john isaacs
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The Orbis ring flash can be a useful tool for a portrait photographer, but it doesn't securely hold the flash in the Orbis when hand-holding, and it's a bit wobbly with the available mounting arm because it only attaches at the foot of the flash.
I solved these issues with a couple of modifications. First, I glued a cold shoe to the back of the Orbis so I could screw the arm to the back of the Orbis as well as the foot of the flash. This gives two attachment points, and locks the Orbis and flash together (so the flash won’t fall out if I grab the Orbis). Second, I drilled out the slot in the upper part of the Orbis arm so I could attach the arm to the cold shoe, and I drilled and tapped a hole between the two holes on the lower part so I could use just one knob go hold the arm together.
For hand holding, I can use a simple L-Bracket to hold the flash in the Orbis, and provide tripod mount as well as hold a radio trigger. And I can attach a Black Rapid sling to the L-bracket for hands free carrying (using the hole in front of the flash, so the unit is facing me when carried on the sling and the radio trigger is away from my body).
Orbis Ring Flash with secure flash mount for hand holding or tripod mount
This shows the cold shoe glued to the Orbis (has a 1/4” brass thread), a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter, a 3/8 female 1/4 female spud, an iShoot L-bracket (with a hole drilled and tapped at the top because the bracket is not quite long enough), and a second cold shoe attached on the bracket for a radio trigger. I can pull the TTL cord off the trigger and attach it to the camera for TTL, or leave it on the flash for AUTO mode. Olympus doesn’t have any wireless radio TTL triggers available. The spacing allows access to the flash controls, and it is each to grab the bracket just below the spud for hand held use. I can also attach a Black Rapid sling to the L-bracket for hands free carrying (using the hole in front of the flash, so the unit is facing me when carried on the sling and the radio trigger is away from my body).
For mounting to a camera, this is the configuration using the Orbis arm.
Orbis Ring Flash with Orbis Arm for mounting with camera
I usually shoot in portrait orientation, so I’m using on the camera a grip and Arca L-Bracket, which mounts on an Arca QR plate that’s attached to the arm. I’ve extended the slot in the upper part of the arm so I can attach the Orbis, and drilled and tapped a hole between the two existing holes on the lower part of the arm in order to use a single knob. Placement of the cold shoe glued to the Orbis is just above the ribbing on the back, for a smooth surface for glueing and to clear the lower part of the arm.
The only thing that needs to be fixed is the attachment of the Arca plate for mounting on a tripod. It is currently screwed into the knob, but that is not a very secure attachment point (nor does it provide optimal balance. So I will drill and tap a hole in the bottom of the arm just behind the slot.
Using the Orbis Ring Flash
I solved these issues with a couple of modifications. First, I glued a cold shoe to the back of the Orbis so I could screw the arm to the back of the Orbis as well as the foot of the flash. This gives two attachment points, and locks the Orbis and flash together (so the flash won’t fall out if I grab the Orbis). Second, I drilled out the slot in the upper part of the Orbis arm so I could attach the arm to the cold shoe, and I drilled and tapped a hole between the two holes on the lower part so I could use just one knob go hold the arm together.
For hand holding, I can use a simple L-Bracket to hold the flash in the Orbis, and provide tripod mount as well as hold a radio trigger. And I can attach a Black Rapid sling to the L-bracket for hands free carrying (using the hole in front of the flash, so the unit is facing me when carried on the sling and the radio trigger is away from my body).
Orbis Ring Flash with secure flash mount for hand holding or tripod mount
This shows the cold shoe glued to the Orbis (has a 1/4” brass thread), a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter, a 3/8 female 1/4 female spud, an iShoot L-bracket (with a hole drilled and tapped at the top because the bracket is not quite long enough), and a second cold shoe attached on the bracket for a radio trigger. I can pull the TTL cord off the trigger and attach it to the camera for TTL, or leave it on the flash for AUTO mode. Olympus doesn’t have any wireless radio TTL triggers available. The spacing allows access to the flash controls, and it is each to grab the bracket just below the spud for hand held use. I can also attach a Black Rapid sling to the L-bracket for hands free carrying (using the hole in front of the flash, so the unit is facing me when carried on the sling and the radio trigger is away from my body).
For mounting to a camera, this is the configuration using the Orbis arm.
Orbis Ring Flash with Orbis Arm for mounting with camera
I usually shoot in portrait orientation, so I’m using on the camera a grip and Arca L-Bracket, which mounts on an Arca QR plate that’s attached to the arm. I’ve extended the slot in the upper part of the arm so I can attach the Orbis, and drilled and tapped a hole between the two existing holes on the lower part of the arm in order to use a single knob. Placement of the cold shoe glued to the Orbis is just above the ribbing on the back, for a smooth surface for glueing and to clear the lower part of the arm.
The only thing that needs to be fixed is the attachment of the Arca plate for mounting on a tripod. It is currently screwed into the knob, but that is not a very secure attachment point (nor does it provide optimal balance. So I will drill and tap a hole in the bottom of the arm just behind the slot.
Using the Orbis Ring Flash