No Matter Which Swivel You Get, You're Screwed.
I got a note from Stu at MPEX that the LP632 "shorty" swivels (which have been updated to have screws in the shoes for securely mounting the newer, metal flashes) have been selling faster than they can get them in. They are on backorder for, well, awhile.But... when he wrote to tell me that they are subbing out the LUM5099's (pictured above) for those who need a swivel, I noticed that they, too, are now coming with the little flash-securing screws.
Amen.
This is good news for people (like me) who do not want to see their SB-800's (or 580 EX II's or many other newer flashes) crashing to the floor. I hope this little feature finds its way through every single flash swivel on the planet.
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by David, at 12:29 AM.
16 Comments:
I bought a few of the manfrotto swivels that unfortunately don't come with a shoe adaptor. So I ended up buying one made by Strobo frame (Tiffen) that has a 1/4-20 threaded hole to attach it with. The strobo frame version is really nice because it works like a clamp when you turn the screw, like tightening 2 jaws on the base of the flash. This one looks like its just the screw that digs into the shoe, maybe marring it a little. One thought to go along with this, I replaced the tiny little knob with a slightly bigger one from Lowe's. The reason: It allows me to get a little tighter grip on the flash shoe. I figured that the $3/ per knob was worth it compared to losing a $300 SB 800.
I replaced the screws in mine too, one from mpex and one from photoflex. The little set screws kept falling out and disappearing. I bought a $1.65 set of screws with matching nuts that were about 1 inch long. I used an epoxy for metals to glue a nut to the screw close to the head and make it easier to grasp and turn. Much better than those 1/4in long set screws.
The flash swivel mount I got at Dury's in Nashville (generic brand) doesn't have the screw, but when I put the 580EX-II on it, I just use the slider lock on the base of the flash to securely tighten it to the swivel mount. No screw needed!
I was using my new swivel two days ago with the ghetto trigger as a base. The awkward angle makes it prone to sliding off. My 285 decked out on some bricks from about 6 feet. I snapped the pieces back together that flew off (mostly around the zoom head) and it would test-fire ok although I haven't been able to fully inspect it yet. I think I'm going to drill a small hole in my trigger shoe so the screw goes into it and keeps it from sliding. Beware!
I'd rather have a hole drilled in them for the pin that extends from the bottom of SB-800's.
On mine, the flash adaptor is soo tight I don't need to screw it in...
I barely can put my SB600 in...
You can get umbrella swivels from Adorama also.. They never have a back order for them there I don't think. This one has a screw in the shoe mount. Make sure you put some electrical tape on the hotshoe so you don't short out your flash!
http://www.adorama.com/PFSC.html
Hi Does anyone know where i can get this product in the uk?
This post makes me feel much better. I just ordered a strobist kit from MPEX and they told me that they were out of umbrella swivels, but then I saw that they had shipped the order. I thought I was going to just have to find my own or end up with some cheap-o. Thanks for staying on top of things.
At David's seminar in San Jose, I was surprised he was using the cheap plastic "stands" that come with Nikon flashes. He had screwed a spigot into the mounting hole in the bottom and attached to his stand. Trying to save a few bucks....? After thinking about it, though, I realized what seemed like a cheap plastic piece of crap just happens to have a hole in just the right place so the locking mechanism built into the Nikons lock securely. Very cool, after all!
I bought some manfrotto swivels and Hama brand flash shoes. I put a spot of white paint on the sb600 securing pin then put them into the hama shoe. This gave me the location to drill a very small hole to take the sb600 securing pin. I don't know exactly how secure this will be but it's an idea........
Take care when drilling, use a v. small bit and don't push.
Just received my Impact mounts today from B&H they have the screw as well.
As johnm mentioned the type of shoe adapter that hama uses (flat), modified with a hole for the locking pin on the SB600/SB800 are the best solution for those flashes but doesn't work on anything else. For the rest the stroboframe rules as bryannoll mentioned.
Wedding photographers have known this for ages as they run around with their strobes mounted to brackets while trying to avoid the increasingly uncordinated wedding guests.
Peter S
The ones I got from Opus have a screw as well, with an all aluminum shoe. Although one of the shoes is crazy tight, and took a shave of plastic off of one of my hotshoes the first time I put the flash in.
But; why all this concern over the screw? Is the clamp on the flash that holds the flash to the camera not good enough?
Speaking of MPEX, the Vivitar 285HV has been on back-order for months and it looks like it will never be back on the list. Don't you think its time you update your kits? I am awaiting your suggested purchases so I can start following along on your blog.
I also use the impact adapter with a hama hotshoe to pc connector for the 550ex...works great
hama part from B&H is HAPCHSA
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