Wimberley macro brackets review
For some time, I have made use of a pair of Wimberley macro brackets. Now that I have used them in a number of different situations, I thought I would share my experiences with them.
I had looked at brackets for several months prior to buying these. In terms of macro brackets, the two main competitors are Really Right Stuff and Kirk Photo. After some consideration, I chose the Wimberley macro brackets, but for those interested the following are the reasons I did not buy the other choices.
Really Right Stuff - For awhile, this was my first choice. Only when I learned about the Wimberley brackets did I change my mind. In order for the bracket to work with the MT-24EX, I needed to buy another flash mount. Also, I needed at least one telescoping arm to get the flashes past the lens. Therefore, the price came out a bit higher than the Wimberley solution.
The main reason I chose the Wimberley was flexibility. The RRS solution is nice - but the Wimberley brackets can literally bend in almost any direction. The RRS brackets are limited by the flexibility of the arm - which can be rotated around the bracket and extended.
Kirk Photo - This solution looks a bit more flexible than the RRS, but looks a bit flimsy. I hesitated whether it would take a 580EX without issue or something heavier. It is also not as flexible as the Wimberley.
Iguana taken in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Canon 180mm macro with two Wimberley lights. 1/125 f/7.1.
The Wimberley solution allows you to buy parts of your flash bracket piece by piece. I actually purchased a vertical bracket to allow one of the flash brackets to be placed directly over the lens but it really isn’t necessary - the brackets are long enough as is.
The flash brackets are an important tool - but are not always useful. In general, I rarely use the brackets when using my MP-E 65, but almost always have them on when using my 180L. When taking insect shots, I like the lighting effect but they get in the way more than they help. Since my camera often sits close to the ground, having two big brackets just below it can become troublesome. It is also difficult getting it into tight places.
On the 180L, I don’t like the lighting when placing the heads at the end of the lens using the 72C adapter. Instead, I find that by using the Wimberley brackets I can get the lights much closer to the subject - which generally improves the lighting. I know that in general by moving a light further away it should soften it, but that is not the case here. I think due to the size of the subject, by moving the flash closer to the subject the light becomes larger - and therefore softer.
The brackets attach to the plate on the lens - though you can connect it to your camera plate as well through an optional adapter that I did not buy. Note that if you want to use two of these (necessary when using the MT-24EX) you need a plate that has a double dovetail design. Unfortunately I had Kirk lens plates at the time - which are not double dovetail plates. Both Wimberley and Really Right Stuff make double dovetail plates - so make sure you use those if you intend to use these brackets with the lens.
The flash heads mount on the screw at the end of the bracket. You can also mount a 580EX or similar flash on the end by attaching the small stand that comes with the flash and screwing it on the bracket. I have used the bracket with a 580EX flash and it held the weight without issue.
The arm is relatively simple - with three ball joints joined by two ‘pipes’. On each of the pipes is a knob that allows you to change the tension. One minor annoyance though is that in order to place the flash on the bracket, I need to loosen the top knob, which also loosens the bar itself - so the whole thing wobbles all over the place while I attempt to put the flash head on. Sometimes I do not tighten it all the way after I have the bracket in the exact position I want - at which point I have to loosen the whole thing, tighten the flash, then reposition the bracket.
The camera also looks a bit scary with these brackets on. I drew more than a few strange looks when walking around with this apparatus at our all-inclusive in Mexico.
Another huge advantage with these brackets is it allows me to change the angle of the flash to the subject. In some cases, this is hugely important. For instance, without these brackets, the flashes would shine back at me when shooting through the glass of a fish tank. Instead, they enable me to angle the flash just right so as to illuminate the subject without getting hit by the flash.
Canon 180mm macro with MT-24EX mounted on two Wimberley brackets. ISO 800 1/200 f/11
I take advantage of this ability as well with drops and my MP-E 65. This is the only time that I use my MP-E 65 with the Wimberley flash brackets - but in this case by moving the lights at an angle that is closer to the sides of the drop, I don’t blow out the drop as much. Here is a shot without the brackets.
Falling drop taken with MP-E 65 at 1.5x magnification. Lighted using MT-24EX. 1/200 f/11
Compare that to this shot with the brackets.
Falling drop taken with MP-E 65 at 1.5x magnification. Lighted using MT-24EX and two Wimberley macro brackets. 1/200 at f/11.
Therefore, I am very happy with my Wimberley flash brackets and they are always in my bag when shooting macro. Along with my macro lenses and MT-24EX flash, I consider them essential tools of the trade.
Related posts:
- L-plates, camera plates, and lens plates When buying camera equipment, one of the most confusing areas I have found is in the area of lens plates and camera plates. Therefore, in this post I will attempt to give the best explanation of them possible. This information, with hope, will save you some money in the future,...
- Playing around with macro lights This weekend, while putting together a presentation on macro photography that I will do for the photography group at my work, I played around a bit with macro flash arrangements. Macro lighting is often not considered by many beginning macro photographers - who spend the time working on whether to...
- Macro photography lighting Of all the equipment necessary for macro photography, it seems like lighting is the most controversial. I think lighting in general is considered an “unnecessary evil” by many photographers. After all, few photographers would argue about putting down the money for a good 70-200 or 24-70 2.8 lens (assuming they...
- Not your ordinary car exhaust One of the great things I love about snow is that it has to melt at some time or another. When in melts, I try to be there. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit cold today so not much melted, but I did get the chance to find a few...
- Confessions of an equipment junkie I admit it. I am an equipment junkie. I want all of the best photo equipment and lenses no matter how much they cost and I love showing my equipment off. In particular I love hearing now that’s a camera, as people walk by. You know that you are the...
Tags: bracket, macro, photography, review, wimberley