I needed a heavy duty umbrella holder and after much consideration I decided on a pair of these. A few issues:

- the hot shoe attachment is sketchy at best when using my Canon 600EX. It just doesn't seem secure, and I fear it would damage my flash, so instead I use the flash stand which came with the Canon, and screwed it on in place of the hot shoe
- the umbrella screw is flimsy and fell off a few times. It's held in place by a thin screw, which broke off during the first use.
- the top most adjusting knob allows far too much play when fully tightened

Overall it feels solid, but in practice it doesn't quite live up to the job.

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Richard J.

Exceptionally well made

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2014

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I recently bought a Westcott 43" Apollo Orb with a Phottix 16" Multi-boom but I decided not to spend the extra $20 for this product since I have several Manfrotto umbrella holders. The Manfrottos are an excellent product, as most know, however the considerable weight of the Orb, the Phottix, flashes and triggers over powered the Manfotto umbrella holder. The Varos II BG is all metal like the Manfrotto but it is ratcheted so very little effort to tighten the umbrella holder is needed and it holds everything very securely. The onlly negative thing I've found is the lever to tighten the ratchet seems to be made of a brittle type plastic, much like what you would find on small kitchen appliances, and a drop or banging around in a bag it could possibly break and that would be a problem. Although I didn't see anyone having a problem with this in other reviews. If you want to purchae the Multi-boom order this with it and save about 9 bucks. If you intend to use this kind of setup you will also need a Manfrotto 153 Mole-Richardson adapter to get enough clearance. Also the cold shoe mount is excellent, one of the best I've used.

2 people found this helpful

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Jamison Lemay

Flawless execution!

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2013

Verified Purchase

This is a great, well-designed product. In addition to this holder, I also have a Manfrotto 026 Umbrella Adapter, and while the Manfrotto is great, I have to give the edge to the Phottix Varos II. Its all the things the Manfrotto is, but with small improvements that make it truly outstanding. The curved "shoe" that keeps the shaft of the umbrella from being dinged and crushed; the way you can rotate the the cold shoe on top, then lock it in place (On the Manfrotto, I always end up inadvertently loosening the cold shoe, which isnt a deal breaker, but its nice to not have to worry about it); The teeth on the tilt mechanism is a very nice touch, Im not sure why more manufacturers dont have a model with them; and the adjustable handle on the tilt mechanism; Phottix really sat down and brainstormed on how to get it right with the Varos II, the next stand I order will definitely be accompanied with one!

2 people found this helpful

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Don Hyatt

Bought two of these, they cane with missing parts ...

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2015

Verified Purchase

Bought two of these, they cane with missing parts. Had to send them back. The bolt heads striped out on the replacements. Nothing but problems.

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2014

Verified Purchase

Product is well made and I purchased it due to a couple of features it has over the Manfrotto. It grips the umbrella nicely with the curved jaw, it tilts and locks nicely with the toothed joining surface. Best of all, the cold shoe can be taken off and inserted perpendicular to the product photo above which would align the speedlight much closer to dead center along the umbrella rod.

The only thing I would knock off half a point for is the plastic handles. While they seem to be some sort of strong, reinforced nylon, they just don't feel as high end as the rest of the robust construction. They may very well last forever, but only time will tell.

All told, this a great product and you do not have to buy the cold shoe as an extra item (like you would with the Manfrotto).

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Best Umbrella Holder

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2014

Verified Purchase

I have been using the nylon/plastic version of these for years, and I break at least two a year. I came across these aluminum ones and decided to try them out. They are so much nicer than the other ones and I don't worry about breaking them. They are also about the same price. A huge plus for these is that the piece that holds the umbrella shaft in is a rounded plate, not just the tip of a screw, which means no more damaging the umbrella shafts! Who has has stuffed pencils or wooden dowels in their shafts so you don't crush them and loose their roundness?

3 people found this helpful

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Lynn

really pleased with these

Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2014

Verified Purchase

I decided to switch from taking strobes to weddings to going much lighter and just using two flashes with umbrellas. These were priced nicely and built really well. I have removed the cold shoe and screwed my trigger right into the holder (Pocket Wizard TT5) and then set my Canon 580ex flash on top of that. Not wobbly at all and thanks to the multiple levers, I have lots of positioning options. Very, very pleased.

(PS- reason I do not use cold shoe - I've been very well known to under/over tighten break the foot on flashes and triggers, this keeps me from being able to do that!)

One person found this helpful

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NoHo Man

Great - don't settle for less!

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2015

Verified Purchase

If you're going to set up a big 60" parabolic umbrella, or something with similar size and weight, then you will enjoy using this holder with its toothed, locking adjustment. Cheaper holders which don't have the toothed index on their tilt mechanism just can't hold a big umbrella or similar modifier without easily slipping or being knocked off the desired tilt. If you have the money, just buy one or two of these even if you're not yet using big modifiers. The cheaper products pale in comparison. Phottix stuff is well designed, manufactured and assembled. Good stuff...

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Andrea Barone

Ottimo prodotto e velocità di consegna.

Reviewed in Italy on April 24, 2015

Verified Purchase

Prodotto conforme alla descrizione del venditore, massiccio e di buoni materiali. Le regolazioni sono fluide. La confezione di plastica è arrivata integra ma aperta e bloccata da un pezzo di scotch di carta.

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Stefan Becker

Prima Schirmneiger

Reviewed in Germany on March 8, 2015

Verified Purchase

Der Phottix Varos II BG Schirmneiger ist aus Metall, stabil, und universell einsetzbar. Es passen auch dickere Schirmstangen hinein und die Tragkraft reicht durchaus, um beispielsweise einen 150cm Parabolschirm zu halten.

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Pierluigi

Solido e funzionale

Reviewed in Italy on December 22, 2014

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Compatto solido e facile da utilizzare si adatta ad ogni situazione. Curato nei minimi particolari tutto in metallo tranne le maniglie fatte con una plastica molto dura. Utilissimo l'attacco per il flash che da una certa sicurezza una volta montato. Personalmente 'l'ho utilizza su un treppiedi un monopiede e uno stativo. Consigliatissimo.

One person found this helpful

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Ezio

Tutto in Metallo

Reviewed in Italy on January 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

Il prodotto è solido e tutto in metallo. lo uso da un anno senza aver avuto mai problemi di nessun tipo. lo consiglio vivamente a tutte le persone che hanno intenzione di utilizzarlo per flash scorpion anche con l'obrello montato

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Jose antonio Payan

Robusta..

Reviewed in Spain on September 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

Excelente rotula, nada mas tenerla en la mano se nota su robustez, su peso...nada de plasticos..... El flash lo puesdes poner en vertical...o en horizontal alineandolo con el centro del paraguas.... Totalmente satisfecho

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