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Hi there again,

I've decided that I would like to have a better flash setup for my macro photography.

I've thought about the Wimberly setup mentioned in the review section of this site but I can't really use it without investing in an Arca-Swiss tripod head system. Although I'd love that option I can't really afford it at the moment...

I've been looking around for alternatives and found this one from Novaflex.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... ype=search

Has anyone here had any experience with this setup?

If not do you have any thoughts about it? I'd be a little worried about how much the arms can hold without moving. It says it's strong enough to hold 'even the heaviest of flashes' though.

Thanks for any input.

Paul

http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/

Paul, these guys are Novaflex distributors in Aus, might be worth a call and they might help.

This flash/macro issue is getting to you, isn't it?

Glen wrote:This flash/macro issue is getting to you, isn't it?

Thanks for the link Glen!

It sure is getting to me!

Macro is probably my favourite type of photography (followed very closely by small bird photography.... probably the two most expensive sides of the hobby )

I would really like to get results like I see on the Fred Miranda macro forums and similar to the results of Mark Plonsky (the inspiration that got me into macro, and photography in general http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/)

I'll get it right one day

Paul

Paul, that guy is impressive!

If those Novoflex things don't work, you could always use them as antenna's to look like my favourite martian

I too am looking around. I have considered the 330B manfrotto arms, but it says it can only hold 1kg ... which is bugger all.

DionM wrote:I too am looking around. I have considered the 330B manfrotto arms, but it says it can only hold 1kg ... which is bugger all.

And I don't like the fact that they only move in the horizontal plane. It doesn't look like you can tilt the flashes at all.

You don't have an Arca-Swiss setup either? I'm considering switching over but I'd like something a little sooner than that.

I'd need an M20 ballhead, Lens plate for my Sigma 180, Camera Bracket, Lens foot for my 500mm f4, lens plate for my sigma 100-300, the flash arms....ARGH Waaaay too much money for me!!

Have you looked at the Kirk ones? They look good but I can't find any info on them (I'm interested in the FB-9 or FB-10 http://www.kirkphoto.com/brackets.html) and don't know if you have to have the Arca-Swiss system to attach them.

Paul

I just got an email from someone (I think they must be from another forum I posted this topic on).

They sent me photos of just the flexible arm (you don't need the bracket!!) attached to the camera with an SB600 attached. It looks quite sturdy and they said the same.

I've asked if there is any 'bounce' with the arm with the flash attached when walking around.

Paul

NikonUser wrote:And I don't like the fact that they only move in the horizontal plane. It doesn't look like you can tilt the flashes at all.

Yeah, a real drawback I think.

You don't have an Arca-Swiss setup either? I'm considering switching over but I'd like something a little sooner than that.

No I don't, but could possibly as I am currently changing tripods.

I'd need an M20 ballhead, Lens plate for my Sigma 180, Camera Bracket, Lens foot for my 500mm f4, lens plate for my sigma 100-300, the flash arms....ARGH Waaaay too much money for me!!

Sounds expensive! I would similarly need to invest in a foot for my 70-200, 100 macro, camera etc.

Have you looked at the Kirk ones? They look good but I can't find any info on them (I'm interested in the FB-9 or FB-10 http://www.kirkphoto.com/brackets.html) and don't know if you have to have the Arca-Swiss system to attach them.

Paul

No I haven't looked yet. Will take a look.

Nikonuser, DionM,
Kirk systems are the same with RRS, all of their len , camera plates, heads are designed with Arca Swiss (Dove tails) type, Kirk System is just little bit cheaper than RRS, their design can't compete with RRS but it works with all the ballhead and QRP.
I had Kirk same as Arca Swiss before but switched to RRS more than 16 months now.

NikonUser wrote:I'd need an M20 ballhead, Lens plate for my Sigma 180, Camera Bracket, Lens foot for my 500mm f4, lens plate for my sigma 100-300, the flash arms....ARGH Waaaay too much money for me!!

A familiar sentiment, but the longer you wait, the more gear you'll have and the more you'll need to invest when you switch to A-S gear...

But even so, you don't need to spend HEAPS to get into the system. For lens plates I favour the Wimberley plates, and RRS for cameras (although if you want a generic camera plate then Wimberley's P-5 can't be beat).

• Ballhead: you can get a head with an integrated A-S clamp from Acratech, Arca-Swiss, RRS, Markins, Gitzo, and more.
  OR, you can get an A-S clamp from Kirk, Acratech, RRS, or Wimberley and bolt it to the top of your existing head. For a long time I've had a Kirk clamp on a Manfrotto (non-RC) head. Depending on the head (even some of the Manfrotto RC ones) you can even detach the standard platform and bolt the clamp on directly.
  This option is MUCH cheaper than getting an M20 straight away.The choice of clamp will depend on your head. For guesstimation purposes: the Wimberley C-10 (US$79)
• Sigma 180: Wimberley P-10 (US$52)
• Camera: depends on the model. Wimberley P-5 (US$52) is a good start and you can replace that with an RRS L-plate later.
• 500/4: Wimberley P-40 (US$58)
• Sigma 100-300: Wimberley P-10 (US$52)
• flash arms: lots of choices there...

That comes to a starting cost of US$293 (and all of those were from one manufacturer so you can save on shipping too).
I don't know if this is something you consider as being out of reach at the moment or not.

Have you looked at the Kirk ones? They look good but I can't find any info on them (I'm interested in the FB-9 or FB-10 http://www.kirkphoto.com/brackets.html) and don't know if you have to have the Arca-Swiss system to attach them.

The FB-9 and FB-10 brackets are quite old designs. They're made to bolt onto the front of the Kirk plates (btw, Wimberley plates have the right holes to take these also). The Wimberley and new RRS flash brackets seem much more flexible designs.

Thanks for that!

I didn't realise I could get a clamp for my existing head.

are these the sort of thing you mean? http://www.kirkphoto.com/platforms.html

It kinda looks like the top of my Manfrotto #268 can come off the ball (looking down on it there is a large alankey hole)... Could I do any damage trying to undo that?

Definately could be an option for me.

Paul

DaveB,
Is Gitzo has the intergrated head with A-S systems? I didn't see one before.
- IMO, the 500 AF-S should get the replacement foot instead of the lens plate, the replacement foot is lower the original + lens plate.
- L plate should be recommended and considered at first instead of camera plate.
- Yes, not all the Gitzo or Manfrotto head can be modified with A-S system.
- I rather save up more for proper ballhead as Markins 20 or BH55 Pro instead of playing, modifying other heads.

Birddog114 wrote:Is Gitzo has the intergrated head with A-S systems? I didn't see one before.

Have a look at the G1378M.

IMO, the 500 AF-S should get the replacement foot instead of the lens plate, the replacement foot is lower the original + lens plate.

The Wimberley AP-553 (US$79) is probably a good option: I was looking for cheap but still good options.

L plate should be recommended and considered at first instead of camera plate.

Again we're working to a price. The Wimberley P-5 is definitely a good plate, and something that will work on almost ANY body in the future. So replacing it with an L-plate later is not going to be a losing proposition, and a non-L-plate is better than no plate at all!

I rather save up more for proper ballhead as Markins 20 or BH55 Pro instead of playing, modifying other heads.

Life is full of compromises. If modifying an existing head is a cheaper option and will still produce a head no worse than he has already, then maybe it's the right choice. There's no arguing that a Markins/Kirk/Arca-Swiss/RRS head would probably be a *better* choice, but like I said life's full of compromises!

Speaking of which, I'm not very familiar with the Manfrotto #268 but it looks like a decent model. Certainly you can take the top off with that allenkey (see this PDF file). But I don't think a clamp with a threaded hole is going to suit. It might need an RRS B2 Pro II (US$86) but you'd want to contact RRS to check.

Dave,

not to be a fly in the ointment, but I don't believe the Gitzo head is arca swiss. It looks similar, but isn't compatible. The QR plate is G2285M to match and if you look at it it doesn't look like arca swiss. The heads looks are deceptive.

DaveB,
Not a bet, fly up to Sydney for a mini meet free, if you can try the A-S system as L bracket, Lens plates with A-S (dovetails) working on that head, I have one here on standby and ready for anyone want to try.
I'll pay your airfares Syd-Mel-Syd if you can prove it works.

You're probably right Glen. But I think I've heard of people using Arca-Swiss plates in the G1387M, although it's not a choice I would make myself.
There are also heads with A-S clamps from Foba, Kaiser, and more but I didn't mention them in detail.

DaveB wrote:You're probably right Glen. But I think I've heard of people using Arca-Swiss plates in the G1387M, although it's not a choice I would make myself.
There are also heads with A-S clamps from Foba, Kaiser, and more but I didn't mention them in detail.

Perhaps, people modified the QRP of the G1378M with other QRP as RRS/ Kirk/Markins.
Gitzo and Manfrotto will never come along with the A-S systems.

Dave , I think your idea of unscrewing the top from the present head and replacing with a ASwiss clamp is probably a good cheap entry into the system. Good idea.


I wouldn't be brave enough to clamp a few $K of goods into an ill fitting clamp

It's worth going to the RRS website and downloading their PDF catalogue.

Reading the whole thing will give you a new appreciation for the A-S system, as it's not just a list of parts and prices.
Note on page 18 there's a list of clamps to suit various heads (although the 268 isn't there: it's a fairly old head but that doesn't mean there's not a matching clamp).

NikonUser wrote:

Glen wrote:This flash/macro issue is getting to you, isn't it?

Thanks for the link Glen!

It sure is getting to me!

Macro is probably my favourite type of photography (followed very closely by small bird photography.... probably the two most expensive sides of the hobby )

I would really like to get results like I see on the Fred Miranda macro forums and similar to the results of Mark Plonsky (the inspiration that got me into macro, and photography in general http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/)

I'll get it right one day

Paul

Dr Plonsky is my hero too. The interesting thing is that he uses a P&S camera, hand held, and takes multiple shots with differing DOF of the same subject then combines them in PS to produce sharp pics with great DOF

DionM wrote:I too am looking around. I have considered the 330B manfrotto arms, but it says it can only hold 1kg ... which is bugger all.

I use the 330 with absolutely no problems at all

Chris an interesting way to get an image, probably better suited to static items I would have thought, though he seems to have lots of moving critters

An interesting experiment would be to use the D2X or D2Hs in C mode at 8fps to capture an insect whilst moving the camera closer or further away. Difficult yes, but could work with practice

Maybe with one of those nice little threaded plates

sirhc55 wrote:I use the 330 with absolutely no problems at all

Well don't leave us dangling!

More info please!

Sample shots?