kbatschke Loc: Chicagoland-west

Ok, I'm really going to date myself here but thinking about when I used my Honeywell Strobonar back in the mid-70's. The unit attached to the camera via a bracket and screw-mount into the tripod socket. To the extent of my arm's length, I could provide side-lighting, bounce or above eye-level direct flash. I never see this technique used these days despite the advances in auto-focus etc. It seem that either photographers have remote off-camera or use hot shoe mounted units. Am I wrong? I also had a hot shoe mounted unit in those days but found the results much better with the Strobonar.

I'm in the market for a flash unit and this got me wondering.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Rick Fox

I bought an L-shaped, adjustable bracket (at local camera store) that attaches to the tripod attachment on the bottom of my camera. Then, I got a cord that attaches to the camera's hot shoe and and the speedlight. It works great for all types of shooting, but especially well at events!

Here are some brackets similar to the one I have. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Flash-Brackets/ci/653/N/4168864826

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Google "stroboframe" for a good start. With a little poking around you'll find a variety of devices of different sizes.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I have an old Canon 580EX that I routinely use in that manner when shooting indoors. I have a cord that connects the flash with my camera that will allow holding the flash at arm's length. I also have a stroboframe with a trigger that I used on a C330 with a Vivitar 283, it worked quite well.

kbatschke Loc: Chicagoland-west

Thanks for the quick replies and references! Much appreciated. Looks like there is a stroboframe in my future.

Karl

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I used a Honeywell Strobonar 880. Damn that 510-volt battery pack was heavy...That said, I have both a camera flip and flash flip strobonar brackets.

kbatschke Loc: Chicagoland-west

I think the 880 is what I had as well. Agree on the battery pack. Had it on a shoulder strap! Sure was a powerful flash though.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I had the Strobonar 800 (all manual) and Braun RL-515. Both took 510 volt (disposable) batteries.
I shot the same way- with the handle in my left hand and camera in my right.
On my Mamiya RB67, I used a Jones bracket with the Braun.
With autofocus lenses, it seems like it would be even easier to do that now, but I don't.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

I don't know about a Stroboframe, I've used them but I just use a Nikon Speedlight with a Speedlight cord now. You've got to get the flash off the camera (with a cord) for better lighting. Flash in my left hand controlling source of light and placement of shadows, camera in my right 3 or more feet off axis. Indoors.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

And a bird in your other right hand! Cool!

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

LOL !!!!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I've been trying to grow another myself!

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

You made a funny. You should be proud. That's your creative accomplishment for the day.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I guess yours is having 2 right hands....

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes, you are wrong. At least as far as I am concerned.

I often use a flash hand held, particularly when doing close-up and macro work. These images were shot that way....


... using this setup:


I diffuse the output with a couple layers of white gauze bandage over the flash tube... and hand hold the flash off to one side and slightly above the subject, while holding the camera in my other hand (sometimes on a monopod or resting on another surface).

I also use several different flash brackets...

For non-macro work I've got a cheap, generic, relatively compact flash bracket that moves the flash about 6 inches away from the lens axis. When I'm using a lens with a tripod mounting ring, I've got a modular Wimberley flash bracket rig that allows various configurations. In the shot below, I'm using the generic cheapo on one camera with a 24-70mm lens and the Wimberley on another camera with a 70-200mm lens.


I've also got a larger (and heavier) Manfrotto adjustable flash bracket that can position a flash higher up, approx. 18" or 24" from the lens axis.

Finally, this is a Canon macro twin lite attached to the lens using the OEM mounting bracket....


But I prefer using a Lepp/Stroboframe dual flash bracket that allows much more versatility positioning the flash heads:


Unfortunately, I think the Lepp/Stroboframe bracket has been discontinued. But they can still be found used and there are similar from other brands. I removed the usual flash mounting "cold shoes" from mine and just instead use the 1/4-20 thumbscrew shown to mount the flash heads to the bracket.