Are short flash arms useless?

[slackercruster]

I was going to get an Oylmpus housing and flash. I see they have a mini arm for connecting flash to top of housing. It is about 2 inches long. Anyone try it? Or is it too short and nothing but backscatter?

Thanks

 

[Dsix36]

Without ever using one, My guess is that there will be a lot of backscatter. Generally speaking the longer the arms the better.

 

[Interceptor121]

You are referring to a cold shoe that is for a focus light not for a strobe. You need at least a handle and a 5" segment so that the strobe doesn't go directly frontal to the subject