What is a speedring?

Nick Zentena · Dec 12, 2005

Dumb question of the day/week

What's a speedring?

Is it the ring the rods slip into? Is it something else?

The box I got came with a universal connector. I'm guessing it's the ring inside the bigger ring that takes the rods.

So will I need to order something else to fit this box to a light?

David A. Goldfarb · Dec 12, 2005

Chimera and Photoflex boxes use speedrings, which are rings that attach to the strobe head and have holes for the flexible rods that support the softbox. There are usually different speedrings for different strobe heads.

Not sure what your universal connector is. It may be able to attach to a wide range of strobe heads, or perhaps it requires yet another adapter for whatever head you have.

Nick Zentena · Dec 12, 2005

A similar setup

The whole thing looks like that. The connector is the insert in the middle. My unversal is smaller. I'm guessing that the Photoflex might be similar since they're supposedly suing Amovona for copying.

blansky · Dec 12, 2005

As David says, they are rings exclusive to certain lights that snap into the light with the same connector as do the reflectors.

Universal ones are usually some jerry rigged system that is supposed to fit all but in reality does not fit any very well.

I have both Chimera and Photoflex for Photogenic lights and they sort of snap in place securely onto the front of the light.

Usually companies will sell the speedring for your specific lights and if you can order that instead of using the "universal"

Michael

rbarker · Dec 12, 2005

The idea of a "universal" connector or adapter is probably a little "overly-enthusiastic" on the part of the manufacturer. The one pictured, for example, wouldn't fit my strobes.

When buying strobes, it's a good idea to make sure that there are adapters (speed rings) designed to fit the line of softboxes one has (or wants to buy). Most of the leading strobe manufactures provide adapters for the more popular brands of softboxes, however. With "off-brand" strobes one needs to be more cautious.

Nick Zentena · Dec 12, 2005

I haven't bought a strobe yet. But I'm leaning towards the Sunpak. Price is right. Specs seem okay. But nobody has ever seen one :confused: That doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Photoflex has a connector to fit the lights. At least according to the Adoroma website. OTOH just the connector costs more then I paid for two soft boxes from Amovona. So I'm hoping I can get the universal fitting to work. I'm sure I saw a cheaper one from Sunpak but I can't find it and with my luck it only fits the Sunpak softboxes.

BTW anybody seen the Sunpaks -)

gr82bart · Dec 12, 2005

I haven't heard of Sunpak strobes. Most common names I have heard and /or worked with are: Speedotron, Profoto, Elinchrome, Dynalite, Alien Bees.

Regards, Art.

Nick Zentena · Dec 12, 2005

Sunpak strobe

I'm leaning towards the 1000ws models. Cheaper then the Alien bees but more importantly easier for me to get then the ABs. I'd just feel better if somebody had actually touched one.

rbarker · Dec 12, 2005

Sunpak has been around for years, Nick, but I believe the monolights are recent additions to their product line. All of my anecdotal memories associated with Sunpak are associated with their battery-operated portable flash units.

I think I'd lean toward the adapters offered by the strobe manufacturer, unless they were outlandishly expensive. Third-party discount vendors often sell products manufactured to questionable specs in otherwise unknown places.

Nick Zentena · Dec 12, 2005

I'm mostly trying to figure out what else I might need to order. It looks like which ever way I go I'll be mail ordering the lights. I'd feel better about the Sunpaks if the distributor would at least answer an email. I'm easy just grunt. But no nothing. I did find out the local repairs are handled by KHB and they are more less down the street. So maybe I could order spare parts from them.

The Amovona speedring actually seems pretty sturdy. It might even hold my weight I'm hoping the connecter is at worse bigger then the light with the normal reflector taken off. If it is I can always drill some holes in the universal connector and put some screws in. If I could just walk into a shop and pickup parts it would be easier.

What is a speedring?

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