Flash-Umbrella Alignment
/forum/topic/721700/0

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MJH1
Registered: Mar 29, 2007
Total Posts: 422
Country: United States

Happy Holidays everyone!

I've seen this topic discussed numerous times in the past, but can't find a thread that helps me (i.e., already did a "topic search").

I just purchased a light stand/umbrella kit from B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/425220-REG/Impact_DFUMK_Digital_Flash_Umbrella_Mount.html). Included in the kit is this umbrella bracket (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/298709-REG/Impact_3117_Umbrella_Bracket.html#includes).

Well, I can't get my 580EXII flash to point toward the center of the umbrella and would appreciate your help. Before you respond - I recall reading in previous posts that the brackets are often inverted mistakenly, such that the opening for the umbrella post in the bracket is in the "fixed" (lower) portion of the bracket, attached to the stand. I made sure that the opening is in the upper portion of the bracket, which is attached to the flash (and therefore both umbrella and flash pivot simultaneously). Also, I have attempted to run the umbrella post through the bracket from both directions (i.e., inserted into the bracket from both sides of the bracket), and it doesn't matter. Adjusting my flash head to a "negative angle" (for close proximity to a subject) doesn't significantly improve the alignment either.

What am I forgetting?? Would appreciate your help! Thanks in advance.

Mike

Matt Leitholt
Registered: May 27, 2008
Total Posts: 3458
Country: United States

On my Bogen 026 adapter http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546375-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_026_026_Swivel_Umbrella_Adapter.html (which is great), my flash is connected to the male stud (brass piece) that I can swivel within the adapter and tighten it down with the steel (silver) arm. You might have something like that on yours, but I can't see well enough in the photos.

cgardner
Registered: Nov 18, 2002
Total Posts: 8543
Country: United States

The hole for the umbrella shaft should be angled up about 10 degrees as shown below...

Which should cause the flash to hit the center of the umbrella...

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Because an umbrella is flatter (and hotter) in the middle its better to use an umbrella which the flash completely fills than one that is so large the flash one can fill the center. Note the illustration is not to scale.

FYI - Be careful with generic cold shoes. Canon flashes are actually secured via the retractable pin at the front of the foot of the flash that fits into a matching hole in the hot shoe. As shown in the photo above after several close calls with flashes slipping out of third party shoes I now use and recommend the foot that comes with the flash, which has the hole, to secure the flash to the 1/4-20 bracket stud.
Chuck

MJH1
Registered: Mar 29, 2007
Total Posts: 422
Country: United States

WhizKid & Chuck - thanks for your comments. I have a similar "post" in my umbrella bracket.

I apologize, but after posting my request for help, I retried the umbrella, only extended it the full length of the umbrella post away from the bracket, which seemed to align the flash better with the center of the umbrella (makes sense). There was no info that came with the umbrellas stating what arrangement to use, and these are the first umbrellas I've used, but 20-20 hindsight tells me I should have anticipated this. Is it "the norm" to use the full extension distance of the umbrella post from the bracket?

Chuck - I'm replacing the cold shoes that came on the bracket with these for a more secure attachment (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/52772-REG/Stroboframe_300_SHO_Flash_Mount_Adapter_.html).

Mike

cgardner
Registered: Nov 18, 2002
Total Posts: 8543
Country: United States

MJH1 wrote:

Chuck - I'm replacing the cold shoes that came on the bracket with these for a more secure attachment (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/52772-REG/Stroboframe_300_SHO_Flash_Mount_Adapter_.html).

Been there, done that, and don't recommend them....

I bought them thinking the locking nut was a good thing until one of them ripped the foot off a TTL extension cable. I also had issues with it holding the slaves. There is nothing on the front to stop the flash and if the knob gets loosened you'll be picking your flash off the floor in pieces.

I now bolt the TTL extension shoe directly to the bracket and and use the Canon shoe (which are available separately from Canon Parts for a few bucks) for my slaves.

The norm on distance for the umbrella is as mentioned previously - far enough away to fill the umbrella edge to edge. FWIW - I seldom use umbrellas because by the time you get two of them spilling light all over a small room with white walls the lighting can become so flat its difficult to control, especially on a dark background. They are a tool better suited for shooting on white backgrounds where spill, flatter lighting and the characteristic hot spot in the middle where most of the flash hits are more advantageous.

Garry Burton
Registered: Dec 30, 2007
Total Posts: 603
Country: Australia

Hi MJH1,

As Chuck said, those 'thumb screw clamping' cold shoes are full of promise but in reality are strobe breakers...

The Bogen 026 adapters that WhizKid suggests are the best for small and studio strobes.

I also use the smaller Manfrotto umbrella adapters as a lighter option (maybe 032 is the code), I've added a small ball head on a stud with Gissto cold shoe on top of that. The cold shoe has a plastic 'mat' that I made a little hole so that the 550/580 locking pin can locate and lock into.

I have a ton of different angles I can position the flash with/out modifiers.

Here's a pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/29956235@N03/3109437213/

Another way to skin that cat ......

Cheers Gaz

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