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Frame is very rugged, metal is much thicker than I expected. Has many mounting holes and adjustment options to adjust length and mounting location.
It's very well built and able to take the sometimes rough handling I give it on location shoots. Combined with Lumiquest's Softbox or Softbox Mini, the light looks very natural and unlike a usual harsh flash shot. I just shot a 4-person family portrait outside on a slightly overcast day in 3 different settings: in shade inside a gazebo, under open sky and partially under trees. The Stroboframe makes doing location shots with people much faster and more comfortable, as it offers enough light from the flash to get shots from several angles without having to drag around external lighting. Combined with a Lumiquest Softbox diffuser on the flash, I get superb, rich color and nicely lit scenes that need relatively little retouching and color balancing in Photoshop. In many indoor situations, you can make do with available light (natural light from windows, incandescent or fluourescent) and even outdoors as long as you experiment with the appropriate color temperature setting. I've used my Stroboframe for over 8 years with my original Olympus E-10 and my current Canon EOS 40D, and love it. I wouldn't shoot without it.I also carry a 2-light and umbrella tungsten setup, in case of poorly lit interior shots, but don't have to use it often.
You'll need an off-the-camera hotshoe extension cord for your model of camera. This setup is very kind to flesh tones. You'll be taking much better lit shots with better color--and the setup makes you look much more authorative and professional. On the other two shots I set the camera to the cloudy skies setting, with the flash as the fill, and in each case I got perfect metering and great saturated colors. I'm a graphic designer and use it with my Canon Speedlite flash to capture everything from architectural to office work scenes, portraiture and even product shots. I can't say enough about how much money this Stroboframe/Lumiquest Softbox setup has made me over the years.
In the gazebo I shot on the flash color setting, as the flash was the predominant light, and the natural light acted as fill. We are used to seeing lighting come from above the subject (sun, overhead lights), which is why camera-mounted flash shots look harsh and somewhat strange.The Stroboframe raises the flash above the camera by about a foot so that the light looks more natural. My shots get great attention and I spend much less time fixing exposures and hot spots in Photoshop. I highly recommend this product.
the gap is too small. I like everything about the Stoboframe Quick Flip except the device that the flash unit attaches. The space allowed for the flanges of the flash unit are not high enough. When you compress the clasp, my confidence begins to waiver as to whether or not this will really securely hold my Canon 580 EXII or will I be picking up the pieces during an important shoot.I WAS however able to remove the clasp and use that screw with rubber washers to securely attach my canon off shoe cord (OC-3). This now works extremely well.
I have used this product several times with canon equipment and like it. It is well built and sturdy
I am so excited to finally have my new bracket. I hooked everything up the other day and it is very sturdy. With all of my equiptment I will most likely have to buy a new tripod because my set up is so heavy now. Other than that, I am super excited to start shooting.
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