Is it possible to mount a Flash on a Tripod?

Question

Are there any tricks / methods / accessories that can be used to mount an off camera flash unit on a tripod?

Check if your flash came with a stand (both of mine did) as it usually has a tripod socket in it. — Joanne C, Jan 08 '13 at 19:51
With enough gaffer tape it's possible to mount anything to anything else. Anything. — , Jan 09 '13 at 16:16

Caleb · Answer 1 · 2013-01-08T15:56:33.140

You need something like this:

1/4-20 to hot shoe adapter

http://www.amazon.com/DL-0418-Tripod-Female-Thread-Adapter/dp/B0049UPNV8

Or maybe this one, for a lot less money:

1/4-20 to cold shoe adapter

http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Stand-Adapter-4-inch-Tripod/dp/B005HTZJBY/ref=pd_cp_p_2

There are lots of other models. Some, like the top one shown here, provide a hot shoe so that you can trigger the flash using a cable with a PC connector or, in some cases, a mini-plug. Others, like second one shown here, only give you a cold shoe, i.e. a way to hold the flash but no way to trigger it. You'd use when you're using the flash as an optical slave, i.e. triggering it with the light from another flash.

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 08 '13 at 16:01

9

I got a Frio as a freebie in a photography class grab bag. Its a nice option: it mounts directly to the tripod mount stud, and since its all plastic, it doesn't harm your flash contacts at all. It is about the size of a thumbdrive, so it fits in your pocket. Its overpriced as a piece of plastic, but quite affordable compared to other more complex options.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2010/09/frio-cold-shoe-locked-and-loaded.html enter image description here

answered Jan 08 '13 at 16:01

cmason

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Seconded. See a mini review on this site at http://photo.stackexchange.com/q/16420/1943 – mattdm Jan 08 '13 at 16:20
Also note that the Frio v2 has clever dual threads for both the standard 1/4-20 tripod threading and 3/8″ lightstand threads. – mattdm Mar 31 '14 at 19:44

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 08 '13 at 20:05

Well, for all my Canon speedlites, the stand that comes with it can be attached to the tripod. I would suspect this is the case for most other brands as well.

Simply attach the stand to the flash, and attach the tripod mounting plate to the bottom of the stand.

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 14 '13 at 05:59

Two other options that I use: An umbrella mount usually has threads for a tripod on the bottom and a cold shoe on top. As a bonus, you can now also shoot with an umbrella if you want. I also use a cheap radio trigger (ctr 301p) to trigger off camera flash. It has a tripod thread on the bottom and a hot shower on top.

Is it possible to mount a Flash on a Tripod?

4 Answers4