A better umbrella/flash bracket?

[bass_junkie83]

I have just bought a cheap ebay umbrella flash bracket to play with. I normally use studio flash, but wanted to have an option to use a speedlite for odd occasions.

I only got a real cheap bracket, but it uses the same basic design as all others that I have seen.

Immediately, I saw what in my eyes was a inherent design flaw. Once the flash is mounted on a trigger and then on the bracket, the flash source is way off centre to the umbrella. I was interested to see just how much this would effect the outputted light from the umbrella, so have taken this series of test shots.

Here you can see just how off of centre the flash is and that the top of the umbrella is noticeably brighter than the bottom.

And this to show the light from the umbrella on a wall approximately 1.5m from the umbrella.

Although less noticeable, the umbrella was level and it is clear that the top of the wall is brighter than the bottom of the wall.


For people that use these, how do you get round it? Do you tend to position the umbrella so that you are using the top portion of the umbrella?

An alternative design where the umbrella was mounted to the side of the flash, but at the same hight surely would be better as they would be much closer to being concentric. Does such a thing exist? I've not seen anything different.

 

[CScottMcQueen]

Is your umbrella hole straight through or drilled at an angle? Also having the flash on a trigger adds even more height to it and pushes the flash head away from centre.

The one I use is just a cheapy, bought it as a test and it just works but i cant have it on a trigger i must have it on the base and the trigger strapped to the stand and also the brolly must be basically on the edge of the shaft.

I've just bought some phottix odin's so I'm going to have the same problem with the flash height so I will have to look for an alternative bracket now.

 

[bass_junkie83]

The umbrella hole is parallel to the flash head, it's not angled.

Yes the trigger does make it worse, but there is no getting away from that. The ~1" that the trigger adds is a fraction of the height of the flash body itself.

I have an idea in my head to modify it, but was a little surprised to see that this seems to be the standard mounting method. Might have a little play tonight if I get a chance.

 

[paulcamcas]

The umbrella hole usually slopes enough to put the flash head close enough to the centre of the umbrella. Calumet do a good one for for £20 clicky and I'm sure there are plenty of others around.

 

[HoppyUK]

Angling the brolly or the flash head is a partial solution. Better is to use a mount where the flash lies flat and fires directly along the shaft. There are several around if you google, or DIY.

Another solution, I did it DIY, is to make a simple L-bracket that drops the flash down so the head is at the right height.

 

[bass_junkie83]

Dropping the flash down to the side of the bracket was my first idea. Laying it flat sounds like a good one too. I shall get it on the work bench tonight.

 

[tdodd]

I have a couple of s-fit brackets for hotshoe flashes from eBay. The design is similar to this model, although the umbrella mount is slightly different in design....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bowens-S-...h_Brackets&hash=item4ab52a2280#ht_2289wt_1164

Here is the light spread pattern with the bare flash zoomed to 24mm and then with the built in diffuser panel in place. Since the head has a tilt/swivel feature and the bracket allows the flash to be rotated as well you can do a fairly decent job of lining things up.

The bonus with these brackets is that if you have Bowens s-fit softboxes, beauty dish, barn doors etc, then you can use your flashguns with those accessories too.

 

[NorthernNikon]

For people that use these, how do you get round it?

The simple answer would be to use a 2nd light stand or a MagicArm to to hold the flash closer to the centre of the umbrella.

The really simple answer though is not to worry about it. If you're that concerned about even spread of light on your subject you probably should be using a softbox or shooting through a panel with multiple lights anyway.

 

[Alastair]

I use a L-bracket from Trevor at CotswoldPhoto (ebay seller). You can then get the flash lying lengthways closer to axis. I'm not sure what he supplies in the bag now, but I do remember asking for an extra screwfixing when I ordered mine, that way I can get two flashes behind one brolley laying one on top of the other. Handy for speedy recycle times.

 

[bass_junkie83]

I use a L-bracket from Trevor at CotswoldPhoto (ebay seller). You can then get the flash lying lengthways closer to axis. I'm not sure what he supplies in the bag now, but I do remember asking for an extra screwfixing when I ordered mine, that way I can get two flashes behind one brolley laying one on top of the other. Handy for speedy recycle times.

I really like that. I will probably pick up one soon. But as I want to use this at the weekend and i'm a bit impatient, I modified the one I got.

Voila.

Sits much better now, the flash runs just above the umbrella stem and tilted down slightly yo the center.

Would it really make much difference in the real world? I don't know, but in my head it just wasn't right and that would forever bug me.