Customer Reviews

Photoflex Light and Umbrella Shoe Mount Clamp

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

You can use this clamp to attach your flash to your tripod, or light stand, and use an umbrella. You can angle the flash however you like. The brass fittings have 3/4 and 3/8 threaded nuts. Very easy to use. Add an umbrella reflector and light stand (or use a spare tripod) and get started with studio lighting. Excellent way to capitalize on versatile equipment, like flashes, you probably already have.

I shoot low budget documentary video and my crew usually consists of me and one other so I need to travel lightly and all of my equipment must be able to multi-task. I wanted to be able to utilize any one of my heavy-duty Amvona boom light stands as a boom mic stand with as little jerry-rigging as possible.

The inexpensive Photoflex Shoe Mount Multiclamp has been great so far. I use it to attach a Rode NT-3 hypercardioid mic in a Rode SM-3 shockmount to my boom light stands. The SM-3 has a shoe-mount so I can use it as a camera mic or use the multiclamp to attach it to an available light stand boom to get the mic closer to a stationary subject. So far it has worked just fine.

I do agree that the mount itself is a little underpowered and I always use a little gaffers tape on the light stand for added grip before I cinch down the multiclamp. And since I have no desire to see my beautiful Rode mic hit a cement floor, I always wrap some tape around the base of the clamp to secure it to the stand as well. I don't think it would let loose, but better safe...

That said, this a great product for the money, and it's one of the only clamps like this out there, but I'd gladly pay ten or even twenty dollars more for one that locked to the stand more securely. Even at twenty dollars more it would be hundreds of dollars less expensive than an additional shockmount and mic boom stand.

PS - It always makes my day to know that people find these reviews helpful. So, please vote (the "Was this review helpful to you: Yes or No" buttons) and leave a comment if you'd like, even if it's just to say, "Hi!" I respond to all comments so feel free to ask a question about the product. Also, when you leave a comment, I will go to your reviews and pay you the same courtesy.

Great product, does what its designed to do. I use it with a heavier/larger vivitar flash, wireless trigger combo, and umbrella, and everything works great together when attached to a backlight stand.

The one little flaw is the screw that holds the flash in place could be a little more heavy duty. It seems that if I were to put to much force into tightening it, it would strip the threads pretty easily. My flashs have a lock switch on them anyways, so I don't use the screw on the clamp that often, but thought it would be a good idea to mention it.

All of the Photoflex items are well-made and intelligently designed. This clamp is designed to mount a flash unit and an umbrella to a light stand. The brass adapters that come with this clamp can be used for a variety of purposes. Not only will this clamp fit any flash equipment stand, but it will also fit a microphone stand. I use it with the heavy-base type microphone stand. These have a 12" footprint. The boom on the stand lets me balance the array in the corner of a room with a softbox or umbrella mounted. A couple of these in a room with a transmitter on the camera lets me cover a social event from anywhere in the room. You need this gizmo!

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.

This is a good unit for the intended purpose "IF" you have a relatively flat (as in not tall) flash unit. I use a Canon 580 EXII and that particular flash unit has a vertical body that holds the batteries and controls with a flash had mounted on top. As a result, when placed on this holder, the flash sits very high relative to the umbrella. The umbrella holder and flash mount cannot be adjusted separately since they move together. I solved this problem with $25 worth of gear from another company that lets me mount my flash separately anywhere on my light stand. So, in practice I use this unit as an umbrella holder only.

First, let me say this: I know how to use an umbrella shoe mount, so I am confident that the issue that I have is not of my own doing. I purchased two of these units for use with small umbrella in front of Canon 580EX Speedlites. After only minimal use, the threads have stripped on BOTH clamps, and not due to over-tightening. If that were the case, the umbrella shafts would show damage, but they don't. Very simply, this is a cheaply made product with very fragile plastic threads. Both units have been rendered useless for their intended purpose. I regret my decision to buy this unit in an attempt to save a few dollars.

This is a great product, good quality, works exactly as it should. You won't be disappointed. I use it to mount a slave flash on a light stand and can attach an umbrella to the clamp and it works great.

Well made. Gives you the option to position your strobe and umbrella exactly where you need them. Good fit and smooth action. A great improvement over the ball/clamp fitting I was previously using.

Ideal for off camera flash photography with light modifiers. This is a strobist essential.

Though this model is a bit heavy.