Fotodiox Pro softboxes? (Fixing the speedring...)

I love the design in theory because they are foldable like an umbrella and the speedring inserts screw in and out so they can fit different manufacturer's lights.

However, the fit is a bit loose on the alien bees mounts. The einstein fingers are long enough and strong enough to hold it but I'm not sure about the AB series.

One thing that would make it more secure is if the washers that held in the speed ring were oval instead of round. The washers are barely big enough to fit over the edges of the speed ring and I'm always nervous the ring will slip out. If I could get oval or oblong washers that sat more securely over the edge of the ring I'd be happier. Anyone have a good/cheap solution to this issue?

hartville tool has this:

I'd still have to dremel it though.

and keep us posted.

Quantum Help said:

Quantum Help wrote:

and keep us posted.

Click to expand...

will do but i'm hoping that I can find an offset or oval washer that doesn't require dremeling first!

ok, so I re-engineered some washers so the fotodiox ring ain't going anywhere now. However, the fotodiox ring is a horrible fit on the Einstein lights. Don't know if it fits any better on the AB series but on the einstein, the ring has about 3/16" of play on all sides so the softbox never feels secure on the mount. The Photoflex .AB ring and of course the buff speedrings are super-tight with ZERO play so it's obviously a manufacturing issue with the fotodiox rings. It's too bad because the fotodiox softbox is really nice the way it opens and closes like an umbrella. Similar to but not as robust as the buff softboxes.

And it's not just the Buff speedring that's screwed up. I used to have elinchrom lights and as I mentioned in the previous posting, I had to dremel the elinchrom speedring to get it to lock onto the elinchrom lights. Fotodiox seems to be in denial about it's speedring fit issues.

I decided to return the fotodiox softboxes and rings and buy true-blue buff softboxes for the latest 2 that I ordered. In time I'm going to replace the other 4 fotodiox softboxes I have too and replace them with buff boxes.

Nov 27, 2012 at 10:14 PM

A pity, the Fotodiox Profoto speed ring mount is a much better fit on Profoto lights than many third party efforts, which are often way too loose, and slip off when the light is facing downwards.

Brian A