Anyone using the Softliter 60" With Elinchrom Ranger Quadra?

Just want to make sure that the confusing shaft diameters is making sense. I know they make a 7mm version, but several places over the net (including here) say to buy the normal one, and it will fit into elinchrom mounts anyway, that the 7mm is too small. I am just wondering if this is still true of the Quadra (using the adaptor).

Also even if it is true, it sounds like it's only the extension pole that fits a 7mm hole? Does that mean you can use it how it would normally be used, with the diffusion panel in place? I want to make sure I can get the head all the way flush so the diffusion fabric is flat, not tented. Not sure where along the shaft it changes diameter.

http://www.photekusa.c​om/Softlighter.html

Woops... didn't read closely.

poopinmymouth wrote in post #9193791
...Also even if it is true, it sounds like it's only the extension pole that fits a 7mm hole?

True

At least with my Elinchrom 600RX units, there is no "tenting" when using the 60" Softlighter with 8mm shaft:

Thanks for the post tetrode. I'm hoping it stays true for the Quadra hole also, but I can't see why they'd change it.

I've owned (note past tense) the Quadra dual A head kit and have a SFII.

As you surmised, the standard SFII's shaft screw-in extension is 7mm dia, and is the one to use with any Eli light. With the Q, as you insert, it will stop itself where the extension/shaft interface contacts the front end of the umbrella tube on it's 'wing'. Given the 'who were they kidding?' nature of the Quadra head's umbrella tube, I'd STRONGLY recommend:
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1. When using the softlighter: So in slowly, go in straight and be careful to STOP the insert process once you hit the end of the extension. It's placement at that juncture is close to flush with the front diffuser anyway. Is it perfect? No, but close.

Unlike the tubes imbedded into the mass other Eli lights, the Quadra tube's thin brittle plastic stand-alone tube won't take any "let see if I can get it in another 0.25"... Try and do that and it will crack. The same with a hurried attempt to mount an umbrella if you start moving the umbrella up/down/laterally as you insert it - that shaft is a nice long torque arm.

2. If using the SFII or any-sized umbrella with the Quadra, I'd strongly recommend using it in combination with a real umbrella swivel to do the work (e.g. find a combination of Manfrotto studs/swivels or a modified Quadra adapter, etc to keep the light along the access of the shaft BUT have the shaft by-pass the Quadra tube completely).

3. Given that the diameter of the flash tube is VERY VERY close to the diameter of the head itself, I'd use the SFII with a reflector or use some other method to keep the SFII sleeve off the flash tube as the latter gets hot.

The Quadra umbrella tube will not tolerate much by way of ham-handedness nor lateral movement of the umbrella before it cracks and once it does, no amount of epoxy will bring a brittle plastic like that back to original working order. Motorcycle fairing plastic-welding maybe..

Now I'm sure 1/2 doz folks will say they use it every day and it's wonderful, but with the Quadra umbrella receptacle designed as it is, it's not a matter of IF it will break in use, but WHEN. Shelling out $500 ish to replace a head for $0.02 worth of plastic (not that the head, minus the app$100ish cost of the tube, is worth more than $25 anyway) would not be fun.

My advice would be that if you intend on keeping the Quadra, want to use it with a SF or large umbrella and aren't concerned about resale, just Dremel-off that idiotic tube and it's 'arm' completely and put together a DIY kit in combo with say a Manfrottro umbrella swivel, etc.

Another Softlighter user here.

As has already been described and shown, the standard 8mm with the extension works with Elinchrom strobes and is nice and snug. I've never had it shift position. All three sizes (36", 46" and 60") offer the extension. I suspect that the other brands that still use a 7mm shaft will work well with the 7mm version but not Elinchrom, and from what I've seen, the umbrella mount doesn't change from model to model and is consistent across the entire Elinchrom line of strobes and heads.

Conner999 wrote in post #9195172
I've owned (note past tense) the Quadra dual A head kit and have a SFII.

As you surmised, the standard SFII's shaft screw-in extension is 7mm dia, and is the one to use with any Eli light. With the Q, as you insert, it will stop itself where the extension/shaft interface contacts the front end of the umbrella tube on it's 'wing'. Given the 'who were they kidding?' nature of the Quadra head's umbrella tube, I'd STRONGLY recommend:
-------------
1. When using the softlighter: So in slowly, go in straight and be careful to STOP the insert process once you hit the end of the extension. It's placement at that juncture is close to flush with the front diffuser anyway. Is it perfect? No, but close.

Unlike the tubes imbedded into the mass other Eli lights, the Quadra tube's thin brittle plastic stand-alone tube won't take any "let see if I can get it in another 0.25"... Try and do that and it will crack. The same with a hurried attempt to mount an umbrella if you start moving the umbrella up/down/laterally as you insert it - that shaft is a nice long torque arm.

2. If using the SFII or any-sized umbrella with the Quadra, I'd strongly recommend using it in combination with a real umbrella swivel to do the work (e.g. find a combination of Manfrotto studs/swivels or a modified Quadra adapter, etc to keep the light along the access of the shaft BUT have the shaft by-pass the Quadra tube completely).

3. Given that the diameter of the flash tube is VERY VERY close to the diameter of the head itself, I'd use the SFII with a reflector or use some other method to keep the SFII sleeve off the flash tube as the latter gets hot.

The Quadra umbrella tube will not tolerate much by way of ham-handedness nor lateral movement of the umbrella before it cracks and once it does, no amount of epoxy will bring a brittle plastic like that back to original working order. Motorcycle fairing plastic-welding maybe..

Now I'm sure 1/2 doz folks will say they use it every day and it's wonderful, but with the Quadra umbrella receptacle designed as it is, it's not a matter of IF it will break in use, but WHEN. Shelling out $500 ish to replace a head for $0.02 worth of plastic would not be fun.

My advice would be that if you intend on keeping the Quadra, want to use it with a SF or large umbrella and aren't concerned about resale, just Dremel-off that idiotic tube and it's 'arm' completely and put together a DIY kit in combo with say a Manfrottro umbrella swivel, etc.

Awesome, thanks Conner. I am actually planning only to use it with the Quadra adaptor, not the quadra head by itself, so that should short circuit both problems. But it's great to hear that the shaft on the 8mm version works with the quadra. That's why I love this forum!

No worries.

Just bear in mind the adapter has no umbrella mount - just a hole for the umbrella shaft to pass thru on its way to the head. The actual shaft retention is up to the tube on the head. The first time I mounted and used my SFII (46") on a Quadra head - both with and w/o an adapter was the last time - was far too fragile a setup (re: the umbrella 'tube') for my liking.

They missed an opp. in my mind to integrate a nice robust umbrella retention mechanism on the (much stronger) adapter. You MIGHT be able to DIY something.

Conner999 wrote in post #9196443
No worries.

Just bear in mind the adapter has no umbrella mount - just a hole for the umbrella shaft to pass thru on its way to the head. The actual shaft retention is up to the tube on the head. The first time I mounted and used my SFII (46") on a Quadra head - both with and w/o an adapter was the last time - was far too fragile a setup (re: the umbrella 'tube') for my liking.

They missed an opp. in my mind to integrate a nice robust umbrella retention mechanism on the (much stronger) adapter. You MIGHT be able to DIY something.

Really? Well that's super disappointing. I was already imagining some kind of way to strengthen the umbrella holder, but now I really have to get to it.

Anyone have closeups of the adaptor and how it holds an umbrella so I can be thinking of how to diy something?

Conner999 wrote in post #9196443
No worries.

Just bear in mind the adapter has no umbrella mount - just a hole for the umbrella shaft to pass thru on its way to the head. The actual shaft retention is up to the tube on the head. The first time I mounted and used my SFII (46") on a Quadra head - both with and w/o an adapter was the last time - was far too fragile a setup (re: the umbrella 'tube') for my liking.

They missed an opp. in my mind to integrate a nice robust umbrella retention mechanism on the (much stronger) adapter. You MIGHT be able to DIY something.

Man that steams me. What a **** tastic design. I guess one of my heads I can just file off the umbrella retention tube if it cracks from the softliter, and then solder on some better metal tube on the back of the adaptor.

Seriously, **** design on some things of this. Why couldn't they make a metal tab on the head? Oh because then they couldn't sell the adaptor.

Post #294. 3rd and 5th pic IIRC - you can see the hole for the pass thru.

https://photography-on-the.net …9&highlight=mou​nt&page=20

As for the _____ behind the whole mess, those were thoughts exactly.

If you cut off the useless Quadra tube (or just mount an umbrella and flick the umbrella tip a couple of times with your finger - should accomplish the same thing) you could pass the shaft thru the adapter/head combo into a proper umbrella mount.

As it is, when the head and adapter mount together, the Quadra tube and adapter hole, of course, line-up and pretty well butt together. So it's shaft thru adapter, then carefully thru the head tube behind it and THEN into whatever mount you need to use to actually properly support the umbrella (assuming you go that route) . Regardless of what approach you take (separate mount or modifying the adapter), if you're going to make a DIY effort to design the bloody thing properly, the Quadra head tube will just get in your way - and break in short order anyway.

Good luck - and publish your success. Lot of folks might be interested.

Conner999 wrote in post #9197271
Post #294. 3rd and 5th pic IIRC - you can see the hole for the pass thru.

https://photography-on-the.net …9&highlight=mou​nt&page=20

As for the _____ behind the whole mess, those were thoughts exactly.

If you cut off the useless Quadra tube (or just mount an umbrella and flick the umbrella tip a couple of times with your finger - should accomplish the same thing) you could pass the shaft thru the adapter/head combo into a proper umbrella mount.

As it is, when the head and adapter mount together, the Quadra tube and adapter hole, of course, line-up and pretty well butt together. So it's shaft thru adapter, then carefully thru the head tube behind it and THEN into whatever mount you need to use to actually properly support the umbrella (assuming you go that route) . Regardless of what approach you take (separate mount or modifying the adapter), if you're going to make a DIY effort to design the bloody thing properly, the Quadra head tube will just get in your way - and break in short order anyway.

Good luck - and publish your success. Lot of folks might be interested.

Yep, will do. I already published my DIY flash tube protection cap and speedring for tiny softboxes here: http://mr-chompers.blogspot.com/​2009/06/littlepreview.​html And here: http://mr-chompers.blogspot.com …angerquadraspee​dring.html

It is plenty strong enough to hold an XXS softbox, but it's light as a feather. The softliter is gonna be quite a bit heavier. I'm thinking a long bolt or tube the right diameter, soldered directly on the back of the umbrella hole of the adaptor should do it.

Been watching your blog for awhile - nice stuff.

Not a bad idea - a short 7mm tube welded on the back of the adapter over the existing hole, drill and thread a hole thru the bottom of it for say a set screw and away you go.

Conner999 wrote in post #9198198
Been watching your blog for awhile - nice stuff.

Not a bad idea - a short 7mm tube welded on the back of the adapter over the existing hole, drill and thread a hole thru the bottom of it for say a set screw and away you go.

Yup, just what I was thinking. I'm lucky that my husband's father and brother are both accomplished welders, so I can most likely get them. I was wondering though, how thick is the metal on the adaptor? Can you imagine it taking the 7mm tube welded to it? If it's a beefy metal I can imagine it working well, but if it's thinner, I'm dubious.

Going off memory here, but IIRC just over 1/8" thick with a powder coating that you'd have to grind off around the weld area.

The adapter is a simple metal ring with the relative mounts on either side. However the L shaped tab at the bottom where the swivel mount attaches (and where the adapter flexes when used with a heavy modifier) is welded on to said ring, so a quick tack weld should be doable.

Everyone needs at least one welder and machinist in the family...