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SYS
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 14:12
My Canon Off-Camera Shoe Cord stopped working yesterday. Good, I never liked it anyway, so good riddance....

I never liked my cumbersome flash bracket, either, so I tossed it in the trash ;). Good riddance, too!

So I decided to go truly "off camera" with the following DIY, the "Speed(lite) Gun":

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/3421189787_2d2658e932.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3421996464_a7826bc7eb.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3421189773_315c6e2866.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3421996476_61b505e67d.jpg

MATERIALS:

- PVC tube, "T" connector, and caps
- PVC cement
- 2 hex bolt (1/4x3/4) and 2 hex nuts
- Black spray paint

When not being used by my left arm or when my assistants (i.e., my kids :D) are not readily available, I dock my "gun" onto its base station and fire away....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3421281663_328b5bd38c.jpg
Familiaphoto
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 14:42
Very neat, I wish I had a need for such things.
inthedeck
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 14:44
Interesting. So what's the base made of, and how's it designed?
dpds68
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 14:53
Great work , What's holding the flash on your "Gun" ?
SYS
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 14:59
Interesting. So what's the base made of, and how's it designed?

The "docking station" is actually my DIY lightstand that I made earlier with PVC tubing. Where the Speed(lite) Gun "docks" is also the docking station for several of my PVC tubes (with hex bolts drilled through the PVC caps) with varying lengths for different lighting needs.
inthedeck
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 15:01
Thanks, have a thread, or picture, of the 'docking station?'
SYS
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 15:09
Great work , What's holding the flash on your "Gun" ?

The PVC top was drilled and tightly fitted with a "1/4x3/4" hex bolt and nut. The "hotshoe-to-pocket-wizard" cord that I got from FlashZebra was then screwed onto it.

What's holding the Pocket Wizard is the same size hex bolt and nut. The PW just screws onto it.
SYS
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 15:12
Thanks, have a thread, or picture, of the 'docking station?'

I'll have to take some pictures and will post a couple or so...
maximus96
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 18:58
Is 1/4x3/4 the standard tripod screw thread? I thought it was 1/4x20.
RLipp69
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 19:19
good job!
SYS
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 20:39
Is 1/4x3/4 the standard tripod screw thread? I thought it was 1/4x20.

No, 1/4x3/4 is not the standard tripod/monopod screw, but it fits just as perfectly for the PWIIs and hotshoe screw holes that use 1/4x20.
SYS
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 20:40
good job!

Thanks! :)
Mark1
7th of April 2009 (Tue), 22:48
Not an hour ago I was thinking I need a way to put my flash on a spike that I can just stab in the ground. But could'nt think of a way to easily mount the flash on the end where I might have to hammer it in to the ground. I mey have to take your idea and run with it.
SYS
8th of April 2009 (Wed), 16:27
Not an hour ago I was thinking I need a way to put my flash on a spike that I can just stab in the ground. But could'nt think of a way to easily mount the flash on the end where I might have to hammer it in to the ground. I mey have to take your idea and run with it.

Do you have in mind something like cutting the PVC end in sharp stake shape? If anyone shoots frequently at beaches, this would be quite handy... Just plug into the sand and shoot...:D
claybuster
8th of April 2009 (Wed), 17:02
Cool idea! I'd like to see you taking pictures near a highway with it. I bet a lot of cars would slow down thinking it's a radar gun:D
SYS
8th of April 2009 (Wed), 17:13
Cool idea! I'd like to see you taking pictures near a highway with it. I bet a lot of cars would slow down thinking it's a radar gun:D

Either that, or get shot at!! :lol: :lol:
vadim_c
8th of April 2009 (Wed), 18:37
Make shure you stay away from police with that thing :-)
Mark1
8th of April 2009 (Wed), 22:15
Do you have in mind something like cutting the PVC end in sharp stake shape? If anyone shoots frequently at beaches, this would be quite handy... Just plug into the sand and shoot...:D


As I thought about it I may get the plant hangers that are shaped like an h on the bottom where you just step on it to get it to stay. Ill cut off the hook at the top then make a holder like the you did but in 3/4 in pipe.
Brett
9th of April 2009 (Thu), 14:15
Very cool, but it needs an umbrella bracket of some sort. IMO direct flash, off-camera or not, needs to be diffused and made larger, except for special-effects-type shots.
SYS
9th of April 2009 (Thu), 14:59
Very cool, but it needs an umbrella bracket of some sort. IMO direct flash, off-camera or not, needs to be diffused and made larger, except for special-effects-type shots.

I'm aware of all the limitations of this DIY that the "Off Camera Shoe Cord" has. I just couldn't stand using the cord and the flash bracket. I wanted to be FREE! :) I never intended to use the "Speed(lite) Gun" for direct flash (except as fill). It is primarily intended to be used with my favorite diffuser-reflector here.... I also intend to use the gun with a DIY snoot and other such modifiers...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3426609899_eb4d271d57_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3426609917_d11882766d_o.jpg