What is the best way to clamp a reflector to a stand?

[DavidNJ100]

Reflectors are common and I have several 5-in-1 models: a 60" round, a 32" round with two molded handles, and a 32" triangle with one molded handle.


There are times...frequently...where there is no one to accurately hold the reflector. What is the best way to support small reflectors?


I have a Photoflex arm to hold the large reflector. However, it is entirely cantilevered requiring a larger stand or weights on the stand. Are there mounts that hold the reflector in front of the stand?

 

[Paulmorgan]

Reflectors are common and I have several 5-in-1 models: a 60" round, a 32" round with two molded handles, and a 32" triangle with one molded handle.

There are times...frequently...where there is no one to accurately hold the reflector. What is the best way to support small reflectors?

I have a Photoflex arm to hold the large reflector. However, it is entirely cantilevered requiring a larger stand or weights on the stand. Are there mounts that hold the reflector in front of the stand?

Like this ?

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[john isaacs]

Reflectors are common and I have several 5-in-1 models: a 60" round, a 32" round with two molded handles, and a 32" triangle with one molded handle.

There are times...frequently...where there is no one to accurately hold the reflector. What is the best way to support small reflectors?

I have a Photoflex arm to hold the large reflector. However, it is entirely cantilevered requiring a larger stand or weights on the stand. Are there mounts that hold the reflector in front of the stand?

Get a clamp that mounts on an umbrella mount and you can hold the reflector up with a light stand.

Get a reflector clamp that mounts on a light stand, use an umbrella mount if you need to adjust it. Some of these won't open enough for the 5-in-1 models but there's usually a gap in the cover where you can clamp.

If you need to aim it down, get an extender arm that can mount perpendicular to the light stand, put the reflector clamp on the end and use a regular clamp to hold the bottom.

Or get a reflector boom arm that has a mount between the reflector clamps; this balances better than the cantilever style but won't reflect down. If you need down, use the extender arm perpendicular to the light stand and attach the reflector boom arm to it.

The extender arm should be aligned with one of the light stand legs (and spread the legs as much as possible).

 

[DavidNJ100]

My problems are:

1) The clamps on the shaft offer minimal resistance to rotating and changing the angle of the reflector. The clamps just aren't strong enough to handle the moment arm of the reflector. Note that the reflector isn't positioned hanging down below the boom arm, it is parallel to the boom arm to the side

2) The reflector hanging out puts a lot of potential for tipping the stand. This is two part: first is the length of the end of the arm to reach the end of the reflector (say 45") and the second is it acts as a huge sail, making even a gentle breeze seem like a cyclone.



I was hoping there was something else that would hold the reflector at an angle but centered on the stand rather than off to one side. That way the legs of the stand would have a better chance of keeping it stable.

 

[john isaacs]

You want a center mount reflector holder. Just search for that; I have a couple of different brands like Cowboy Studio.

I also use a Photoflex Compact Telescopic Light Disc Holder. While it looks in the picture like a regular cantilever arm, you can swap the arm holder and disc clamp so the arm is held between the two clamps. Because it uses clamps, it provides a more stable hold and you don't have to worry about reflector thickness like you do with the clips.

 

[hotdog321]

Heck, for lightweight panels and whatnot, I just use a variety of rubber-tipped spring clamps from Home Depot.

 

[Ellis Vener]

My problems are:

1) The clamps on the shaft offer minimal resistance to rotating and changing the angle of the reflector. The clamps just aren't strong enough to handle the moment arm of the reflector. Note that the reflector isn't positioned hanging down below the boom arm, it is parallel to the boom arm to the side

2) The reflector hanging out puts a lot of potential for tipping the stand. This is two part: first is the length of the end of the arm to reach the end of the reflector (say 45") and the second is it acts as a huge sail, making even a gentle breeze seem like a cyclone.

I was hoping there was something else that would hold the reflector at an angle but centered on the stand rather than off to one side. That way the legs of the stand would have a better chance of keeping it stable.

Use an a spring tensioned "A" clamp to secure the reflector to the top of the stand and a Super Clamp plus grip head (Avenger D200 or MSE OR Kupo equivalent) lower down on the stand. If you want the reflector to be at something other than a vertical angle add a 20" or 40" C-stand arm to push it out from the stand. If you want the reflector to point downwards reverse the positions of the clamps.

The only thing to do about the reflector (or an umbrella or softbox) facting like a sail is ballast on the stand.

 

[Rico Tudor]

If you want a reflector or diffuser to be held by a stand, buy one designed for that purpose: outer rigid frame with a mounting pin that is positioned and secured to the stand with a grip arm. I prefer rollers in this application for extra positioning ease:

Below is big brother. All panels shown are 2'x3' with various materials for diffusion, and can be positioned with any orientation in 3-space. This stand with grip hardware weighs about 60 lb, so not for field use.

--
Canon, Nikon, Contax RTS, Leica M, Profoto

 

[Ellis Vener]

"This stand with grip hardware weighs about 60 lb, so not for field use."

oh geie, there's another rule I have broken repeatedly. Write me a ticket officer 'cause I'm guilty as charged, a photo-scofflaw of the worst kind.

 

[Sailor Blue]

A cheap ($1-$2) V clamp from any home improvement store, Walmart, etc. plus a $4 spigot and a $0.15 1/4"x20 cap nut.

B&H - Impact Short Double-Male Round Spigot with 1/4"-20 and 3/8"

Fits nicely into an umbrella adapter, which allows you to adjust the angle. The only requirement is that you use a rigid reflector like white Coroplast or white foam core board.







--
Living and loving it in Pattaya, Thailand. Canon 7D - See the gear list for the rest.

 

[DavidNJ100]

A cheap ($1-$2) V clamp from any home improvement store, Walmart, etc. plus a $4 spigot and a $0.15 1/4"x20 cap nut.

B&H - Impact Short Double-Male Round Spigot with 1/4"-20 and 3/8"

Fits nicely into an umbrella adapter, which allows you to adjust the angle. The only requirement is that you use a rigid reflector like white Coroplast or white foam core board.



--
Living and loving it in Pattaya, Thailand. Canon 7D - See the gear list for the rest.

How about using the bracket (maybe like the Impact one in different thread) with the Photflex mount? If the other mount just clamped it and the angle adjustment was done in the bracket. It could even be done in the Photoflex if the bracket held its mount at 90°. Otherwise, the knobs are on either side and make adjusting the angle easier.

 

[DavidNJ100]

You want a center mount reflector holder. Just search for that; I have a couple of different brands like Cowboy Studio.

I also use a Photoflex Compact Telescopic Light Disc Holder. While it looks in the picture like a regular cantilever arm, you can swap the arm holder and disc clamp so the arm is held between the two clamps. Because it uses clamps, it provides a more stable hold and you don't have to worry about reflector thickness like you do with the clips.

I have the full size Photoflex Telescopic Light Disc Holder. I got it about 10 years ago as a kit with a stand, 43" 5-in-1 disc, and little plastic weight bag designed to be filled with water.

Since your post I've been experimenting with it. With a carefully arranging the clamps I got it where it works as a central mount providing a swivel and 0 to 90° tilt. To get 0 to -90° it seems the reflector would have to be reversed and reflect through the stand and the arm.

 

[john isaacs]

You want a center mount reflector holder. Just search for that; I have a couple of different brands like Cowboy Studio.

I also use a Photoflex Compact Telescopic Light Disc Holder. While it looks in the picture like a regular cantilever arm, you can swap the arm holder and disc clamp so the arm is held between the two clamps. Because it uses clamps, it provides a more stable hold and you don't have to worry about reflector thickness like you do with the clips.

I have the full size Photoflex Telescopic Light Disc Holder. I got it about 10 years ago as a kit with a stand, 43" 5-in-1 disc, and little plastic weight bag designed to be filled with water.

Since your post I've been experimenting with it. With a carefully arranging the clamps I got it where it works as a central mount providing a swivel and 0 to 90° tilt. To get 0 to -90° it seems the reflector would have to be reversed and reflect through the stand and the arm.

Yes, but it's a small effect and would not be noticed. Makes for a much more stable mount with light weight gear.

 

[DavidNJ100]

You want a center mount reflector holder. Just search for that; I have a couple of different brands like Cowboy Studio.

I also use a Photoflex Compact Telescopic Light Disc Holder. While it looks in the picture like a regular cantilever arm, you can swap the arm holder and disc clamp so the arm is held between the two clamps. Because it uses clamps, it provides a more stable hold and you don't have to worry about reflector thickness like you do with the clips.

I have the full size Photoflex Telescopic Light Disc Holder. I got it about 10 years ago as a kit with a stand, 43" 5-in-1 disc, and little plastic weight bag designed to be filled with water.

Since your post I've been experimenting with it. With a carefully arranging the clamps I got it where it works as a central mount providing a swivel and 0 to 90° tilt. To get 0 to -90° it seems the reflector would have to be reversed and reflect through the stand and the arm.

Yes, but it's a small effect and would not be noticed. Makes for a much more stable mount with light weight gear.

It has fixed the stability problem. Before it needed a medium duty or heavy duty stand and it was still wobbly and hard to adjust. Now it is stable on a lightweight stand and very easy to adjust.

Using the Impact flash bracket stacking its two spigots seems to make it better. The bracket can allow the Photoflex bracket to be mounted horizontally. That move the knob on the Photoflex bracket away from the reflector and adds about -40° adjustment for a range of -40° to +90° from vertical. Just those brackets are $25 each. Between the flashes and reflectors I'll probably end up getting 4 or 5 (3 or 4 more).