Real World Review – Best Flash Bracket We’ve Used: Newton’s
If you have ever covered an event, or just needed the ability to shoot vertical and horizontal with a similar light pattern, you’ll need a flash bracket.
You know that wonderful piece of metal that attaches to the camera and holds the flash away from the body. It can either flip, rotate, or…..hmmm…. those are about your choices as you change formats.
We have been on a hunt for the best solution out there. So we looked all over.
Now, of course, everyone has different needs, and can handle different sizes and weights of bracket.
Custom Brackets makes a great system, with brackets that can be, well, customized to your needs. It has some weight to it, though.
JustRite also makes a similar system that will rotate your camera on ball bearing track to shift from vertical to horizontal.
Both are in the $300 -$400 range and are units that are easy to carry with camera mounted, but a little unwieldy to pack in your bag.
Stroboframe has some solutions which are simpler, but we found that we had to carry a micro leatherman pocket tool to tighten stuff up, after a real assignment workout. Also, not a small unit.
And we asked all of the shooters around us. Honestly, when we were in the photog pits in SXSW, you see a bunch of shooters and ask what works for them. No one seemed happy with what they had, but all recommended this one:
The Newton Flash Brackets!
After visiting the site, it seemed like a right deal. Size appeared right, nice and small. a coupla photo illustrations helped.
A phone call with the owner confirmed a purchase.
When the box came, it was almost shocking how small the box was. A good sign.
Newton Bracket Folded
The unit was in it’s folded position, and it was TINY!
We ordered the needed flash plate, and set about to setting the rig and putting in all in hand.
Nikon has us checking out a D90, so that was the guinea pig unit , with an 18-200mm lens.
Bracket in the center, with small bag of included tools
The instructions are thorough but we still had one more call with the manufacturer who guided a perfect fit. he was happy that we called instead of just sending it back.
No way. This looked like the real deal.
Horizontal position with speedlight and TTL cord in place
Ready to shoot!
Well, we are very happy to say that after a coupla shoots, this is a love fest.
You hold the camera, not a grip, so you’ve saved some space.
In mid-shift to vertical position
The move from horizontal to vertical is smooth and solid, like you need it to be.
Set for vertical, view from above
The Nikon SC-29 TTL Coiled Remote Cord we use is in a tight pattern and you have to shut off the sensor on the camera because it will just hit the back of the speedlight in the horizontal mode.
They also offer a quick release piece for the flash mount so you can change out flashes easy or pack with the cable off.
Still not sure if we need it.
They offer a service to shorten your cord (you can see it wrapped around the bracket). We understand the reason, just not ready to commit to that, since we may still want to pull the flash off camera. Want the option, anyway.
So we love this unit: solid, small, and does exactly what it says it should and designed by a shooter who knew what we need. It’s a small operation so you may have to wait but it’s worth it.
Cost? for what we demo’d about $230. USD. Well worth it.
And we have a bunch of images here because we got some but until it was in our hands we didn’t full get the awesomeness of this.
Some more images after the jump. And just because we wish there were more on the site, to fully get the brilliance.
Unfolded, ready to mount to camera
view from underneath
bottom view, folded: silver knob is where camera is attached. Please note the bracket will fold flat but we set it for this smaller, consumer camera
This is the right unit for the shooter who needs to pack light and small. It’s a solid pro bracket backed by a solid citizen. Highly recommended!
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Thank you for this post! I’ve been obsessing over what bracket to buy and it seems like my search has ended! Keep up the good work!
Very cool. Tell em where you read about it!
Cheers!
damon
I’m a female photographer with small wrists. I have been avoiding getting a flash bracket as the extra weight on the camera I feared would do me in. Also I hate the way they look on the camera. When I saw the small size of this I decided –this is for me. I looks great on my camera and it doesn’t have my flash way up in the air where I believe it would unbalance things and make it more difficult to handle. I plan on shortening my SC-28 chord as I like things neat and compact. I am beyond happy and so lucky I didn’t buy something else (I almost did because I thought there were no alternatives). I accidently found this article which led me to the website. Thank heavens for my habbit of browsing the web!
Glad you like it! So do we. It’s was a long search for the right one. Hopefully we can keep turning you on to the gear that works.
Cheers!
Damon
Great review, great bracket. I had one way back when, and it worked great. It was a looong time back,I even forgot the name. But I do remember the bracket. Solid, compact, superbly designed and machined, will last forever. does not add much bulk to the camera, and the weight is negligible. You’ll wonder what took you so long…
I own both the Strobeframe and the Newton brackets. Have used them both shooing film and digital (Bronica ETRS, D100, D40) at weddings for over 15 years. No doubt about it, IMO the Newton runs circles around the Stroboframe. First problem with the Stroboframe, you hold the bracket, not the camera. Where’s the camera controls…on the camera. Second problem, the Stroboframe is relatively tall and top heavy once a flash is mounted.
Granted both brackets are EXTREMELY robust (need to be for the wedding environment), and both brackets accomplish the primary feats of eliminating redeye and background shadows. But for me, the Newton’s advantages of compact size, not being top heavy,and ‘retaining the ergonomics’ of holding the camera in lieu of the bracket makes it the real winner. Unfortunately for most wedding photographers, I don’t think they’re aware of Newton’s brackets. (Use to be marketed by Stroboframe years ago, if I remember correctly). No, I have no association with either company…I just appreciate a remarkable piece of engineering (and manufacturing) when I see it.
Do you don’t glare from the flash being in front on the lens?
hi there,
this looks like a great bracket, my only question is will it work with a nikon su-800 flash transmitter? i have an sc-17, but would like less stuff hanging off the rig.
thanks!
rob o
I read this review and decided to email Mr. Newton to ask him what part numbers would be correct for my newly purchased Nissin D1866 Flash and Nikon D3100 camera. This gentelman responded within 24hrs (as his site said) with his reply and I plan to spend the extra money for his product. I have searched the net for six hours over the past week and cannot find a better bracket for the money. I wanted something compact and well built to hold my rather heafty Nissin Flash.
I had to order in a custom flash bracket for my d700 as my SB-600 flash started going nuts to the point I thought it would blow up. I chose to go with a flash bracket after reading online there is a problem with d700 design, in that the hot shoe loosens after about 2 years and its very difficult to repair. I was very angry …and then sad … as I’ve only used flash a number of times and it is essential, for my weddings. But I quickly got over my grief when the flash bracket arrived, as it is….. AWESOME! I believe I do look like a knob with it attached to the camera (I’m not used to a bracket yet, even though its smaller then most brackets I have read about) but it works wonderfully!! I suggest if you purchase a Nikon d700, get some sort of flash bracket to keep the flash off the hot shoe and in this case the DiFR2 from Newton. I’m a girl and the instructions were a little wordy but I ended up putting it all together myself, which left me most proud like. My bracket was sent and received within 2 weeks (I’m in Sydney Australia) and I would have no hesitation in contact Mr Newton if I needed help. Best camera accessory I have ever purchased. Thank you Mr Newton.
so not be able to mount on tripod with the braket?
I’ve been looking everywhere for this bracket with that exact type of flash, what’s the actual name of the flash and the bracket? I need to purchase this!
HI Tricia- It’s the Newton Bracket: http://www.newtoncamerabrackets.com/
I take pleasure in, lead to I found exactly what I was having a look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
wedding planning…
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wedding planning checklist…
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While i’m certain this is a great bracket- in doing some research I found stroboframe makes a very , VERY similar unit for about 1/2 the price- the stroboframe VH2000, for about 90 bucks. Works on the same principal, and though I have used NEITHER (disclaimer!) , the strobo unit looks a bit simpler and slightly less compact, which I view as a good thing, btw.
Still- great article, and I would NOT have found the strobo until looking at the ergonomics of the Newton! Thanks.
Is the connecting cable necessary? Couldn’t the flash on Newton be triggered by the D700 built in flash commander?
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