the manual which came
with the flash, ignoring what might also be in the camera's manual.

    Enjoy,
        DoN.

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Sheldon - 02 Jul 2005 06:28 GMT

Thanks for the good advice. I really like the idea of being able to just
snap the flash on and off the camera for use in the field. Don't really
want to take the time to "setup," if you get my drift, although for certain
subjects the stand and triggering the flash with the D70's flash will come
in handy.

I'm considering using the flash more for macro shots, bugs and stuff,
otherwise the position on top of the camera works just fine. Just shot a
sunset from a hammock with me and the hammock in the shot. Set the flash to
light me up just enough so you could see me, but the sunset came through
loud and clear. Also took some nice shots of some flowers at night. Only
the flowers are lit, with dark all around the one I focused in on. Would
have been nice to be able to "snap" the flash off to get some different
angles on the light.

Sheldon
sheldon@sopris.net

> >Every pro flash I've ever had connected to the camera with a bracket of
> >somekind, both to balance the weight and so you could easily separate the
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
> Enjoy,
> DoN.

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Frank ess - 02 Jul 2005 17:30 GMT

> Thanks for the good advice. I really like the idea of being able to
> just snap the flash on and off the camera for use in the field.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Sheldon
> sheldon@sopris.net

I haven't tried it with a dSLR, but this worked good on a Nikon
Coolpix 995:

Connect the flash by means of a PC cord or equivalent; slip a small
plastic envelope over the on-board flash. To block the on-board's
lighting effect, I made the envelope black on one side, clear on the
other. One flash in question was a Vivitar 285HV, and it metered well
enough for good results. Using the slave-capable Vivitar Digi 200
without a cord, the clear side of the envelope emits sufficient to
trigger the remote flash while the dark side removes it as a direct
source. Easy to move the second flash around with the camera on a
tripod. Not as easy, but not impossible to do the flash in one hand
and the camera in the other.

Signature

Frank ess

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Sheldon - 02 Jul 2005 18:54 GMT

>> Thanks for the good advice. I really like the idea of being able to
>> just snap the flash on and off the camera for use in the field.
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> flash around with the camera on a tripod. Not as easy, but not impossible
> to do the flash in one hand and the camera in the other.

Interesting idea. I thought about using the flash wireless, but wondered
how to kill the on-board flash.

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stacyreeves - 03 Jul 2005 17:18 GMT

I bought a flash bracket for the same reason, and I have to tell you, I
haven't really used it at all. It adds so much weight to the bulk of
the camera, and if you're shooting in a tight space or you want to try
some different perspectives, sometimes the bracket gets in the way of
that. I'm not saying don't buy one, but if you do, get either the
cheapest on or the smallest one.

stacy
http://savoir.photopholio.com

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