I think I have the wrong tvmp adapter for my lights

[Quick Cal]

So I just received my Colortran mini pro light kit. I do not believe they are Colortran stands. But not sure. The pivot, or what ever you call it,,,,what's the proper term please, is a Manfrotto.

The end that fits the stand is horribly loose. Surely this can't be right.

The end for the light has a 5/8" dia tvmp that can use either a 1/4" bolt, or a 3/8" pin going into the light. The 1/4" bolt is just horrible. The light can actually sit on the pivot crocked this way. Hard to describe. The 3/8" pin is only slightly better. And the part of the tvmp that goes in the pivot is really loose. But I could live with that part if I had to. Just seems like it would be better.

Are these some mis-matched part's. Please tell me there is a better way. Please advise. Thanks

 

[ProfessorU]

Can you post a picture of the light?
I was under the impression that fixture had a baby receiver built in. Can't you just put it on the baby stand and leave that rickety stuff out of the equation?

 

[iamlance]

The TVMP adapter I use (and I believe most Colortran users use) is the Avenger E3-90. Though now that I think about it, it was a pain to get the top screw into the light's square stand connector. I had to eventually saw off the screw tops and simply tighten the screw thread using the light's tightener.

What kind of thread does the tripod have?

 

[Quick Cal]

OK. Here we go. I learned some new words. Please correct me with the proper terminology.

I don't know what brand the stand is. No markings. It doesn't look like any of the pics of colortran stands I've been looking at. Please look at pics above.

I had stared my initial out of the box setting up of the new kit by setting up the umbrellas. That's where I ran into all the sloppiness. Then I did like professoru said and just put the light directly on the stand. While it is a much better fit, I don't know if it's correct. Maybe it's just what it's supposed to be and I'm just being too anal.

Top stud of the stand. The very top part is 3/8" and fits sloppy in the light receiver. But the part of the stud that comes into contact with the bottom of the light receiver is just under 1/2". Much tighter fit. But still sloppy at the top. It does tighten up ok withe the knob. This is acceptable if this is the proper set up. Just could be better IMO.

I going to make another post about the umbrella swivel because of all the pics involved. Getting kinda hard to follow. :undecided

 

[Quick Cal]

I have determined I have the Manfrotto 026 umbrella swivel. If you watch the video below you can see it in action. In this vid where he puts it on the stand it is very loose and sloppy. It sits on the stand crooked. I guess this is normal and again I'm being too anal. Just seems like there could be a better set up with out all this crookedness. From my carpenter and fabricating background it just has to be plumb, level, and square. :undecided This is driving me crazy,,,lol.

As far as the end that attaches to the light. If I could come up with a different stud that screws into the adapter it would be better. I think it needs to be 1/2" going into the light to get rid of the slop. The supplied 1/4" bolt is a joke. All though the 3/8" stud is better, only one came with my kit.

I think a better solution is just a piece of 1/2" rod. I tried this out and fits a lot nicer fit. I'm going to have my machinist friend make me a 1/2" stud with a flat on one end, and a nub at the top end to keep the light from falling off if you turn it downward too much.

 

[iamlance]

Post pictures of what you decide to do! Again, I had to cut off the top of the bolt that came with the adapter. Once I added that, the colortran fit very well without sloppiness (however it does sometimes turn on the stand when I want it to stay still). It seems you are wanting to do a similar thing, but without using an adapter. It might work fine though!

 

[Quick Cal]

Post pictures of what you decide to do! Again, I had to cut off the top of the bolt that came with the adapter. Once I added that, the colortran fit very well without sloppiness (however it does sometimes turn on the stand when I want it to stay still). It seems you are wanting to do a similar thing, but without using an adapter. It might work fine though!

Ya. My machinest friend was all about doing this. No problem. He even made me make him a drawing. He was supposed to come by and check out what I wanted and make the parts. Now he's not repling,,,,lol. He is a hard guy to pin down and do something. But he does most of my work for free. So I can't complain too much. Just have to hurry up and wait.

When you say you cut off the bolt head. Was it a 1/2'' bolt or 3/8'' bolt. The 3/8'' is a little sloppy in my mini pro. But a 1/2'' is just perfect. That's why just a piece of 1/2'' rod will work pretty well in both the light and the umbrella holder.

Now I just want to get the part of the umbrella holder to fit nicer on the stand. Anal obsessiveness is a go!!

BTW. When you say your light spins when you don't want it to. Are you talking about using it with an umbrella holer. If so. I think you could just file a flat on the bolt that goes in the light and tighten down on that to keep from spiinning.

If you have the same adapter as me you would then have a flat on each end pf the adapter so to speek. But you could spin the adapter with in the holder to rotate the light where you want it.

Hope that makes sence,,,lol.

 

[iamlance]

What I meant by the light turning was while the stand stays still, sometimes the adapter turns on the stand, causing the area where the light is pointed to change. However, after thinking about it for a while, I think it only happens because of the stands I'm using: http://www.amazon.com/STANDS-LOCKING-COLLARS-PLASTIC-PBL/dp/B001AMOTAY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Decent quality stands at a cheap price, but the thread at the top is made for different kinds of lights. The adapter doesn't fit on as tightly as it would with a regular stand, such as a Beefy Baby stand.

I measured the cut bolt that I use and it is indeed 1/2". It's very short in length, but is still long enough to be in the adapter slightly and get into that square piece. Here's some pictures of how it works on mine:



In case it wasn't clear, the reason the bolt that came with the adapter had its head sawed off was because it couldn't fit into the small square holes.

 

[Moseph]

I still don't understand why you can't put the light directly on a stand with a 750 pin, or why an umbrella holder is even a part of the picture. The receiver on mini pro lights isn't 5/8" like pretty much every other small light in existence?

This thing here might suit your needs, you would just have to come up with a knob instead of that set screw.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/224557-REG/Photogenic_904822_Adapter_and_Screw_Kit.html

 

[Quick Cal]

I still don't understand why you can't put the light directly on a stand with a 750 pin, or why an umbrella holder is even a part of the picture.

As mentioned above the light will work directly on the stand. With or with out a 750 pin what ever that is,,,,lol.

Being new to photography, and since they came with my kit, I assumed umbrellas were sometimes used. :undecided

 

[iamlance]

Moseph, that adapter would have saved me some trouble when I first got the light! Luckily a friend of mine was able to saw off the screw heads without any issues.

An umbrella would work, but not nearly as well as a reflector, bounce board, or silk would. A separate board allows for easier control and shaping of the light.
Here is what an umbrella is good for: http://lowel.tiffen.com/edu/light_controls/umbrellas.html