580EX II and Justin Clamps

Pindy

is there a better, more secure way to keep a 580EX II in the cold shoe of a Justin clamp? There's a decent amount of tension as it is, but you cannot close the lock on the EX II due to the rubber weather mount and the fact the shoe is meant to be tightened with a wheel tensioner.

Any thougts?

ziggy53

Pindy wrote:

is there a better, more secure way to keep a 580EX II in the cold shoe of a Justin clamp? There's a decent amount of tension as it is, but you cannot close the lock on the EX II due to the rubber weather mount and the fact the shoe is meant to be tightened with a wheel tensioner.

Any thougts?

Turn the flash over and watch for a little pin that projects out when the latch is in the locked position.

If there is not a hole to receive that pin, is it possible to drill a small hole in the Justin clamp cold shoe to catch the pin?

Pindy

ziggy53 wrote:

Turn the flash over and watch for a little pin that projects out when the latch is in the locked position.

If there is not a hole to receive that pin, is it possible to drill a small hole in the Justin clamp cold shoe to catch the pin?

Didn't notice that. I wonder if that is the only deterrent to clamping it.

ziggy53

Pindy wrote:

Didn't notice that. I wonder if that is the only deterrent to clamping it.

I think that pin is spring loaded (you should be able to push it in when extended.)

If you were to drill a hole, might it be enough to keep the flash from falling out?

Pindy

ziggy53 wrote:

I think that pin is spring loaded (you should be able to push it in when extended.)

If you were to drill a hole, might it be enough to keep the flash from falling out?

It seems the spring-loaded pin makes no odds and seems desined to not get in the way of things like this. The problem is the when you clamp the flash down, the rubber surround that descends on the hot shoe is molded to only fit a hot shoe and no more than that. If the cold shoe you're using is wider than the one on top of the camera—and it is—it's simply a matter of the rubber surround taking too big a mouthful. At least, you can turn the tightener about 15% of the way to the right and the rubber surround does hold the flash in place fine, but not in any way that locks it down. Bummer.

I don't see a mod other than Manfrotto releasing an alternate cold shoe mount, which could be easily retrofitted.

Pindy

These might work if they have threads for the 1/4" shaft that comes out of the Justin's little ball head:

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/items.asp?Cc=FlashAccCold&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=

or this one for sure has a 1/4" thread:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/52772-REG/Stroboframe_300_SHO_Flash_Mount_Adapter_.html

Seems silly, though, that Bogen can't step up here. Surely they know about both flagship strobes from Canon & Nikon (the SB-900 also doesn't fit)

pathfinder

Mount the flash with ball bungees or a couple Velcro straps, perhaps??

I, for one, do not like the new shoe clamping mechanism on the 580ex II.

I vastly prefer the security of the older 580ex screw it down tight method.

But I am old fashioned sometimes, too.

Pindy

pathfinder wrote:

Mount the flash with ball bungees or a couple Velcro straps, perhaps??

I actually want to USE the clamp, not circumvent it. It's a really great design, I have to say.

I, for one, do not like the new shoe clamping mechanism on the 580ex II. I vastly prefer the security of the older 580ex screw it down tight method.

Agreed, though it mounts wonderfully on the camera, should I want my subjects to look like they were shot by a paparazzo.

ziggy53

I wonder if this replacement foot would fit?:

http://www.flashzebra.com/canon580ex_footassembly.shtml

Pindy

ziggy53 wrote:

I wonder if this replacement foot would fit?:

http://www.flashzebra.com/canon580ex_footassembly.shtml

I didn't know you could get stuff like that. I suppose if you're not worried about your warrantee it might work if the cases matched.

RRS told me they haven't tried the EX II in their mount, but it looks like the same top dimensions as a normal hot shoe. I think I might take a chance on that or the other one in the link.

Thanks guys!