Best Stand-Mount for Speedlight+Brollybox?

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Pheo

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Hi All,

Shooting a wedding soon, and tempted to pickup a brollybox (ala Walimex etc on Amazon) as a backup modifier (have a small softbox and shoot through umbrella at the moment).

As the flash-head needs to get into the actual umbrella, can anyone recommend the best UK available mount to fit the umbrella and flash onto the stand, while ensuring the flash can lie flat against the shaft of the umbrella?

Hopefully looking for one which someone has some experience of as being reasonably robust, doesn't thread its thumbscrews etc.
 
Pheo said:
Hi All,

Shooting a wedding soon, and tempted to pickup a brollybox (ala Walimex etc on Amazon) as a backup modifier (have a small softbox and shoot through umbrella at the moment).

As the flash-head needs to get into the actual umbrella, can anyone recommend the best UK available mount to fit the umbrella and flash onto the stand, while ensuring the flash can lie flat against the shaft of the umbrella?

Hopefully looking for one which someone has some experience of as being reasonably robust, doesn't thread its thumbscrews etc.
Click to expand...

I think the only way to do this is with 2 brackets, we ought to approach a manufacturer because I've been looking to do this for a while, and drawn a blank so far. Although there is a contraption to move the shaft of the brolly above the flash head which also makes it easier to swivel the apollo type softbox.
 
Interesting. Well my existing stuff is from Cotswold (and very happy with it I am). So I wonder if one of these contraptions would work,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Umb...graphy_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item257ec38396

Figuring turning the L-Bracket around and then mounting the flash on the wrong side. Hopefully both sets are long enough...

Alternatively, I suppose I could gaffa tape the flash to the umbrella!

I could do with another normal umbrella bracket anyways.
 
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Pheo said:
Interesting. Well my existing stuff is from Cotswold (and very happy with it I am). So I wonder if one of these contraptions would work,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Umb...graphy_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item257ec38396

Figuring turning the L-Bracket around and then mounting the flash on the wrong side. Hopefully both sets are long enough...

Alternatively, I suppose I could gaffa tape the flash to the umbrella!

I could do with another normal umbrella bracket anyways.
Click to expand...

The big problem with the westcott type box is when you tilt it down, that bracket looks good but I'm not sure it solves the issue (I might put one on my to do list though - I could do with a 2nd bracket too). :thumbs:
 
Phil V said:
The big problem with the westcott type box is when you tilt it down, that bracket looks good but I'm not sure it solves the issue (I might put one on my to do list though - I could do with a 2nd bracket too). :thumbs:
Click to expand...

What do you think would happen when it gets tilted? Its running on axis I think?
 
Pheo said:
What do you think would happen when it gets tilted? Its running on axis I think?
Click to expand...

Where the stand goes through the zipped slit in the bottom, it restricts the amount of tilt, I often end up with the stand between the edge of the softbox and the diffuser (allows a bit more tilt).
 
Ah, but the whole thing adjusts on its up/down axis I believe based on the one I have?
 
Pheo said:
Ah, but the whole thing adjusts on its up/down axis I believe based on the one I have?
Click to expand...

Does the flashgun fire through a hole in the rear or fire at the back of the soft box like its a brolly? I'm talking about the latter, where the stand goes into the soft box from the bottom.
 
Figured it out, example and parts list here for future reference for everyone on the interwebs! http://www.fosterphotography.co.uk/?p=1556

They sell the same mount but with a Bowens style attachment on the front, which I believe could also provide a rear mount for something like a westcott rapid octa box, but I can't find the umbrella type you're talking about in the UK (do share!)
 
A normal flash clamp works fine with a brolly box. Even though the flash isn't pointed directly at the centre of the brolly, I'd guess light bounces around inside enough to not make much difference.

Also a bit quicker to set up.
 
Phil V said:
Where the stand goes through the zipped slit in the bottom, it restricts the amount of tilt, I often end up with the stand between the edge of the softbox and the diffuser (allows a bit more tilt).
Click to expand...

Phil, I have the Apollo soft box/umbrella and to get over the lack of tilt, I bought a backlight stand and use this as an extension on a bracket at the top of my light stand.

I can tilt the apollo from there as opposed to the limited movement of tilting it through the zip at the bottom. This solution works well.
 
blakester said:
Phil, I have the Apollo soft box/umbrella and to get over the lack of tilt, I bought a backlight stand and use this as an extension on a bracket at the top of my light stand.

I can tilt the apollo from there as opposed to the limited movement of tilting it through the zip at the bottom. This solution works well.
Click to expand...

Have you got a picture of that? I'm having imagination issues with this problem (although I might have a solution using an old stroboframe flash bracket).
 
Not sure if this may be helpful? 70 x 70cm Micansu Ezy-Up Softbox
 
alexam said:
Not sure if this may be helpful? 70 x 70cm Micansu Ezy-Up Softbox
Click to expand...

That's what I've seen before and have had problems finding again. It's actually similar to what I'm doing with the flash bracket so I'm on the right track.
 
Phil V said:
Have you got a picture of that? I'm having imagination issues with this problem (although I might have a solution using an old stroboframe flash bracket).
Click to expand...

Apologies Phil, I have only just looked back at this thread, I will get a photo of the set-up.
 
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