elinchrom quadra adapter mod

An important disclaimer: What you’re about to read and see is a modification of a product which is likely to break its warranty (should there be any) and as such is to be carried out at your own responsibility. Furthermore, if you damage whatever (the product, your tools, toes, nails, windows, etc.) while you’re trying to repeat what I’ve done – you’re the one who takes the full responsibility. You don’t have to do what I did unless you decide to yourself.

Alright, now to the point – you bought yourself an Elinchrom Quadra, the initial excitement has settled (or not) and you want to make the most of it (which is why you bought it in first place). The problem however, is that to achieve this you’re very likely to use it on modifiers larger than the optional EL Quadra Reflector Adapter is specified for. The first batches of the adapter which are still in stock at some smaller distributors just won’t hold, say your Elinchrom Deep Octa. People complained, Elinchrom came up with a solution – a new batch of adapters with improved rubbers, washers, whatever it is that they changed. The problem with this new one now is that it’s far too sticky. Tighten it up and then you’ll be doing the opposite (what appears to be) forever if you want to change its angle. And even then the adjustment is far from the quality of the Manfrotto/Bogen Lite-Tite Swivel (a.k.a. 026). I believe that swivel/umbrella adapter to be the best out there, albeit pricey.

There’s a few similar mods out there, but none seemed clean and simple enough for me, so I sat down one day and came up with the following.

Please, do read the entire thing and only then start working (if you choose to do the modification).

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