Speedring mount for the light stand

NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
edited April 13, 2008 in Accessories
I have the following problem with no solution yet:
I already have 4'x6' softbox and my 7' octagon is arriving this Friday. Both have profoto-compatible mounting rings. I.e, diffuser goes into the ring, ring goes on the profoto light, light goes into a mountain clip, clip goes onto lisght stand.

Now, I would really like to use these diffusers on location. My location strobes are 555AutoEX "potato masher" Sunpaks. I have no problem trasporting the stuff, but I cannot figure out how to attach the - rather bulky - diffuser assembly to the light stand without having the profoto flash unit itself. :scratch
Anybody knows the solution? There are no threaded holes in the speedrings to the best of my knowledge...
TIA!:thumb
"May the f/stop be with you!"

Comments

  • mr peasmr peas Registered Users Posts: 1,369 Major grins
    edited April 8, 2008
    I too love buying things which I don't know I would be able to use yet. rolleyes1.gif

    You might have to rig something up similar to an umbrella pole, but supporting something that heavy with one umbrella pole would probably not work.

    You may have to use your larger strobes which have the speedrings built in and not use the smaller flashes. Otherwise, I would just have somebody hold up the softbox for you. There should also be some places on the speedring where you can drill little holes into without affecting anything which you can use to tie-up some zip-ties or maybe some garden string and then strap it to your light stand. Then just tape the small flash inside with some vinyl or gaffer tape so it can easily be removed afterwards. But seriously thats a lot of work haha.. I would just go out and buy a battery pack or something to plug in your profotos. No reason to make your life harder Laughing.gif.

    Btw, where did you get your octagon box, I'm thinking of buying one next.
  • James SJames S Registered Users Posts: 439 Major grins
    edited April 8, 2008
    You ever thought about just buying a smaller softbox for location shoots?

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=419377&is=REG
    My Website


  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 8, 2008
    mr peas wrote:
    Btw, where did you get your octagon box, I'm thinking of buying one next.
    www.amvona.com
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 8, 2008
    rex wrote:
    You ever thought about just buying a smaller softbox for location shoots?
    I have brollyboxes/umbrellas in that size range, they are easy to work with and do a good job. I'm talking about larger diffusers.
    Yes, HLS (human light stand) is *a* solution, but sometimes I work solo.ne_nau.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    OK, I kinda made some progress, at least in my thought process.
    I think my solution will be to find a piece of sturdy pipe with the external diameter exactly matching the one of Profoto Compat series monolights and with the internal diameter large enough to let my sunpacks to go through.

    Now, the money question: where/how do I go about finding ~4" (aluminum? stainless? titanium?) pipe? headscratch.gif It's not something I tend to see in hardware stores... ne_nau.gif
    And if I find an approximate (i.e. slightly larger) one, where/how do I go about finding some mill shop that would make the fine adjustment? headscratch.gif
    TIA!
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,130 moderator
    edited April 9, 2008
    Nikolai wrote:
    ...

    Now, the money question: where/how do I go about finding ~4" (aluminum? stainless? titanium?) pipe? headscratch.gif It's not something I tend to see in hardware stores... ne_nau.gif
    And if I find an approximate (i.e. slightly larger) one, where/how do I go about finding some mill shop that would make the fine adjustment? headscratch.gif
    TIA!

    Nik,

    I think a PVC drain pipe might work for this application. Physical adjustments could be accomplished with hand tools and smaller electric tools (Dremel etc.).
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    ziggy53 wrote:
    Nik,

    I think a PVC drain pipe might work for this application. Physical adjustments could be accomplished with hand tools and smaller electric tools (Dremel etc.).

    You think it's about the size I need? I will check it out then, thanks, Ziggy!:-)
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited April 9, 2008
    Nik,

    For mounting speedlights in studio strobe mounting rings, one suggestion from the Strobist, was to take a pair of ball bungees, and stretch them around the ring mount, across the ring opening - one horizontal, and one vertical, and then slide the speedlight into the bungee's central orifice to hold the speedlite in place. Think of this pound sign # as the two bungees around the ring mount, then slide the business end of the speedlite into the central area of the pound symbol - the bungees are rubber and elastic and resilient enough to hold the flash.

    The softbox will have to mounted by mounting the ringmount in some manner then.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    pathfinder wrote:
    Nik,

    For mounting speedlights in studio strobe mounting rings, one suggestion from the Strobist, was to take a pair of ball bungees, and stretch them around the ring mount, across the ring opening - one horizontal, and one vertical, and then slide the speedlight into the bungee's central orifice to hold the speedlite in place. Think of this pound sign # as the two bungees around the ring mount, then slide the business end of the speedlite into the central area of the pound symbol - the bungees are rubber and elastic and resilient enough to hold the flash.

    The softbox will have to mounted by mounting the ringmount in some manner then.

    Jim,
    thank you!
    Yes, I understand this and I was thinking about something similar. My big problem however is mounting the speedring (with a rather large softbox attached to it) to the lightstand without ruining either one:-)
    Thus far Ziggy's suggestion with a PVC drainpipe looks promising, I just need to check if the diameter fits...
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited April 9, 2008
    Is the speed ring cast metal or stamped metal, Nik?

    Mine are cast aluminum.... If it is cast, you may be able to tap a 1/4 x 20 hole or a 3/8 hole and thread a bolt into it, or attach it to a clamp to attach to a light stand

    If the speed ring is stamped metal, you can bore a hole through it, but will most likely need to add a backing plate to prevent it from bending under the weight of a big softbox diffuser.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • ChatKatChatKat Registered Users Posts: 1,357 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    Chimera
    Chimera makes speedrings for Sunpaks. They will work with the Profoto Softbox. I can say about your Octabox if it's a different brand - but I bet that if you bought one for the Sunpak it would work.

    Actually, a Chimera Small Softbox with a speed ring for my Sunpaks is on my wishlist.


    pathfinder wrote:
    Is the speed ring cast metal or stamped metal, Nik?

    Mine are cast aluminum.... If it is cast, you may be able to tap a 1/4 x 20 hole or a 3/8 hole and thread a bolt into it, or attach it to a clamp to attach to a light stand

    If the speed ring is stamped metal, you can bore a hole through it, but will most likely need to add a backing plate to prevent it from bending under the weight of a big softbox diffuser.
    Kathy Rappaport
    Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
    http://flashfrozenphotography.com
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    pathfinder wrote:
    Is the speed ring cast metal or stamped metal, Nik?

    Mine are cast aluminum.... If it is cast, you may be able to tap a 1/4 x 20 hole or a 3/8 hole and thread a bolt into it, or attach it to a clamp to attach to a light stand

    If the speed ring is stamped metal, you can bore a hole through it, but will most likely need to add a backing plate to prevent it from bending under the weight of a big softbox diffuser.

    That's my second line of defense, if the pipe doesn't work out!
    Great thinking, Jim!thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    ChatKat wrote:
    Chimera makes speedrings for Sunpaks. They will work with the Profoto Softbox. I can say about your Octabox if it's a different brand - but I bet that if you bought one for the Sunpak it would work.

    Actually, a Chimera Small Softbox with a speed ring for my Sunpaks is on my wishlist.
    Really? Good to know, thank you, Kathy, appreciate the info! thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,130 moderator
    edited April 9, 2008
    Nikolai wrote:
    Really? Good to know, thank you, Kathy, appreciate the info! thumb.gif

    I could be wrong but I think Kathy is talking about Sunpak monolights and you are talking about a battery powered handle-mount flash.

    I don't think there is an adapter made for the Sunpak "potato-masher" lights.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • ChatKatChatKat Registered Users Posts: 1,357 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    HEre is the link
    ziggy53 wrote:
    I don't think there is an adapter made for the Sunpak "potato-masher" lights.

    Ziggy - I have the Chimera Catalog and I have the Sunpak 622's

    http://www.chimeralighting.com/doSpeedRings.asp
    Kathy Rappaport
    Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
    http://flashfrozenphotography.com
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    ChatKat wrote:
    Ziggy - I have the Chimera Catalog and I have the Sunpak 622's

    http://www.chimeralighting.com/doSpeedRings.asp
    I trust they make some, but I also think they only intend it for the small diffusers. I wouldn't put my 7' "octopus" onto my plastic stobe head, it will simply break in half.. ne_nau.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,130 moderator
    edited April 9, 2008
    ChatKat wrote:
    Ziggy - I have the Chimera Catalog and I have the Sunpak 622's

    http://www.chimeralighting.com/doSpeedRings.asp

    Very cool Kathy, I stand corrected.

    I note that they make one for the Sunpak 544 as well. Nik says he has the 555.

    Nik, maybe send them an e-mail?

    salesinfo@chimeralighting.com
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2008
    ziggy53 wrote:
    I note that they make one for the Sunpak 544 as well. Nik says he has the 555.
    Nik, maybe send them an e-mail?
    salesinfo@chimeralighting.com
    Possibly... Yet again, I don't think a small plastic flash head gonna hold the weight of a large softbox regardless of how you try to mount them... ne_nau.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ChatKatChatKat Registered Users Posts: 1,357 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    Another solution that would work...
    Nikolai wrote:
    Possibly... Yet again, I don't think a small plastic flash head gonna hold the weight of a large softbox regardless of how you try to mount them... ne_nau.gif

    There is a thread on another board that I frequent about another product that is made for putting any strobe on a lightstand with a softbox.

    Anyway, here is a link to that "Magic Slipper" - looks interesting! Not cheap but I bet it would work for the Octabox.

    http://www.fjwestcott.com/details.cfm?id=30&tbl=accessories
    Kathy Rappaport
    Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
    http://flashfrozenphotography.com
  • TravisTravis Registered Users Posts: 1,472 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    ChatKat wrote:
    There is a thread on another board that I frequent about another product that is made for putting any strobe on a lightstand with a softbox.

    Anyway, here is a link to that "Magic Slipper" - looks interesting! Not cheap but I bet it would work for the Octabox.

    http://www.fjwestcott.com/details.cfm?id=30&tbl=accessories

    Hmmmmm $249...... a TIG welder, a piece of aluminum bar, and a couple of cold shoes - you could make this for $40. Just a thought.....
    Travis Owney Photography
    My Images | My Lessons Learned and Other Adventures
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    ChatKat wrote:
    There is a thread on another board that I frequent about another product that is made for putting any strobe on a lightstand with a softbox.

    Anyway, here is a link to that "Magic Slipper" - looks interesting! Not cheap but I bet it would work for the Octabox.

    http://www.fjwestcott.com/details.cfm?id=30&tbl=accessories

    Cathy, thank you very much for the link! thumb.gif
    Good idea. Too bad it's so expensive. headscratch.gif
    But, just as Travis mentioned, same can be achieved in a DYI manner for far less... mwink.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    Travis wrote:
    Hmmmmm $249...... a TIG welder, a piece of aluminum bar, and a couple of cold shoes - you could make this for $40. Just a thought.....
    15524779-Ti.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ChatKatChatKat Registered Users Posts: 1,357 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    Do it yourself
    Nikolai wrote:
    15524779-Ti.gif

    For those of you who can saw metal and engineer, that's great. For the rest of us and some that might lurk, $249 is a good deal.
    Kathy Rappaport
    Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
    http://flashfrozenphotography.com
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,130 moderator
    edited April 13, 2008
    ChatKat wrote:
    There is a thread on another board that I frequent about another product that is made for putting any strobe on a lightstand with a softbox.

    Anyway, here is a link to that "Magic Slipper" - looks interesting! Not cheap but I bet it would work for the Octabox.

    http://www.fjwestcott.com/details.cfm?id=30&tbl=accessories

    Great find. clap.gif
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • TravisTravis Registered Users Posts: 1,472 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    ChatKat wrote:
    For those of you who can saw metal and engineer, that's great. For the rest of us and some that might lurk, $249 is a good deal.

    :D The key is knowing someone that can do these things. Trust me, you don't want me welding anything.
    Travis Owney Photography
    My Images | My Lessons Learned and Other Adventures
Sign In or Register to comment.