Bracket Tech is a page that will have answers to questions that you might have concerning the use of camera brackets and why Newton Camera Brackets are designed the way they are.  The suggestions that are made are not written in stone. Every photographer is unique and the equipment varies from camera to lens to flash.  Newton tries to consider these variations but like everything else in life some modification to shooting style must be made when using a flash bracket.  

Flash Height and Position - The main reason for using a camera bracket is to place the flash unit directly above the lens. With digital SLR cameras the flash sits on top of the camera in the horizontal position but in vertical position the flash is off to the side causing bad shadows on the opposite side of the subject. Even if your flash unit is mounted on one side or the other, the angle of the flash will create a shadow on the opposite side of your subject. This is why you need a bracket that will rotate your flash or camera from horizontal to vertical, keeping the flash directly over the lens in both positions. With the flash directly over the lens, the shadows will be below the subject.  The flash height - the distance from the center of the lens to the center of the flash - determines the angle of shadow drop off behind the subject as does the distance the subject is from a background and the distance the photographer is from the subject.  Most brackets from other manufacturers place the flash extremely high.  This causes a unbalanced feeling for the photographer and deep shadows under the chin and nose of the subject.  Also the angle of the flash must be changed when moving from groups to three quarter poses.  At weddings, particularly, you do not have time to remember where your flash is pointing. Newton brackets are designed to keep the flash as low as possible.  Somewhere between 9.5" and 11.5" is where I feel you get the best results in shadow placement.  Redeye is another matter and  can be controlled at this height but redeye is governed by the amount of light in the room,  the type of lens used,  the distance you are from the subject and the direction the light hits the iris of the eye.  

Handle Mount Flash Units - Since digital SLR cameras and dedicated flash units have become so reliable the handle mount flash unit has been replaced.  The reason for this is that the handle mount unit was never intended to be put on top of the lens.  It was designed to be a handle beside the camera.  When placed on top of the lens it causes a unbalanced condition for the user.  The handle mount unit like the Metz CT4 was a very powerful flash and with film it was helpful but digital users are finding that they do not need all of that power and camera manufacturers flash units that are dedicated to their cameras work.  Not only do they work but on top of a bracket they are better balanced. 

Horizontal Flash Head - When Newton brackets rotate the flash to vertical position the flash head stays in the horizontal position even though the camera is in the vertical format.  Many photographers are concerned that this will cause light fall off.  Let me assure you that under normal conditions it will not make any difference.  A wide angle lens might cause some fall off but not too many photographers shoot vertical customers with a wide angle lens.  If you do use a wide angle lens use a diffuser or bounce flash to get the coverage you need. The advantage of leaving the flash in this position is that the head can be tilted up or bounce systems can be attached and used.  Your flash was designed to be mounted in this position and not laying on its side.  When laying on its side the weight of the flash with batteries will cause damage to the flash foot and contacts.

Vertical Grips - Digital SLR camera bodies come with built in vertical grips with vertical release buttons and most body only cameras have a vertical grip that can be attached.  This can and does cause some problems for bracket users since the bracket must be attached to the tripod socket that is in the bottom of the camera.  Since this is also your vertical grip you must wrap you hand around the portion of the bracket that is fastened to the tripod socket.  Newton brackets allow use the vertical grips with some degree of understanding that your hand is going to be holding the base of the bracket that is fastened to the vertical grip.  You can still use your vertical button and have a secure hold  on the camera base and grip.  The FRs and FR2 flash rotators will give you the best feel for a vertical grip.