580ex II vs. 600ex size comparison

I search around but couldn't find definitive info regarding the size differences, if any, regarding the flash head itself.

In other words, how close are they in sizes of the flash head? Will modifiers meant for a 580ex II fit a 600ex?

I think the 600 is about 1/4" taller. I don't think they would fit if they were custom molded. However, if they are just loosely fitting, they'd probably be fine.

the flash head is a little bigger. My stofens don't fit. It seems it should but there is just enough different that it won't go on.

symbolphoto wrote in post #15070748
I think the 600 is about 1/4" taller. I don't think they would fit if they were custom molded. However, if they are just loosely fitting, they'd probably be fine.

The modifiers I would plan on using are loose fitting with velcro straps to tighten so that's good news. Thanks.

pickle1 wrote in post #15072058
the flash head is a little bigger. My stofens don't fit. It seems it should but there is just enough different that it won't go on.

Thom: If you heat the part of the Stofen which actually fits over the flash (ie the open end, the 'skirt') in boiling water for about a minute, quickly dry it, you can then force it over the slightly oversize flash head. This will stretch the Stofen. As it cools (which is pretty quick, only a couple of minutes) it will set to the new size. It'll still be a 'snug' fit when you take it off - but at least it will now fit on & off.

• Boiling means boiling, not 'quite hot'. When I've done it, I put just enough water in a pan to cover the 'skirt', bring to the boil and dip the Stofen into the water in the pan. Don't scald yourself!
  
• You only need to heat the bit round the flash head, not the whole lot. That takes too long to dry the whole thing, the thermoplastic is cooling too much by the time you dry it all. Then you have to start again.
  
• If you heat the whole thing, it deforms as you push the flash head into it. Then you buy another; which is not the aim of the exercise. Yes, I did!
  
• Do DRY the plastic before fitting; no nasty shocks required, thank you very much.
  
• I found that the easiest way is to place the warmed Stofen face down on a counter and push the flash into it, rather than pushing the Stofen onto the flash freehand.
  
• The cold plastic of the flash head rapidly cools the Stofen so there's no time to hang about. Heat, dry, insert.
  

Ok. Did what you said to the letter.

Didn't scald myself as instructed!

Should I have removed the stofen from the flash first?

Thanks for the solution - it worked.

Whortleberry wrote in post #15073721
Thom: If you heat the part of the Stofen which actually fits over the flash (ie the open end, the 'skirt') in boiling water for about a minute, quickly dry it, you can then force it over the slightly oversize flash head. This will stretch the Stofen. As it cools (which is pretty quick, only a couple of minutes) it will set to the new size. It'll still be a 'snug' fit when you take it off - but at least it will now fit on & off.

• Boiling means boiling, not 'quite hot'. When I've done it, I put just enough water in a pan to cover the 'skirt', bring to the boil and dip the Stofen into the water in the pan. Don't scald yourself!
  
• You only need to heat the bit round the flash head, not the whole lot. That takes too long to dry the whole thing, the thermoplastic is cooling too much by the time you dry it all. Then you have to start again.
  
• If you heat the whole thing, it deforms as you push the flash head into it. Then you buy another; which is not the aim of the exercise. Yes, I did!
  
• Do DRY the plastic before fitting; no nasty shocks required, thank you very much.
  
• I found that the easiest way is to place the warmed Stofen face down on a counter and push the flash into it, rather than pushing the Stofen onto the flash freehand.
  
• The cold plastic of the flash head rapidly cools the Stofen so there's no time to hang about. Heat, dry, insert.
  

I had to slightly stretch 4 caps to fit my Metz 54 MZ4 units to make custom-fit honeycomb holders and the above method worked 4 times in a row (after I squished my initial one through heating all of it with a hot-air gun - BAD idea).

Hope this helps.

pickle1 wrote in post #15084915
Ok. Did what you said to the letter.
Didn't scald myself as instructed!
Should I have removed the stofen from the flash first?
Thanks for the solution - it worked.

Thom: (In reverse order of your post):

• You're very welcome; it certainly worked for me and I'm glad it did for you too. So that's 5/5 successful conversions!
  
• If you leave the Stofen on the flash, I find it needs a deeper pan than I have available. However, theoretically I'm sure you could get some quite interesting sparks and sizzles - perhaps a nicely burnished copper pan just to add further quality and colour. Possibly a touch of saffron for a truly gourmet cock-up?
  
• Glad you didn't scald - a scald on the hand is a pain in the ....... ass.