p.1 #3 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
Have you ever actually broken one?
The thing to realize about locking the flash in place is that the locking mechanism isn't friction created by the collar, but rather a pin on the front of the flash base which extends and mates with a hole in the hot shoe. Canon hot shoes and the accessory foot have the corresponding hole for the locking pin, but third party cold shoes usually don't.
I used third party cold shoes but switched Canon base after several near misses of flashes falling off of my off camera light stand. So it you do opt for a third-party shoe you might want to get out the drill or Dremel tool and create a hole for the mounting pin.
p.1 #5 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
I'll check the products out. thanks.
Chuck, the plastic thread on the bottom is what I am wary of. It is easy to strip out the plastic thread mating with a metal thread; easy to knock off the plastic foot base if struck. These thoughts arise while thinking about taking light stands out of the house to shoot elsewhere.
Embry, RRS site says it is good for Nikon speed light. It does not mention Canon.
p.1 #6 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
I mount my speedlites to PW Flexes and then mount a 1/4 20 stud to that and then put that in my Bogen umbrella mount. That makes a perfect setup in my view.
The thing I like about them is that they don't use the flash tightening mechanism, but rather use tension provided by the screw on the side, which clamps the base of the shoe mount.
p.1 #10 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
I have smitch victor cold shoes. They are some sort of aluminum, but you'll have to tape off the top of it though, so it doesn't make contact with the flashes contacts.
I use them on top of bogen umbrella swivels, and I've not had a 580EXII with a cybersync fall off yet. *going to find wood to knock on*
p.1 #12 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
Savas K wrote:
Chuck, the plastic thread on the bottom is what I am wary of. It is easy to strip out the plastic thread mating with a metal thread; easy to knock off the plastic foot base if struck. These thoughts arise while thinking about taking light stands out of the house to shoot elsewhere.
YMMV but based on my experience I think you are worrying too much a problem you haven't experienced yet. I've used the flash foot for several years attached to a light stand stud and never had a problem with stripped threads. If you are tightening the base to the point the threads might strip you are over-tightening.
The plastic itself is sturdy and not likely to break. But consider if something had to break would you rather it be the foot that breaks or the base of the flash?
Whatever you use, make sure the spring-loaded locking pin engages the cold shoe holding the flash.
p.1 #13 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
cgardner wrote:
...consider if something had to break would you rather it be the foot that breaks or the base of the flash?
^ This is truth! ^
Sacrificial parts like flash feet are cheap and easy to replace, folks; a cracked or broken housing is not. Listen to Chuck's wisdom.
However since the OP isn't about replacing plastic feet with metal feet, but rather of adding something below the plastic feet to attach to the stand, the suggested cold shoes are workable choices.
p.1 #15 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
I will not be packing stands with speed lights attached. Without the Canon feet, I would feel more at ease in the case of manhandling folded stands or if a bag of stands fell over or got banged on the wrong end. Sort of envisioning the plastic feet as the weak link that could prevent a proper setup if one broke at the wrong time.
p.1 #17 · What cold shoe to replace Canon’s plastic feet?
I really like the Stroboframe cold shoe mentioned above, and have used it for many years with Canon flash units on umbrella mounts. It grabs the foot securely, and does not touch the electrical contacts on the bottom of the flash foot.
