I am thinking of purchasing a flash bracket for my Nikon D50. I have looked around the forum and other sites, but I still cannot figure out what is a good one (not too expensive). Also, not sure of what else I will need for the flash to work. At the moment I use a Vivitar (at least I think it is a Vivitar) attached to the camera.

Any advice or suggestions would be great. Don't want to purchase the wrong stuff!!

Thanks for your help,
Mel

Originally Posted by MelP I am thinking of purchasing a flash bracket for my Nikon D50. I have looked around the forum and other sites, but I still cannot figure out what is a good one (not too expensive). Also, not sure of what else I will need for the flash to work. At the moment I use a Vivitar (at least I think it is a Vivitar) attached to the camera. Any advice or suggestions would be great. Don't want to purchase the wrong stuff!! Thanks for your help, Mel

Head for ebay and check out the stroboframes...I posted a link for one that was going for cheap...in another thread on brackets....I currently use a R4B and a RL** they are old but work great....

The other thing you will need is a flash cable...depending wheather it is to be dedicated or not is the choice....camera mfgs make the dedicated cables and flashes usally come with a cable unless they are propriatary flashes for a spewfic camera mfs....so your vivatar should have come with a cable...my Minolta 5600 did not come with a cable however has a wireless mode in conjunction with the on camera flash to trigger it....

But check out the brackets on ebay...FOUND THE OTHER THREAD AND COPIED MY INPUT:

....I prefer the older "R" Series....flash mounted above and camera rotates on a cammed base....a little larger than the 350 but once you get used to them they are great.


This one is no longer shown on the tiffen/stroboframe site...but is avail on Ebay right now[ http://cgi.ebay.com/Stroboframe-R4b-Camera-Bracket-645-winders-35-112338-NR_W0QQitemZ7577070214QQcategoryZ43479QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem#ebayphotohosting ].....this is what I use and I have a mount for shoe mounts also for my vivatar flashes.

2 hrs left and is $38.00 damn cheap (4:08PM now)

Originally Posted by ART SCOTT

that is one midevil looking machine.

Originally Posted by DanielB that is one midevil looking machine.

I agree!! It looks like some kind of torture device...

Mel

thanks Art! I will definitely give Ebay a look...Not sure my Vivitar came with a cable (if it did, I have not seen it in the last few years)

Mel

Originally Posted by MelP I am thinking of purchasing a flash bracket for my Nikon D50. I have looked around the forum and other sites, but I still cannot figure out what is a good one (not too expensive). Also, not sure of what else I will need for the flash to work. At the moment I use a Vivitar (at least I think it is a Vivitar) attached to the camera. Any advice or suggestions would be great. Don't want to purchase the wrong stuff!! Thanks for your help, Mel

Check out this post in another forum. I'm about to go buy the bracket mentioned here (CB Junior, available from B&H for $89.95) because I need one and this photographer takes great pictures with it, particularly people and weddings. He used to have a D70, now has a D200 so this should work fine on a D50 too.

Daniel & Mel,

Here is how I set up my bracket (medevil torture device )



Being able to keep the flash centered over the lens is of utmost importance,




being able to have control over flash angle is also important,




Being able to adjust for different cameras is also important to me, as I can go from the Nikon F70 above to my any of my Kievs or my digitals in short order....I do not believe that you can get this kind of ability with out spending several hundred dollars on a cutom or really right stuff bracket...stroboframe has always peoduced a quality bracket for a fraction of the cost of others.

Good luck in your hunting.

Just get a custom bracket. The one that art has i think would probably scare people away. Take for example children. It does look like a midevil torture device!

The custom bracket i'm talking about is this one.

Add a lightsphere II and your lighting will be perfect.

Originally Posted by chrisjlee Just get a custom bracket. The one that art has i think would probably scare people away. Take for example children. It does look like a midevil torture device! The custom bracket i'm talking about is this one. Add a lightsphere II and your lighting will be perfect.

Actually it makes your system look more awesome and I have had notheing but compliments from clients and past studios I have shot weddings for....I should have put the Sunpak 622 on it also to show you....or one of my Kiev med format cameras.........but each to his own....this baby will work with anything besides a view camera, so I don't have to a custom made arms oranything for switchings cameras as you do with some Custom made and RRS brackets.....


Good luck with your hunting for the perfect bracket.....it all comes down to personal taste (asthetics..ie looks not functionality ).......

I've noticed all of the pictures of the flash brackets have cables attached to the flash. I looked at my flash when I got home. It is an old Promaster FTD 5700. It does not have a cable or anywhere to plug one up at. Is this something that is needed or does the cable plug into something else? Guess I'm confused on the whole subject. Don't want to have to buy a new flash as well.

Thanks for any all advice which might get me unconfused,
Mel

Mel if you are shooting with a nikon the cable would be a sc-17 [around $50] ........it is a dedicated cable so all functions work, used it with my promaster also.....but a generic fix would be to buy a shoe adapter that has a pc cable outlet on it ( can be purchased for 3 to $10 at a Ritz or other camera store and a pc cable to go to camera...another 3 to $10 depending on cable length and so on....I really paramount cables....I have abused them for years and not had one fail.....Camera has to be operated on manual......

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by ART SCOTT Mel if you are shooting with a nikon the cable would be a sc-17 [around $50] ........it is a dedicated cable so all functions work, used it with my promaster also.....but a generic fix would be to buy a shoe adapter that has a pc cable outlet on it ( can be purchased for 3 to $10 at a Ritz or other camera store and a pc cable to go to camera...another 3 to $10 depending on cable length and so on....I really paramount cables....I have abused them for years and not had one fail.....Camera has to be operated on manual...... Hope this helps

Thanks a bunch, Art!!! Think I get it all now. Believe I'll look into the generic fix.

Thank you so much,
Mel

Originally Posted by MelP Thanks a bunch, Art!!! Think I get it all now. Believe I'll look into the generic fix. Thank you so much, Mel

Generic works great...Just have to meter everything....no program mode which never bothered me