Stroboframe Folding Flip Hinge Looseness

[Mark_48]

I was shooting a wedding reception yesterday using a Stroboframe Folding Flip bracket and a short way into things the hinge got really loose. It had plenty of friction originally and up to this day did not flop around easily. For about 4 hours I had to cope with the flash flipping positions if I held the camera/bracket in an incorrect position. I had visions that an accidental flip would break the off camera shoe cords shoe where the flash sat.
There is a nut (evidently metric) which holds the hinge and presumably maintains the friction of the hinge. When I got home I attempted to tighten it, but after applying quite a bit of force it didn't budge and I didn't want to break it, I wasn't sure if it was made to tighten.

Has anyone else run into this and is the nut tightenable without breaking ?

I've had some other reasons I was planning on replacing this bracket. The loose hinge episode was enough to make me decide to get something else and set this aside as a spare.

[liza]

I purchased this bracket and cannot adequately express how much I hate it for the same reasons you listed. It was a total waste of money, IMO. I found it totally unusable for the wedding I shot yesterday. I'm not even sure I'd use it as a spare.

[jrsforums]

When evaluating flash brackets, I tried (among others) the Strobo folding flash bracket and the Newton folding flash bracket (Di100FR2).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=326962&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

http://www.pbase.com/jrschwaller/newtonbracket (http://www.pbase.com/jrschwaller/newtonbracket)

http://www.newtoncamerabrackets.com/

I decided on the Newton because it was much better built and did not flex like the strobo. I had also read about problems with the hinges on the Strobo wearing out.

The Newton is significantly more than the Strobo, but, I suggest, will last.

My 2 cents....JOHN

[Wilt]

If you routinely shoot weddings for hire, get a PRO piece of equipment, not that Stroboframe thing that is intended for a hobbyist/enthusiast! Stroboframes, when they are sturdy enough to bear a pro's rigors, can be horrendously heavy. Decades ago I bought a Stroboframe for MedFormat wedding work, and sold it after ONE wedding...it so SO heavy, 8-10 hours with it was an extended workout!
I have recommeded the Newton Bracket to other pros, and all who took my suggestion are thrilled with the purchase and quality.

[Mark_48]

Well I took the thing down to my shop to take a better look the hinge and found that the nut I was trying to tighten was actually pressed into the metal and is not going to move. It was actually the screw through to the nut with hex/allen head that I should have tightened......which didn't help much either. The guys at Stroboframe evidently "factory set" the screw for initial tensioning and crimped the nut to hold it in place. When I tightened the screw I apparently broke the crimp and the ability for the nut to hold the screw solidly, thus as the hinge turns so does the screw and it loosens.:(

The screw is a standard American 8-32. I had a few around the shop, so I set about trying to better Stroboframes less than satisfactory design. I found a screw longer than the factory one. I put a metal washer on it with about a 1/2" outside diameter, followed by a rubber grommet (little rubber donut looking thing use in electronic stuff), and another metal washer. Put this through the frame and the factory plastic washer and screwed into the pressed in nut. I tightened it to a tension so that provides enough tension the the flash doesn't swing loosely. The rubber grommet squishes to give friction to the hinge. I may do this as well with the lower folding hinge as it does tighten things up considerably.
I might try a real stiff compression spring in place of the grommet if I can find one small enough.

I think I'm still going to get a better bracket.....

[am_pitbull_terrier]

I have the same one (I think), and so far no problems..... Although I do keep a 9mm wrench in my bag just in case. I dont know why yours doesnt adjust. I adjusted mine for my camera when I first got it and it's been great eversince.

This is the one I have. Is this the same one you are talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-STROBOFRAME-CAMERA-FLIP-FLASH-BRACKET-STROBO-FRAME_W0QQitemZ290002041469QQihZ019QQcategoryZ6435 4QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[JMHPhotography]

I have a Stroboframe cameraflip just like the one Pitbull links to. My friend and colleague whom I've just talked into going digital got a Custom Bracket CB Jr. and I like that a whole lot better even though it is a flash flip vs. camera flip model. The Stroboframe will not be usable with my camera if a grip is installed, and it also has issues with loosening up and the plastic nuts strip fairly easily. I'm really not impressed to be honest.

[am_pitbull_terrier]

I have a Stroboframe cameraflip just like the one Pitbull links to. My friend and colleague whom I've just talked into going digital got a Custom Bracket CB Jr. and I like that a whole lot better even though it is a flash flip vs. camera flip model. The Stroboframe will not be usable with my camera if a grip is installed, and it also has issues with loosening up and the plastic nuts strip fairly easily. I'm really not impressed to be honest.

I also don't like not being able to use my battery grip with the bracket, but with a little modification it will work. (a friend of mine did it) The nuts on yours are plastic? On mine the nuts and studs are both metal. I just like the idea of the camerra flip VS the flash flip. I think when you flip the flash you change the lighting.

[Wazza]

I'm not entirely happy with my Stroboframe PRO RL either. It's just too flimsy. Not that solid at all. I've used it for 3 weddings now.

[Mark_48]

I have the same one (I think), and so far no problems..... Although I do keep a 9mm wrench in my bag just in case. I dont know why yours doesnt adjust. I adjusted mine for my camera when I first got it and it's been great eversince.

This is the one I have. Is this the same one you are talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-STROBOFRAME-CAMERA-FLIP-FLASH-BRACKET-STROBO-FRAME_W0QQitemZ290002041469QQihZ019QQcategoryZ6435 4QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It's this one.

http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=stroboframe&itemnum=310-625

[JMHPhotography]

I also don't like not being able to use my battery grip with the bracket, but with a little modification it will work. (a friend of mine did it) The nuts on yours are plastic? On mine the nuts and studs are both metal. I just like the idea of the camerra flip VS the flash flip. I think when you flip the flash you change the lighting.

Yep... the nuts are plastic. I guess they realized the design flaw and changed it. I wonder if I called them or emailed them, if they'd send me a new one or at least send me the metal nuts. The pressed in studs are metal though. I'm kinda on the fence about camera flip vs. flash flip. On the one hand, without diffusing the light I notice some light falloff toward the top and bottom of my frames when in portrait orientation. I'm told that it's because of the flash head being at a perpendicular orientation to the image sensor. When I use the softbox that problem isn't there because the light is spread nicely and evenly and wider in all four directions. The CB unit my friend has is nice. It is a flash flip but the head is angled in the same way it is when mounted directly on the shoe in both horizontal and vertical modes, plus even with the grip it stays centered above the lens. The bracket telescopes up so it is actually held higher than with my stroboframe. I'll have two camera's with two flashes, so why not two brackets..lol.

[am_pitbull_terrier]

The more equipment the merrier LOL Sounds like a great excuse to buy more stuff.

[am_pitbull_terrier]

Rather than having them send you the metal nuts, it may just be easier to go to the local hardware store and jsut buy them. They couldn't be more than a few cents each.

[Jammer1]

Waoh! read it on POTN then experience it 1st hand, i'll never doubt you guys again.

Recieved my stroboframe camera flip today (10 hours ago), just playing with it and found that the 550 flash weight causes the bracket to lean 10 degrees off centre, so I tighten each nut 1/8 as specified in the packing/instructions, Whamo! No grip, no tension, F###e#.

plastic nuts all round, I've found 1 steel nut in the toolbox and will be off to the hardware store tomorow.

Why use plastic nuts Tiffen???

[kong]

My .02 on these problems.... replace the screws with screws long enough to put a synthetic washer and a lock nut on the end. I've done this with every bracket that I've had and never had an issue. Even the high dollar brackets get sloppy with time, this seems to take care of it (at least for me)............

[jrsforums]

Waoh! read it on POTN then experience it 1st hand, i'll never doubt you guys again.

Recieved my stroboframe camera flip today (10 hours ago), just playing with it and found that the 550 flash weight causes the bracket to lean 10 degrees off centre, so I tighten each nut 1/8 as specified in the packing/instructions, Whamo! No grip, no tension, F###e#.

plastic nuts all round, I've found 1 steel nut in the toolbox and will be off to the hardware store tomorow.

Why use plastic nuts Tiffen???

Cheap is dear....said differently ya gets whatcha pays for.

[Jammer1]

I got the metal nuts today and now its workin fine.

I never knew a thing about brackets before I came to POTN and now I'm being told i bought cheap.

I BUYS WHAT I CAN AFFORDS

[Mark_48]

I ended up sandwiching some spring lock washers between two flat washers and nutting it to maintain some tension on it. Anything was better than originally designed.