can somebody recommend a flash clamp/umbrella kit?

[katia]

Velbon Multi-Purpose Umbrella/Reflector Kit - UC6;Cameras;Lenses and Flashes;Cameras;London Drugs

I just picked up that ^^ Velbon kit from London Drugs, but in my opinion, it's pretty damn crappy. The umbrella is extremely flimsy, and almost impossible to open. The clamp doesn't actually clamp down very sturdily, either.

So i'm definitely in the market for a better kit!

[katia]

bumperoo!!

[inkista]

Impact Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit B&H Photo Video

I prefer lightstands to clamps. More versatile.

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by inkista

Impact Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit B&H Photo Video

I prefer lightstands to clamps. More versatile.

I second the impact kit. I have 3 impact umbrella brackets and to of their 40 inch umbrellas and love them. The umbrella brackets are tanks.. I have a stand near my bed and if some one beaks in whack.. right in the noggin with a hard umbrella bracket.

You can see the brackets in use in this picture.



here is what it looks like with an impact umbrella on it.

[katia]

thanks! those do look great. i posted up another thread (more of an expansion on this one) wondering weather i should be using tripods for lighting, or light stands. the only reason (so far) that i'm partial to tripods is because they can be easily used on uneven ground. are these Impact clamps usable on light stands as well as tripods?

another question i ran into with lighting: i understand sometimes it's required to use 2 lighting/umbrella setups (right, left). I use the SB600 nikon flash, and use the commander mode on my D90, so my camera's pop up flash is what triggers the SB600. I notice the SB600 only has an infrared receiver on ONE side. If i were to use 2 SB600's and 2 umbrellas, how do i rig up the lighting to have BOTH infrared receivers able to "see" the pop-up flash trigger?

i must be missing something.

[bhursey]

I have never used commander mode. but from my understanding the sensor is on the front of the flash all you would have to do is rotate the flash to where the sensor will point to where your flash is. They hot shoe mounts on the brackets can turn 360 degrees. Then you would just turn the head of the flash what ever way you need it to be to point into the umbrella.

The bracket has 2 removable pegs. So the mount can take the standard 1/4 thread and it also has a larger thread so it should work fine on a standard tripod. I will check tonight.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by katia

... wondering weather i should be using tripods for lighting, or light stands. the only reason (so far) that i'm partial to tripods is because they can be easily used on uneven ground. are these Impact clamps usable on light stands as well as tripods?

Most clamps come with studs that will screw onto the tripod bolt, so you can use them on both. The problem with using a tripod is that you can rarely achieve the height you might want for a light--a lot of times, you want the lightsource to be overhead. That's why a lot of folks also use a friend to hold their flash attached to a monopod, like a light "boom". But you should probably pick a friend who owes you a lot and has strong arms.

[katia]

Originally Posted by bhursey

I have never used commander mode. but from my understanding the sensor is on the front of the flash all you would have to do is rotate the flash to where the sensor will point to where your flash is. They hot shoe mounts on the brackets can turn 360 degrees. Then you would just turn the head of the flash what ever way you need it to be to point into the umbrella.

The bracket has 2 removable pegs. So the mount can take the standard 1/4 thread and it also has a larger thread so it should work fine on a standard tripod. I will check tonight.

thanks! the IR sensor in the SB600's is actually on the right hand side, but very helpful to know that the shoe mounts rotate, as the ones on the CRAP Velbon kit don't, so you can only use them for light coming from the left-hand side.

Originally Posted by inkista

Most clamps come with studs that will screw onto the tripod bolt, so you can use them on both. The problem with using a tripod is that you can rarely achieve the height you might want for a light--a lot of times, you want the lightsource to be overhead. That's why a lot of folks also use a friend to hold their flash attached to a monopod, like a light "boom". But you should probably pick a friend who owes you a lot and has strong arms.

thanks for that too! my Manfrotto goes up pretty high, so i think it would be alright for sitting-down photos. but i really think i may order that kit that was recommended here, and since it comes with light-stands i will at least have options!