New flash setup for macro flower photography

Frank,
If you are referring to the RRS portrait flash setup, I totally agree with your analysis. Have been using it since it first became available and am extremely pleased with the results. The only problem I have found is that if you use a "footed" lens with a tripod mount you might find that it is difficult to rotate the camera unless everything is set up properly. Otherwise, this is a fine tool--even when used as a two flash setup.
Jerry Snider

 

I simply meant that when using the RRS portrait package with a lens having a rotating tripod collar that if rotating to the right (clockwise) the curved flash arm will hit the quick release clamp itself, or if the tightening knob is on the right side as some prefer, will hit the knob. The flash bracket, at least in my case, has to be shifted rearward as close as possible to the camera to eliminate this, making it difficult to reach the knob controlling the rotating collar on the lens. Proper setup is not a one way situation with this apparatus since the flash bracket can adjust anywhere the user wishes along the horizontal bracket, i.e. if the user prefers or needs the flash to be forward along the lens, then the situation I describe will occur, even with the B 87-B. You are absolutely correct that one CAN use the bracket with the telephoto IF one has the new double groove foot attachment or, if enough clearance, the screw in upgrade to the old foot. In any event, it requires yet another purchase. Even with this upgrade, the portrait setup for some (read ME!) is preferred since it provides a nice "arm" to help steady the camera.
I meant nothing more than this and am very sorry that I apparently offended you or at least took you to task re the use of the latter. I agree with you, the RRS portrait package is simply a marvelous device as is all of the RRS items that I have purchased.
No hard feelings,
Jerry Snider

 

Frank,
Only got the dreaded red X....no photo. Perhaps the B 85 will clear, however, the B 87 will not (at least for me). In the event the flash ring clears the clamp, it will hit the ball head prior to aligning vertically. Admittedly, if mounted on the foot clamp, there is no problem whatsoever. Using the portrait package with a rotating collared lens, it simply won't rotate to vertical. Indeed, I cannot rotate vertical in either direction, clockwise OR counterclockwise, when using the portrait package on a monopod or tripod and the B 87. It will only rotate in a clockwise direction if the flash ring is "scooted" to its closest position directly up against the camera to permit clearance behind the clamp. If the tightening knob on the clamp is on the left side instead of the right, then the flash ring will clear the clamp but hit the ball of the Arca Swiss ball head before it reaches vertical.
This is the primary reason I finally purchased a new foot clamp. Indeed, had I purchased a foot clamp ca. 4-6" long I would be in great shape to use the portrait package in the manner I have described!!
My best,
Jerry Snider

 

Sorry, Frank. Have finally called up your photo. I prefaced ALL of my comments re the use of the RRS complete portrait package, i.e. the horizontal side arm, etc. I thought that my message made that clear. Obviously it didn't. Of course, it WILL work like a charm if the flash ring is attached to the lens foot, as your photo indeed shows.
Guess we've been talking apples and oranges here, and obviously you ARE using it with a correct setup. You are correct, I am incorrect.
Jerry Snider

 

My portrait perfect package arrived yesterday. I went with the B87-B to give myself "room to grow" (ie keep the dream alive that I might be able to get a D2X some day... ). The only problem with the larger bracket is that when mounted on my D70's L-Bracket with the flash oriented for horizontal shooting the flash isn't centered over the lens (it is when shooting vertical though). When mounted to a lens plate this isn't the case, and I assume that with a larger body it wouldn't be either. Still, I can live with that; the Stroboframe Camera Flip that I briefly tried had a similar issue (not to mention being very unwieldy and flimsy-feeling).

My main reason for getting this bracket is vertical shooting for portraits/candids/etc. But playing around with it a little I can definitely see how it would be very useful for flash macro photography. Not only does the forward tilt allow getting the flash angled more toward your subject, but you can also position the flash anywhere along the bracket arm if you want the lighting to be a bit more directional (ie, mounting flash at 10:00 instead of 12:00). And if you wanted you could always mount two flashes. I definitely plan to do some macro shooting with my Sigma 150 and the SB-800 with lumiquest Promax mounted in the near future.

My only regret is that my 70-200VR lens plate is from Kirk and doesn't have the double dovetail. Also, I still think the RRS stuff is overpriced. Yes, it's good stuff and well made, but the price doesn't really seem justified, especially on the lens plates and other stuff that doesn't even have moving parts and still costs so much. For instance I'd like to get a panarama shooting setup but from RRS it would be over $700 if you want full capability to shot multi-row panoramas. Even the basic pano elements package for shooting single-row horizontal panos is $365.

 

Jeff,
You are correct re the flash not being perfectly centered with the B 87. There is absolutely no problem when used that way from what I have been able to determine. I have two of the earlier RRS flash brackets and they also have a tilt head. They still work great. However, to use them you have to screw them to the foot bracket, thus they only worked with lenses that had such, or with their old style "clamping" rail. Forgot what the latter is called, but have one laying around here somewhere. The new clamp is innovative, for certain. Yes, RRS is expensive and, unfortunately, their products can become addictive!
Jerry Snider

 

Frank,
Still don't see the photo with the RRS setup....dreaded red X. I managed to bring it up via other methods, however.
Thanks
Jerry Snider

 

It still doesn't show for me either. You need to make sure that when you link to a pbase image directly you use the www.pbase.com/image/id URL, because if you link directly to one of the other pbase servers (misheli in your example) it may not work for everybody.

 

Frank,

I agree your shot shows much better modeling than you would get from the completely flat light of a ring flash.

Regarding price, I guess I just mean that compared to other stuff I buy the pricing on the RRS stuff seems a bit out of whack. Maybe lower volume means higher production costs to some extent but that's also a self-fulling prophecy, volume could probably be higher if the pricing was more attractive. I just think there's a market potential for somebody to undercut these guys on price, it's a shame nobody's taken advantage of it.

 

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