Photoflex Light and Umbrella Shoe Mount Clamp
by Photoflex
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Our Price: $21.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $21.98 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Photoflex Light and Umbrella Shoe Mount Clamp
Customer Review: Good enough for my needs.
Summary: 4 Stars
They're a little plasticky, but they work quite well. I am concerned about long-term use, but if I wanted big heavy duty cycle swivels I should have bought some. These are a good price, and very likable.
Don't know if other reviewers mentioned this: get some tape on the bottom of the shoe mounts. Your flash contacts will short out on them. Photoflex: 1 star gone for you! What were you thinking?
On the up side, they didn't damage my 580ex's. The short simply caused them to fire.
UPDATE 01/02/2009 - I am astounded at how good these have turned out to be, for cheapies. I tend to be careful with them, because they feel a little flimsy, but I have not yet been able to break them. I have dropped them, thrown them (that was a childish temper-tantrum moment for me...sigh), and popped them into the side pocket of my light bag (where they get bumped a lot) and flown with them. Still going strong.
Twice used as a simple swivel for a big heavy octabox and monolight, which is not recommended from what I hear, and the knuckle tightened right up without strain and held tight.
I also discovered clear packing tape works well to laminate the top of the show where the contacts go - that has held up well also.
I have recommended, and continue to recommend, these to other photographers. I will be buying a few more as my kit grows.
Customer Review: Not terrible so far; does most of what it should
Summary: 4 Stars
I have two of these, and there are priceless, really. They are a necessity on any job. They have held up so far for 8-9 months. I appreciate the little things, like how the handle can be re-oriented without loosening the clamp. So, for the money, I've been happy. However, there are two things I would like to see change:
1) Make the cold-shoe surface something other than metal, for crying out loud.
Myself and every photographer I know has to put gaffer tape or something over the surface or risk the flash going into "psycho rapid-fire" mode. It's not like it takes a lot of money to put a piece of tape over it, but it's just one of those things that feels ridiculous having to do.
2) Cut down the bulk a bit.
They are light, and fairly small, but with a smaller lightstand bag, it can be a game of tetris trying to fit two or three of these things in one bag. Especially with the clunky knobs; they stick out quite a bit further than they need to, and the handle is a bit cumbersome.
So, all that being said, I will likely buy a few more. Just wish those two things were changed.
Customer Review: Lever handle comes loose when the cap pops
Summary: 1 Stars
Photoflex Shoe Mount Multiclamp
While adjusting the handle (pull out then release wherever desired) the cap at the end of the lever popped out. Soon I have the lever (handle), spring & the cap in my hands. I have reassembled the lever parts for now, but I am not keen on using it. Thankfully spring was not wound tight, else the tiny cap would have been launched far away.
The cap could be glued to the shaft (around which spring fits) carefully such that it would not block handle movement outward. Then again I did not buy this to repair it.
I will stick with Manfrotto 026 Swivel Umbrella Adapter (Lite-Tite).
Customer Review: Good product
Summary: 4 Stars
Pretty good product. The cold shoe is not the greatest...the screw gets lose every once in a while, but decent.
NOTE: the the customer photos for this product are a great example on how to put ur umbrella and swivel together THE WRONG WAY. So do not follow them as a good. The first photo the umbrella has been put in from the wrong side (the hole for the umbrella is made at an angle so the flash would be pointing right in the middle of it...therefore in that pic the flash and umbrella run parallel and it't not because of the receiver. The second photo the swivel is put upside down...yes the flash point right in the middle of it but the umbrella is fixed to the lightstand. So if u want to tilt the umbrella u cant. This swivel is great if you know how to put it together, works with any flash and with those cheap receivers too.
Customer Review: Fragile.. but works
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a much needed accessory for mounting speedlights to tripods with umbrellas. I've used this with both the Nikon SB-600 and SB-800 it held them both tightly but it still felt a bit flimsy to me.. Next the size of the "multi clamp" is bigger than I thought it would be.. Lastly and most importantly the reason I only gave it 3 stars is the metal cold shoe (as others reviewers have mentioned) But really Photoflex WTF? Why would anyone make a cold shoe out of metal? I recommend taking the cold shoe off and using the mounting foot that comes with your speedlight (it has a tripod socket on the underside of it, well atleast the Nikons do) if not then I highly recommend putting some electrical tape on the part where your flash contacts the coldshoe of the "multiclamp"