How I Use A Speedlite Standard Speedrings

Today I wanted to cover the use of speedlites, with a standard speedring mount.

Speedlites are an incredible tool to have in your portrait photography kit because they offer portablity and they often fit in places that normal strobes can’t. One of the challenges a photographer faces, when using speedlites, is the use of studio quality modifiers. These modifiers are better built compared to standard speedlight modifiers and often a little heavier.  There are literally thousands of modifiers one can buy, specifically, for a speedlite.  However, I think having to buy a set of modifiers built just for use with a speedlite is a little silly, not to mention a huge waste of money.  Let me explain.

If you are a portrait photographer, at some point, you are going to invest in some softboxes. Now, don’t get me wrong, umbrellas are great, I use them all the time, but once in a while I need more control of the light, to which, the job goes to a softbox. Softboxes in a studio, almost always, use a speedring.  This speedring allows you to quickly mount any softbox to almost any studio strobe, provided you buy the correct mount.

The problem with standard speedlite kits, is they do not allow you to mount a speedring. They will not hold the weight of a standard softbox so, for this reason, one has only been able to use modifiers that mount via a standard umbrella adapter in combination with a coldshoe to hold the flash. For me, those days are over. I have found an incredible product from F.J Westcott called the Magic Slipper.

The Magic Slipper was designed by photographer, Bruce Dorn, and it is magic, allowing me to use all of my studio quality softboxes on location. The cost of this adapter isn’t too expensive, roughly the cost of a softbox, so instead of buying whole bunch of modifiers built for speedlites, I bought one magic slipper and I can use all of the softboxes I already own.

The magic slipper is built like a tank. It comes with a speedring that will fit any softbox, and a plate with two cold shoes, one for the speedlite and one for the radio transmitter. I have used this setup with all of my softboxes, including my Westcott 7′ foot Octabank.  If you want to use your speedlites on location and need studio quality results, I suggest you use studio quality modifers. This is the only solution I have found that works with every modifier I own. I have said it before I will say it again, I love all things Westcott.

Some images of the setup.

Nice even light on a 7′ foot Octabank at 1/4 power.