Mounting an Elinchrom head on Large softbox

Hi
I hope you don't mind me asking here, during my lurking expeditions here I've noticed a number of Elinchrom users so this was the first place that came to mind.

I have a large Chimera box (54*72"), and need to get a head for it. I also have an Elinchrom mount speedring, so Elinchrom sounds like the first brand to try. Funds are limited, so I'm actually considering the budget head(s), so my question is;

would mounting a D-lite by the speedring be a bad idea?
In other words, do you think that the weight of the head is too much for the mount?
I suppose mounting a box this large on the head (D-lite) on a stand would be, so I'm not even considering that. The ring is pretty solid (photoflex)


Appreciate all input..

Best
Thorir V

thorirv wrote in post #13262892
Hi
I hope you don't mind me asking here, during my lurking expeditions here I've noticed a number of Elinchrom users so this was the first place that came to mind.

I have a large Chimera box (54*72"), and need to get a head for it. I also have an Elinchrom mount speedring, so Elinchrom sounds like the first brand to try. Funds are limited, so I'm actually considering the budget head(s), so my question is;

would mounting a D-lite by the speedring be a bad idea?
In other words, do you think that the weight of the head is too much for the mount?
I suppose mounting a box this large on the head (D-lite) on a stand would be, so I'm not even considering that. The ring is pretty solid (photoflex)


Appreciate all input..

Best
Thorir V

Hi Thorir,

A D-Lite is not really rated to handle anything that large or heavy andI wouldn't recommend it. I'm not saying it wouldn't work, because it will work, but I'm not sure of the stability or long term stability. If you were going to mount the rig by the 1/4"-20 or 3/8"-16 mounting hole on a speed ring then you'd be fine.

TMR Design wrote in post #13262924
Hi Thorir,

A D-Lite is not really rated to handle anything that large or heavy andI wouldn't recommend it. I'm not saying it wouldn't work, because it will work, but I'm not sure of the stability or long term stability. If you were going to mount the rig by the 1/4"-20 or 3/8"-16 mounting hole on a speed ring then you'd be fine.

Thanks Robert, that was the idea - to mount the speedring on a stand (by the 1/4"-20 thread), and have the speedring support the box and head. Was unsure if the weight of the D-lite head was too much for its own mount, since with this configuration the mount will be carrying it .

Thanks again.
Th

thorirv wrote in post #13262987
Thanks Robert, that was the idea - to mount the speedring on a stand (by the 1/4"-20 thread), and have the speedring support the box and head. Was unsure if the weight of the D-lite head was too much for its own mount, since with this configuration the mount will be carrying it .

Thanks again.
Th

Having the mount carry the weight of the D-Lite shouldn't be a problem at all. Even though the mount is plastic, it's fairly strong and a D-Lite 4 it is pretty darn light.

TMR Design wrote in post #13263003
Having the mount carry the weight of the D-Lite shouldn't be a problem at all. Even though the mount is plastic, it's fairly strong and a D-Lite 4 it is pretty darn light.

: )
Good to hear.

Ive done this all the time before, the heaviest softbox i have is 200cm and about 10pounds i think, i got a threaded speedring and just use a heavyduty swivel to mount the softbox directly onto the lighstand then just clip the Dlite in and it hangs off by itself.

Works great, BUT, dont give in to the urge to try and use the DLite has a lever when you want to shift the SB around.

Csae wrote in post #13263043
Works great, BUT, dont give in to the urge to try and use the DLite has a lever when you want to shift the SB around.

Good advice.

I always mount the whole assembly to an arm that comes off a grip head. All adjustments are done at the arm and stand and never the strobe.

I figured this would do the job.
but I shall indeed try to resist the urge to use the D-lite as grip ; )

Oh that looks like a very good choice!

I use this one

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …avy_Duty_Grip_S​wivel.html

but i haven't been happy enough with it to recommend it, it does the job tho, i guess.

Let us know how the chimera version works out

Csae wrote in post #13263210
Oh that looks like a very good choice!

I hope it is : )

Csae wrote in post #13263210
I use this one

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …avy_Duty_Grip_S​wivel.html

but i haven't been happy enough with it to recommend it, it does the job tho, i guess.

Let us know how the chimera version works out

I will, thanks a lot for input.
Best, Th

Chimera sells a few hardware that attaches to their speed rings (the main part that attaches to the soft box, not the insert) that can be used to take the weight of the soft box so that the light mounted on it is there just for the ride and not taking on the burden of holding itself and the softbox up on the stand.

PacAce wrote in post #13264051
Chimera sells a few hardware that attaches to their speed rings (the main part that attaches to the soft box, not the insert) that can be used to take the weight of the soft box so that the light mounted on it is there just for the ride and not taking on the burden of holding itself and the softbox up on the stand.

The Quick Release speed ring already has the mounting hole.

definitely doable, just try to keep movement of the setup to a minimum to prevent additional stress to the plastic on the d-lite.

TMR Design wrote in post #13264082
The Quick Release speed ring already has the mounting hole.

Ah, OK. Thanks. I wasn't sure what kind of speed ring the OP had.

speedring (photoflex, small box mounted) and swivel