A new take on the lowly umbrella swivel ...

[tetrode]

While wandering around PMA last week, I stumbled upon an interesting (to me, at least) new entrant in the umbrella swivel bracket arena.

This one is from Phottix, the well-known eBay source of radio triggers and other accessories.

Here's what it looks like:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3336271591_edd0f30ff7_o.jpg

As you can see, the flash shoe is much like the popular Stroboframe clamping shoe. The Phottix shoe is actually packed unmounted. The swivel is topped with a 1/4-20 bolt that the shoe (or other accessory) can be screwed onto.

As there's no 5/8" female receiver on top, the shoe is positioned significantly closer to the umbrella shaft mounting hole than would otherwise be the case.

Construction is all metal and the mating faces of the swivel/tilt mechanism are toothed. With the locking knob tightened, the bracket is absolutely rock solid.

Moving to the bottom, you'll find another interesting feature. The swivel comes with a spigot-like insert that's tapped for a 3/8" bolt. As shipped, a 3/8"-to-1/4" reducing bushing is included. The spring-loaded plunger is a safety lock much like the one found on Super Clamps. With the supplied insert removed, the swivel can be mounted on any lightstand.

Here's the bracket with a Sunpak 383 mounted:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3337105522_96dd71033e_o.jpg

For a size comparison, here it is posing next to a conventional generic resin swivel bracket:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3337105610_773062324a_o.jpg

Although the bracket isn't shipping quite yet, I was able to buy one of the PMA show demos for a reasonable $15. I had a very specific application in mind:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3337105632_b44904a93c_o.jpg

As I had hoped, the Phottix bracket and my DIY "L" bracket position my Sunpak 120J as close to the umbrella shaft as possible. I see no chance of slippage thanks to the toothed flange faces. And yes, I did put a support under the body of the flash once the concept was validated.

So, there you have it. The Phottix looks like a winner though I do see room for improvement: The umbrella shaft hole should be ovoid rather than round in cross section to ensure that variously sized shafts are held in proper orientation. The manner in which the flash shoe mounts to the bracket should be rethought. As it stands, securely orienting the shoe parallel to the umbrella shaft and tilt axis is tricky. Finally, real knobs should be installed on the flash shoe clamp and on the umbrella shaft locking screw.

Dave F.

[phsv]

These look like some nice brakets

[yogestee]

I've got something similar off Ebay..Works great and cheap as chips..

[fitzhughsmith]

With your bracket , it looks like it would work well with the Photek Softlighter

[hawk911]

With your bracket , it looks like it would work well with the Photek Softlighter

that's what I was thinking.

[tetrode]

With your bracket , it looks like it would work well with the Photek Softlighter

If that was addressed to me, I can confirm that the Phottix/120J/L-bracket combination works brilliantly with both my 46" and 60" Softlighters. Of the two, the 46", being smaller (duh!) and lighter, is the better match.

If the comment wasn't addressed to me, never mind :D

Dave F.

[PacAce]

Dave, does the sync contact pin at the bottom of the flash make contact with the cold shoe of the bracket (from you pictures, I can't tell if the contact touches the cold shoe or not)? If it does, are there any issues or concerns of shorting out the contact?

[kenyee]

Dave: is that L bracket custom or an off-the shelf bookshelf bracket from Home Depot? Looks like a good idea. I've been laying down the flash on my V2s fleabay triggers but this puts the flash head too close to the umbrella...

[tetrode]

Dave, does the sync contact pin at the bottom of the flash make contact with the cold shoe of the bracket (from you pictures, I can't tell if the contact touches the cold shoe or not)? If it does, are there any issues or concerns of shorting out the contact?

That's a very good question, Leo. I'm using a Stroboframe clamp on my DIY "L" bracket. The Stroboframe will not short the pins on the bottom of a flash foot because the interior floor of the clamp is recessed so that the pins do not make contact with any metal. I certainly haven't experienced any shorting whatsoever with the Sunpak 120J or any other flash.

The clamp that came with the Phottix might prove a problem. Unlike the Stroboframe "original", the interior floor of the Phottix clamp (where the contact pins on the foot of your flash will be hanging out) is not countersunk so the possibility seems to exist for metal-to-metal contact. I haven't actually used the Phottix clamp but I will take a close look at it this evening.

Dave F.

[tetrode]

Dave: is that L bracket custom or an off-the shelf bookshelf bracket from Home Depot? Looks like a good idea. I've been laying down the flash on my V2s fleabay triggers but this puts the flash head too close to the umbrella...

Ready for this? The "L" bracket you see in my photo actually started life (probably in the late 1950's) as part of a larger bracket that came with a gargantuan Heiland flashgun. The original braket was designed for a Rollei TLR.

Here's a photo of a typical Heiland flash of the era:

http://www.lavondyss.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/graflex_org-375px-apr-3-2003-11-52-9.jpg

I bought the bracket at a camera show several years ago and it sat languishing in my photo toy chest until I looked at it one day and inspiration struck.

I would *love* to find another one of these or something similar. The black crinkle finish is beautiful and durable and the bracket itself seems to be made of steel.

It pleases me that I saved this little piece of German over-engineering from the scap heap and gave it a new lease on life.

Dave F.

[PacAce]

That's a very good question, Leo. I'm using a Stroboframe clamp on my DIY "L" bracket. The Stroboframe will not short the pins on the bottom of a flash foot because the interior floor of the clamp is recessed so that the pins do not make contact with any metal. I certainly haven't experienced any shorting whatsoever with the Sunpak 120J or any other flash.

The clamp that came with the Phottix might prove a problem. Unlike the Stroboframe "original", the interior floor of the Phottix clamp (where the contact pins on the foot of your flash will be hanging out) is not countersunk so the possibility seems to exist for metal-to-metal contact. I haven't actually used the Phottix clamp but I will take a close look at it this evening.

Dave F.

Hi, Dave, I have the Stroboframe clamps, too, so I know those do not short the flash contacts. But I was just curious about the Phottix clamp. If it's made of the same material that the one on the Impact umbrella brackets is made of, then shorting shouldn't be a problem.

[GenuineRolla]

The 2nd one posted is the one that I had

[Rudi]

While wandering around PMA last week, I stumbled upon an interesting (to me, at least) new entrant in the umbrella swivel bracket arena.


You know everything is right with the world when Dave, recovering from a stumble, immediately buys the product he stumbled upon! ;) :D That's a nice-looking umbrella bracket, Dave.

[tetrode]

You know everything is right with the world when Dave, recovering from a stumble, immediately buys the product he stumbled upon! ;) :D That's a nice-looking umbrella bracket, Dave.

I'm well known for my exquisite taste when it comes to umbrella brackets, Rudi.

[agedbriar]

I have the same swivel brackets as Jurgen. They work fine, but the recess on the floor beneath the contact pins is a bit shallow, shallower then on the original Stroboframe clamp.

I put a layer of insulating tape over the clamp floor, just in case.

[Rudi]

I'm well known for my exquisite taste when it comes to umbrella brackets, Rudi.

You're well known for a lot of things, Dave... :D

[tetrode]

You're well known for a lot of things, Dave... :D

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