mount flash flat to center with umberlla

[abdul10000]

Will the Quantum Instrument L-bar mount a flash flat and centered with an umbrella?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=149252&is=REG

http://quantuminstruments.com/?page=3600&qmode=c

Is this the only option to center the flash with an umbrella?


Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I was not able to find anything in search. Thanks.

[abdul10000]

omg, did I did do something wrong in this thread? 65 views and no feedback? Ok, let me make the topic more broad: How can I make the flash lay flat so its centered as much as possible with the umbrella shaft? The standard umbrella adapter with hot shoe only allows for vertical position.

[abdul10000]

I randomly stumbled into this while searching for something else:

scroll to the end of his first post to see the L bracket he is using
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=658419&highlight=umbrella


Does anyone know how tetrode did this mod? Also,how did he add a reflector to his flash?

[tetrode]

I randomly stumbled into this while searching for something else:

scroll to the end of his first post to see the L bracket he is using
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=658419&highlight=umbrella


Does anyone know how tetrode did this mod? Also,how did he add a reflector to his flash?

Hi, Abdul,

I've been puttering with that bracket a bit more since the photo in the post you cited was taken. Here's a quick snapshot of the current configuration:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3563684434_6c13d922d5_o.jpg

The umbrella shaft is now even closer to the flashtube and the umbrella is much more securely supported. As part of this latest mod, I cut a hole in the flash reflector to allow the umbrella shaft to pass through. I've used this bracket on several occasions and it works extremely well.

With an attachment, this bracket will accommodate two flashes:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3439660173_dea8ebb3be_o.jpg

As far as the reflector in the first photo is concerned, I didn't add that on; it's an integral part of the Sunpak 120J TTL shown in the photo. The Sunpak shares a reflector mount with Lumedyne and Quantum. The reflector in the photo is actually a Lumedyne part. The Sunpak reflector looks identical but I didn't want to drill a hole in that one.

If all you want to do is get your flash to lie closer to the umbrella shaft, there are a million DIY ways to accomplish that from the quick-and-dirty to the very professional (search for TMR Design's "Mars Lander"). You don't need to buy an expensive Quantum "L" bracket if you aren't too concerned with aesthetics. Here's an example of the absolute simplest Home Depot style bracket:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3562871389_70f3b7e947_o.jpg

I should point out that even the simple "L" bracket shown above required modifying a "shorty" style umbrella swivel like so:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2464918839_d8ca6217b0_o.jpg

Anyway, a 4" or 5" "L" bracket from Home Depot with a flash cold shoe screwed into one leg and and a standard lightstand spigot or stud screwed into the other will work with any cheap umbrella swivel bracket and will do the trick for you.

Dave F.

[Burnaby]

This youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKAD7leNOVY) by Paul Duncan should provide you with some valuable advice regarding flash positioning and orientation, and a bracket that can facilitate this.

[TMR Design]

This youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKAD7leNOVY.) by Paul Duncan should provide you with some valuable advice regarding flash positioning and orientation, and a bracket that can facilitate this.

Your link is to YouTube but not to a video.

[tetrode]

Your link is to YouTube but not to a video.

He has an extra character in the URL, Robert. It should be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKAD7leNOVY

Dave F.

[abdul10000]

Hi, Abdul,

If all you want to do is get your flash to lie closer to the umbrella shaft, there are a million DIY ways to accomplish that from the quick-and-dirty to the very professional (search for TMR Design's "Mars Lander"). You don't need to buy an expensive Quantum "L" bracket if you aren't too concerned with aesthetics. Here's an example of the absolute simplest Home Depot style bracket:

Anyway, a 4" or 5" "L" bracket from Home Depot with a flash cold shoe screwed into one leg and and a standard lightstand spigot or stud screwed into the other will work with any cheap umbrella swivel bracket and will do the trick for you.

Dave F.

Found TMR's thread: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=585916 and yes the mod looks much simpler than I thought. Many thanks for sharing!

[abdul10000]

ok, I just made what is perhaps the most amazing DIY umbrella bracket mod!! see for yourself:


the flash is held in place by two bongo elastic ties
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3573937308_cec863fef6.jpg?v=0

the flash head is tilted downward a little to be centered with the ubrella. the flash hot shoe edge is supported by the mount shoe mount
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/3573937164_4a3bb34ca5.jpg?v=0

Below is the flash in vertical position being fired into a 30" white umbrella, you could tell the lower half of the umbrella is getting considerably less light
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3573130107_bab81b4eda.jpg?v=0

Having the flash in horizontal position and centered with the umbrella produces more even light distribution
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3573937944_91ecdbc047.jpg?v=0


Obviously this is in no way as good as the other mods, but it will do for now until I get an L bracket. Surprisingly, though, the setup is pretty solid.

[TMR Design]

Looks good but if you're going to lay the flash down it makes more sense to have the display and controls facing up so you can access them and operate the flash.

[abdul10000]

Looks good but if you're going to lay the flash down it makes more sense to have the display and controls facing up so you can access them and operate the flash.


very true except that the optical slave is on the other side. I was firing the flash using the optical slave and when I turned it the other way the slave didn't trigger anymore.

[TMR Design]

Hmmm, ok. Personally, I wouldn't count on the optical slave in any real shooting situation. They work great in a controlled environment but out on location and outside the studio I would never count on it. That's just me.

[butugly]

just a thought but my speedlite tilts past 90 degrees this would put the light source nearer the centre of the brolly.
have'nt used brollies in my studio setup yet so dont know how the offset upsets the light distribution.why not mount the flash as normal and bend a piece of tubing for the brolly to bring it up more central with the source light.

[vadim_c]

just a thought but my speedlite tilts past 90 degrees this would put the light source nearer the centre of the brolly.
have'nt used brollies in my studio setup yet so dont know how the offset upsets the light distribution.why not mount the flash as normal and bend a piece of tubing for the brolly to bring it up more central with the source light.
You do not need to tilt it more than 90 degrees. Most flash holders already tilt the camera appropiately.
I personally do not care about all this at all. I just tie a fully opened flash to the umbrells shaft, with whatever I can find in my pocket, most often with a piece of electric tape. Works flawlessly.