Shopper : Does this umbrella come with everything I need to mount a alienbees b800 on a light stand or does it need some kind of boom? Is the shaft included? I don't see how to mount the light in the umbrella on a light stand.JILL S : I BELIEVE THIS PRODUCT IS DESIGNED ONLY FOR HOTSHOE SPEEDLIGHTS, NOT FOR PRO LIGHTING. ......EVEN WITH LITTLE SPEEDLIGHTS, ATTACHMENT WAS A CHALLENGE, AS YOU'LL SEE ON PHOTOGRAPHY THREADS. SORRY I COULDN'T HELP!DAVIS D : It mounts just like a regular umbrella. Its shaft is also sectioned, allowing you to remove the last 12" or so if you need to. The diffuser fits over your monolight like a sock.STEVE S : shaft fits into an umbrella bracket [bought separately]. the shaft unscrews about half way so you don't poke your subject in the eye. As to the AlienBees, i don't know, i use speedlights, but as i said, it's based on the bracket you purchase, so if the bracket fits an AlienBee, there you go.GARY F : Yes, this umbrella comes with the shaft to attach to the Alienbees Flash Units. On the bottom of the flash unit is a mount for attaching the flash unit to the light stand and on the top of the flash unit there is a hole to pass the shaft of the umbrella through.AMBER F : Yes, there is an umbrella port on top of the Alien Bee, which is where the umbrella shaft goes through. The Alien Bee has a light stand mount at the bottom which attaches to the light stand.MELANE C : When you look on top of your Alienbees, you will see a hole with screw on top - this is where you place the umbrella shaft and tighten it to mount to the strobe. In other words, all you need is an umbrella with a shaft to mount it - and yes, this comes with a shaft that even has a removable piece if you don't want to poke your client's eye out.ONUR A : The umbrella just comes with a shaft, like any standard umbrella. It's got to go through the hole in the neck of the light mount... Hard to explain, but mounts just like any other umbrellaBRAD C : interesting solution mentioned by Gale Z... I'll have to try that instead of slowly charring my softlighters.BRAD C : This guy doesn't need anything extra to work with Alien Bees. Alien Bees have an umbrella hole that will secure the softlighter. Then the alien bee mounts to the stand as usual.
But, I think they're might be 2 different size shafts for umbrellas. Do a quick google search to make sure your getting the right size for alien bees.
On a side note, from my experience these guys provide great light quality for the price point, but they will not last forever (as with any umbrella). If you want something that lasts longer I'd recommend a beauty dish or soft box, granted they're more spendy.
One last thing, the soft lighter has a sort of sock to wrap around the strobe. Be sure the sock isn't touching the strobes element or the sock will melt/burn. This happened to both my softlighters. They're not perfect but they work.
Shopper : I just received this and an Alien Bee strobe. Question is about the Sock on this - I pull it over the strobe as far as I can. The opening on the sock is not quite large enough to entirely lay on the strobe casing, causing a small portion of the sock to be very close or touching the flash bulb. Should I be worried about a fire hazard? Anyone else using the Alien Bee with this? Thanks Very Much!GALE Z : I do--I stretched out the cuff to pull the sock completely over the strobe casing, so the alienbee is entirely within the umbrella and diffuser, and the cuff is lossely around the umbrella st. It makes it a little fidgety to access the controls on the strobe, which are now completely behind the sock cuff but otherwise works fine. I would not use it with the strobe close to or touching the cuff--it seems dangerous and also I don't think it'd create the kind of light effect I want from this modifier.DAVE B : Ok, if you attach a speedring insert to the mount, the extended lip helps keep the sock and diffusion material away from the flash tube.CHARLES B : I haven't used the Alien Bee with this. I successfully used the Canon Speedlite 580 EX2. I can't completely respond to your question because of the Alien Bee issue. However, I doubt there is a fire hazard because of the speed of the flash duration.
Shopper : What is the shaft compared to 7mm on the other option?JAMES H : Just buy whichever is cheaper, 8mm fits most modern lights. When in doubt ask the manufacturer.Homer H : 7mm shaft has greater compatibility with older lights and brackets, the 8mm fits most new-ish lights like the Profoto B1 and etc.WAYNE M : Regular shaft is 8mm for most brackets. My Softlighter is used daily, especially for female portraits (easier on the skin).ROY M : Don't think I understand ther question. I just know that I really like my Photek umbrella. the best I have ever had and they go with me everywhere I need umbrellas.
