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Flash Bracket

By hoary-tops

Photo accessories

12 May 2009 21:42

Ever since I bought a Flashgun for my DSLR, I have wanted a bracket to mount it in a better position than the one provided on the camera. When on-camera flash was needed, using the flash in the hot-shoe was reasonable for most horizontal shots, but when it was used for upright shots, the huge shadow that appeared at the side of the subject was horrendous. I wanted something that would bring the flash closer to the lens and work for both horizontal & upright shots. Doing a Google on ‘flash brackets’ brought the CB Mini-RC to my attention; it was the very thing that I was wanting.

Not cheap at £32.50, it is a well built bracket that is both stable and practical. It is designed to fit many cameras but according to the manufacturers, is not recommended for the Nikon D2H, as it may be uncomfortable. Using it with my EOS 50D, its offset design, (both forward and to the right), allows plenty of room for my fingers to clasp the camera’s built in grip and to operate the main camera shutter release or the one on an attached Battery Pack Grip. An added bonus is the partial counterbalance achieved by positioning the hand between the camera and the flash. As the bracket attaches to the camera by using the tripod socket, another has, thoughtfully, been provided on the Mini-RC, so allowing tripod mounting at the same time as using the bracket. There is no wiring built in but I already had the standard off-camera flash cable and that is all that is needed and a shoe with coin operated screw attaches it squarely to the bracket.

An anti-twist AT bar is sold as an accessory, at the ridiculous price of £19.80. Its purpose is to ensure that the bracket is kept square with the camera; it is simply a bar that attaches to the back of the bracket with two screws, that allows the back of the camera to fit snugly against it. I do not have one, and feel that it would make the row of buttons at the bottom of my camera, very awkward to use. Cork strips on the top of the bracket prevent scratching the camera and ensure a tight fit so obviating the need for the bar.