Lining up?????

Davyboy

Davyboy

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I need some help please. I've recently obtained a second hand Interfit EXD 200 studio flash kit, which is in excellent condition. On setting up everything was going really easy, but when I fit the reflector, I can't get the umbrella hole to the bottom to line up with the hole on the light. I reckon there might be a way of rotating the fitting somehow, but up until now I haven't worked it out. Can someone help me please? Both lights are the same as the soft box isn't square when I fit fit that.
 
Oh and regarding the softbox, fitting it to a head shouldn't alter its shape, if the shape changes when you do so then most likely it's not been assembled correctly.
 
The softbox stays square, so it's definately correctly fitted. (Foolproof really) It's just that it doesn't line up square when it's fitted to the reflector. The reflectors I have look identical to the ones in the link, I thought maybe it had been stripped down for some reason, and maybe not been put back right.
 
Davyboy said:
The softbox stays square, so it's definately correctly fitted. (Foolproof really) It's just that it doesn't line up square when it's fitted to the reflector. The reflectors I have look identical to the ones in the link, I thought maybe it had been stripped down for some reason, and maybe not been put back right.
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It should rotate on its mount, there's maybe a knurled screw holding it.
 
Thanks Phil, I'll have a look later as I haven't the time right now.
 
I can't see anything wrong at all with the bayonet fitting, apart from it not lining up with the umbrella hole at the bottom.:(
 
Phil V said:
It should rotate on its mount, there's maybe a knurled screw holding it.
Click to expand...

The standard softbox they use has a fixed speedring (like the one on an Elinchrom Portalite or other cheaper Interfit models) so it can only go in 2 ways and doesn't rotate.
 
Davyboy said:
I can't see anything wrong at all with the bayonet fitting, apart from it not lining up with the umbrella hole at the bottom.:(
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You insert it and then twist it and then the hole should either be at the top or the bottom, if it's at the top just remove it and turn it 180 degrees.
 
Davyboy said:
The softbox stays square, so it's definately correctly fitted. (Foolproof really) It's just that it doesn't line up square when it's fitted to the reflector. The reflectors I have look identical to the ones in the link, I thought maybe it had been stripped down for some reason, and maybe not been put back right.
Click to expand...

The softbox doesn't attach to a reflector, it should be inserted directly into the front of the flash head with no other modifiers attached.

It may help if you provide a photo to show us the problem.
 
If the mount doesn't have a screw that you can loosen to rotate the softbox, then it sounds like you've assembled it wrongly.

Mark the top of the mount as a reference, then take it all apart and put it back together using different holes for the rods, so it sits right when attached to the light.
 
HoppyUK said:
If the mount doesn't have a screw that you can loosen to rotate the softbox, then it sounds like you've assembled it wrongly.

Mark the top of the mount as a reference, then take it all apart and put it back together using different holes for the rods, so it sits right when attached to the light.
Click to expand...

The standard softbox included with an EXD200 does not rotate.

Refer to here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=977953 (ignore his one is missing a lug)
 
Sorry of course the softbox doesn't fit on the reflector, it has it's own bayonet mount. You can only fit either of them two ways, one with the hole at the top, or with the hole at the bottom. At least that's how it should be, with this one the hole for the umbrella, is on the side, and with the softbox it's not square. It's as if the mark on the lamp where the bayonet goes, is in the wrong position I'll put a photo on tomorrow.
 
Don't mind my Photoshop skills, this is how the correct reflector is supposed to look, you can see the lugs (probably the wrong word but you get the idea) match up to those on the head and should result in the umbrella cut out lining up either directly at the top or bottom one twisted into the locked position.

exdiref1.jpg

My best guess at this point is you have the wrong reflector or you've not locked it into place (just a small twist once inserted).
 
I don't seem to be having luck uploading my photos. Just to clear one or two points, fitting the bayonet is just like fitting a light bulb right, only two possible ways to do it, so that means the hole for the umbrella should either be at the top or the bottom where it should be. The problem is it isn't, and no where near in line. Like I've said, it's as though the rim on the lights need turning, but I can't see how it can be done. It does seem strange that the white mark is in the same place on both lights, thus making the softbox off line too. (!00% correctly assembled) I have been assured they are definately the Interfit reflectors, so it looks like I might have to modify them.
 
This might explain.
 

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or these.
 

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Some silly b****r has put your locking mechanism on the wrong way round, you need to rotate that assembly about a third of the way round, at which point your reflector will line up properly.

See the white lines on these two heads:

Kit Interfit EXD200 (2).jpg

While the solution is simple you have to remember flash heads can be very dangerous as they store a lot of energy (less of a concern on a baby head like this but even a small shock is unpleasant) and there's a couple of small parts in the locking mechanism. If you plan to go ahead give it a few days to fully discharge to be on the safe side and use some gloves to avoid any accidental shocks or marking the flash tube.

Unclip the small metal spring attached to the earth around the flash tube
Carefully ease out the flash tube (small ones are delicate)
Unscrew the 3 screws
Remove the reflector cover
The mount locking mechanism should also be free (there may be some more screws I can't remember on this Interfit model) but when it comes loose try to avoid letting it fall apart as it's easier to keep as one piece
Turn the mounting mechanism about a third of the way round

Then repeat the process in reverse and you're done.

If you don't feel comfortable doing it and you're near SE London you can bring it round and I can do it for you, worst part is dealing with the stupid spring thing on the flash tube as it's so fiddly.
 
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Simon that's brilliant, I thought I was going mad with all the suggestions that I'd done something wrong. It looks like maybe someone has replaced a tube and put it back wrong. I'll take it to a local shop and see if they'll do it for me, as I've got hands like shovels, and might damage a tube or lose a spring etc etc. Once again thanks a lot.
 
Just to let you know Simon, I couldn't get a shop to correct it. It was a good job really, as like you suggested it was really easy to do. I contacted Interfit, and Tom the manager took the time to give me some instructions too, so all done, it would be interesting to know why it had been altered though.
 
Glad to hear you got it sorted, it's hard to say but once the front is removed it's how you pull the body out of its housing so perhaps they needed to do something else internally but it's not impossible that it came out of the factory like that, as long as it works safely and correctly that's all that really matters isn't it?

There is unfortunately a fair amount of second hand kit that's been tampered with, I had an Elinchrom BXRI 500 head not long ago that was in perfect working order but they'd done the same thing and screwed in the front the wrong way but they'd also managed to lose the locking clip so no modifier would stay in place. How no one picked up on it before it ended up with me I don't know.
 
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