TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I believe someone did. In 2015, the company was split into two groups, and the flash division was purchased by the German company Daum. You can still buy new Metz flashes from B&H.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1071200-REG/metz_mz_64312op_64af_1_digital_flash_for.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxb2XBhDBARIsAOjDZ34FqjyxB5Y6sILVG6SSQ9scwzPGOkCliIdYqo-Duobop5al2NSz0w0aAmuOEALw_wcB

therwol Loc: USA

That flash sits in a hot shoe like typical OEM flashes. The potato masher style is gone.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I still, on occasion, take out my Sunpak 555 because I like the feel of the thing. Having the camera on the bracket, the flash acts as a stabilizing "handle".

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you TriX. That answered THAT question.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Do you/anyone ever still use a Jones Bracket to hold the camera with a flash mounted on top?

Dennis

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Oh, I agree - just pointing out that Metz is still making flashes.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Larson Stroboframe... It let me mount a Vivitar 285 and keep the flash tube parallel with the film plane or sensor plane at all times, AND directly above the lens.

Potato masher strobes are gone, along with their traditional side-by-side brackets. Good riddance! That scheme puts a shadow on one side of a subject because A) The flash is beside the camera and B) Most "potato masher flashers" can be used only as *direct* flash when mounted in a camera bracket (I'm thinking of the ancient kind made before the major flash manufacturers had competition and had to add swivel/tilt heads to them.)

A good flash bracket will always keep the flash unit directly ABOVE the lens. If you have to use direct flash (I avoid it when possible), it should be directly above the lens, so the shadow of the subject falls DOWN and BEHIND the subject, not to the side or above. It's amazing how many expensive flash brackets have been designed without that simple understanding...

If you look at the 1975 halloween frat party picture I posted above, you can see what I'm talking about. I made that with the 65D mounted to the left of the camera, using the standard Honeywell Strobonar flash bracket for 35mm cameras. The shadow isn't awful in that scene, because I was standing on a chair or table or something. But it's there...

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I have a crate full of old Jones brackets. They were well-made and sturdy and functioned well in their day. I have a big-heavy encircling model that eventually fell apart. Until the Jones brackets, I made my own out of aluminum bar stock, nuts, bolts, and washers and washers.

The new models my Strobeframe and others are lighter, well engineered and more efficient in actual use.

As a straight-on direct flash or flat fill light in multiple flash systems or daylight flash fill, my standard is about 12 directly inches over the lens and flippable for horizontal and vertical orientations.

Images attached are my present hand-held rig and my 3- generations of flash I "portrait". I made my first bracket in 1961. A heck of a lot easier than holding a 4x5 press camera in one hand and the lamp head in the other.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Perhaps I am misunderstanding your post or you are misunderstanding mine. My apologies if the former. I mean an actual brand name, Jones Bracket. It allowed the flash to be over top of the camera body and could be used with almost all cameras. I included an advertisement to show an example as mine is in Idaho and I am not.

As an aside, I just looked at your frat party photo again and right near the center is one gentleman pointing a revolver at another. Nobody seemed to give a damn. How times have changed.

Dennis

(Download)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Gotta love those low prices!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you. I appreciate your comment. I have not used my Jones Bracket in years but have a Yashica TLR I have never used so may attach it to the Jones Bracket to give it a try IF I want to use a flash such as my old Vivitar 283. It might work well.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Yes I agree. I bought mine back in the 1970's and still have it. No idea what I paid for it. I bought it specifically for both a wind up Hasselblad and then an ELM. I haven't used it since then but did not want to get rid of it either. It is one strong built like a tank piece of kit in my opinion. I have a TLR I am thinking of using as well as maybe a very old Century Graphic I have never used before either.

Dennis

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I still have my 555, as well, and do occasionally take it out to play with. It's a great flash when, as you say, you need to light the whole place up from 100 feet away (or more!). Just too much of a PITA to set it up and take it back off each time. You're right, much easier just to up the ISO. But, sometimes, you just need a nuclear-powered flash of light!

BebuLamar

I am not sure but I think Metz is out of flash business now. Their website shows no lighting equipment.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

B&H still shows them for sale (new). They are really excellent flashes - very well made.