Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket for precise macro photography

With the Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket you’re adding a very versatile solution to your camera if you want to get serious about macro photography or take your existing setup to a much more flexible level. This macro flash bracket is designed so that you can place your flash exactly where you need it: close to the subject, to the side, slightly from above, very low from the front. In short: you’re in control of the light, not the other way around.

The F-2 consists of a combination of the Wimberley modules M-1 (quick-release module) and M-4 (macro extension with two arms and ball joints). This combo turns your lens plate into a stable, variable base for your flash. The two arms with ball joints give you an amazingly wide range of positions without having to constantly fiddle with the camera. Once fixed, everything stays exactly where you set it.

Made in USA, robust construction for tough everyday shooting

The Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket is manufactured in the USA and is clearly designed for durability and reliability. The aluminum parts are made from 6061 T6 aluminum, matte black anodized, giving you a very resistant, unobtrusive surface that doesn’t immediately look scratched even after many outings in the field. The locking screws are made of stainless steel and designed so that they cannot be lost. Maybe not very spectacular, but worth its weight in gold in practice.

We’d say: this is not a delicate studio toy, but a working tool for outdoors—for morning dew, forest light, meadows, insects, plant structures, small details on technology or products. Basically anywhere you want to place your light in a controlled way without having to drag along a full tripod with light stands.

Flexible flash bracket from 50 mm macro to 600 mm telephoto

What’s interesting about this system is that you don’t need a separate flash bracket for every lens. The Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket can be used with lenses both with and without a tripod collar and also works with telephoto lenses. So if you’re working from a 50 mm macro up to a 600 mm telephoto, this combo covers a huge focal-length range without stuffing your bag with special-purpose solutions.

Unlike a pure telephoto flash bracket that is specifically designed for long telephoto lenses, here you have to aim the flash at your subject by hand. That may sound like more work at first, but it’s exactly what gives you the creative freedom in macro photography to deliberately shape light gradients, reflections, and shadows. If you want to get by with as little gear as possible, this gives you a solution that performs very well both at close range and in the telephoto range.

Precise flash positioning thanks to ball joints

The Macro Extension (module M-4) consists of two arms with ball joints. These ball joints allow for very fine, stepless alignment of the flash. You can bring the flash close to the optical axis, offset it to the side, raise it high or lower it deeply, depending on whether you want to emphasize hard structures or minimize reflections. This is a real advantage especially with iridescent beetles, shiny blossoms, or metallic surfaces.

Despite the high flexibility, the connections and joints remain extremely rigid once tightened. There is no unwanted slipping, no slow sagging of the flash when you hold the camera at a slight angle. You set it, tighten it, and the setup stays stable, even during longer sessions or when you move a bit faster in the field.

Easy setup without tools

You don’t need any tools to set up and clamp the Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket. All clamps and screws are designed so that you can operate them by hand. This makes switching between different configurations much more relaxed, especially when you’re outdoors and don’t want to dig through your backpack for a hex key.

If you don’t need the bracket or want to transport it, the entire unit can be disassembled into its individual parts. This way everything fits in your camera backpack to save space, without arms or joints getting caught on anything. For the next shoot you reassemble it in just a few moments, attach it to the lens plate, and you’re ready to go.

Arca-style compatible quick-release clamp for fast changes

The Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket uses a slim Arca-style compatible quick-release clamp that allows you to quickly and easily attach the bracket to many suitable quick-release plates. It fits numerous Arca-compatible plates, for example from Wimberley and Kirk, as long as the lens plate is long enough to provide sufficient space for the quick-release clamp.

Thanks to this Arca-compatible design, you can integrate the F-2 into existing systems without having to change your entire setup. You loosen the clamp, remove the bracket, change the lens or plate, put it back on, done. Especially when switching between tripod use and handheld shooting, this speed is a real comfort factor.

Compatibility with different plates and dual-flash setups

The F-2 Macro Bracket is designed to fit many Arca-compatible quick-release plates, as long as the plate offers sufficient length. If you work with two flashes and want to use two flash brackets at the same time, you can attach one quick-release clamp on the bottom and one on the top side of the lens plate. This creates a symmetrical setup with two flash arms that gives you even more control over light and shadow.

This option is particularly interesting when you need very even illumination, for example for reproductions, detailed product shots, or sensitive subjects where harsh shadows would be disturbing. You can set up a key light and a fill light, or combine two soft light sources from left and right.

Lightweight yet stable, only 400 g

Despite its robust construction, the Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket weighs only about 400 g. For a system with two arms, ball joints, and a quick-release clamp, that’s remarkably light. In practice this means you can leave the bracket on the camera for longer periods without your setup becoming uncomfortably front-heavy.

Especially in macro photography in the field, when you’re bending down a lot, kneeling, changing perspectives, and maybe already carrying a heavy telephoto or a fast macro lens, every gram counts. The F-2 is designed to be stable enough for professional use without unnecessarily weighing down your system.

Optimized for macro photography and creative lighting

The Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket is clearly recommended for macro photography, but it also works just as well when you want to use flash in the telephoto range. You can use it to light insects, spiders, blossoms, small reptiles, technical details, jewelry, or food subjects in a controlled way. Thanks to the flexible positioning of the flash, harsh cast shadows can be reduced and reflections can be controlled precisely.

If you’ve previously worked with a flash directly on the camera’s hot shoe, you’ll notice the difference quite quickly. The light appears more three-dimensional, structures stand out better, and with side or slightly back-angled light you can create very striking effects. And yes, sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error until the flash position is perfect, but that’s exactly the appeal—you actively shape your light.

Practical handling and reliable clamping

In practical use, it becomes clear that the Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket is designed for very direct, straightforward operation. The clamps grip cleanly, the joints can be finely adjusted and then firmly locked. Once everything is tightened, there is no twisting, no give, no gradual sagging of the flash. This lets you concentrate on your subject instead of constantly readjusting the gear.

The matte black surface reduces distracting reflections and helps ensure that the bracket remains largely unobtrusive in the frame. This is especially helpful when working at very short distances and the setup is close to the subject. Overall, you get a system that integrates into your workflow instead of slowing it down.