Umbrella swivel and Umbrella??

[Golferdude1977]

Ok, this will probably be one of those "duh" answers but I got my Softlighter II today and have the Impact Umbrella Swivel. When I put the shaft in the umbrella swivel hole, it won't tighten enough to hold the umbrella. I am in the umbrella swivel hole that is for the shaft, at about a 10 degree angle. So can someone give me one of those answers so I can go "duhhhhh"....lol

THanks...

[PacAce]

It's the same with my umbrella bracket, too. That's because the Softlighter II has a 7mm shaft. However, that 7mm part of the shaft is removable. If you push the Softlighter further down into the umbrella bracket (passed the 7mm shafter), you should be able to tighten the umbrella bracket on the upper portion of the Softlighter II shaft (or at least, I can on mine).

[WillMass]

I had the same problem as well. I found the thumb screw was bottoming out before it made complete contact with the Softlighter's shaft. My Impact swivels are a polycarbonate material, so I simply filed down about 1/8 on the little nub that the thumb screw threaded into. Just enough that it's almost flush now.

Worked like a charm and I was able to retain full adjustability.

[Golferdude1977]

Thanks for the tip WillMass... I will do that.

The only softlighter that is 7mm is the 36". The model number with an S at the end. Otherwise I thought it was 8MM. Your right that the part of the shaft that is towards the umbrella is larger. But I will be shooting with 580EXII and I won't have enough room to clamp the shaft on the part of the shaft towards the umbrella.

[form]

I would simply jam something in there with the umbrella shaft so it Does make contact. Paper, saran wrap, whatever it takes.

[m3rdpwr]

I don't have a problem with my Bogen 2906/026 with the Softliter.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546375-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_026_026_Swivel_Umbrella _Adapter.html

The Bogen is very strong too...

-Mario

[PacAce]

Thanks for the tip WillMass... I will do that.

The only softlighter that is 7mm is the 36". The model number with an S at the end. Otherwise I thought it was 8MM. Your right that the part of the shaft that is towards the umbrella is larger. But I will be shooting with 580EXII and I won't have enough room to clamp the shaft on the part of the shaft towards the umbrella.
I have a 46" Softlighter II and it has a 7mm shaft. B&H also sells a 60" Softligher II with a 7mm shaft. But, yes, those models do have an "S" at the end of the model number.

You could also try wrapping several layers of aluminum foil around the shaft.

[Golferdude1977]

I did what WillMas suggested, filed down the hump, and it worked great. The model I got was the SL-6000 and SL-4000. The piece of the shaft that unscrews is smaller than the upper part of the shaft.