Comments on: The LongArm and MetalHead – Taking Your Speedlite To New Heights

By: VeloDramatic

VeloDramatic — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:19:17 +0000

Chalk up another victim of that ridiculous label adhesive on the Shur-Line. I’ve contacted Shur-Line’s support to let them know how annoying it is. I’ll try the Goo-Gone.

By: Cali Nation – scott macdonald photography

Cali Nation – scott macdonald photography — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:17:23 +0000

[...] the above group photo, I used my newest toy, a painter’s pole with a metalhead, allowing photo gear to interface with something from a hardware store. Using the [...]

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:45:35 +0000

I mentioned in a previous post that I plan on using the Shur_Line pole and the Kacey adapter at a job this weekend. While chatting about it with my wife last night, she asked if I could mount my camera on the pole. Knowing the weight of a Nikon D3 w/lens, I knew that physics, and fear would not allow it. She followed up with “What about my camera?”. Hmm, her small, light, but still pretty good quality point and shoot. I tried it this morning, and it works great! Without the ability to remotely trigger the shutter, it is necessary to use the self timer function, which limits things quite a bit, but it is still fun. After a while, I remembered that I have a 16′ aluminum painters pole in the garage. I have a couple attachments for it to dust ceiling fans, squeegee the hard to get at windows, knock down wasp nests, etc. So, it wasn’t long after I dug it out that I was outside, with my wife’s camera 16′ in the air, taking shots all around my house. Mind you, I’m not about to give up my Nikon system that I have taken years to amass, but I’m considering getting a quality point and shoot to throw in the equipment case along with the pole. I might just get a fun, overhead shot at an event every now and then!

By: Bird Hunt | Hewett Photography Blog

Bird Hunt | Hewett Photography Blog — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:32:40 +0000

[...] friend, Earl. I was hoping to try out my new “Boom Box” (a softbox on a stick, a la Syl Arena) but the terrain and harsh lighting conditions made me reach for the “Boom Stick” [...]

By: Tom Hewett

Tom Hewett — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:43:34 +0000

Thanks for the tip, Bob – I’ll try that out.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:24:43 +0000

I had a similar experience as a previous post. I saw the Shur-Line pole at the local Lowes, and decided it would come in handy as an extension pole for my SB-900. After looking around Lowes (and 3 other hardware stores) for an adapter, I started looking on-line, which brought me here! I ordered the adapter, and the rig will debut at a job I have this coming weekend.
I do agree with Tom Hewett, the sticky residue from the labels on the foam handles is annoying! It is tough enough to remove that sticky goop from a hard surface, let alone foam. Knowing my assistant wouldn’t like the “feel” of a sticky handle, I decided to try to remove it by using a conservative application of Goo-Gone. It did remove the sticky residue, but the foam absorbed some of the Goo-Gone, leaving a greasy, slippery surface. After gently rubbing the foam with a damp sponge, it finally came off. I can never understand why labels are made, and then applied to surfaces that make it impossible for them to be removed without a lot of work.
As for the adapter… Nice job Jerry Kacey! Thanks!

By: Tom Hewett

Tom Hewett — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:52:14 +0000

Hi Syl,

Fantastic idea – just got all the parts and everything works great! One question: how did you remove the glue left behind when you removed the product labels wrapped around the handles? That stuff is so sticky I not in any danger of dropping the pole at all…

Cheers,
Tom

By: Nico

Nico — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:23:55 +0000

Hello Syl,

I like the idea very much but tone thing bothers me: isn’t the whole thing too heavy so it would twist in the hands ? how about an extra perpendicular handle on the stick to help with the torsion?
Just a thought.
Nico

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:57:28 +0000

Just another note on poles. I first did this years ago and got a tripod head to fit by threading a paint roller. Thing is, you have to buy just about the cheapest paint rollers you can find to get one with 1/4″ metal frame (nice ones, like the ones I actually paint with, have heavier frames than this). Saw it off before the bends, clamp it in a vise and cut some threads with a 1/4-20 die and voila!, a cheapo adapter to mount a camera (directly) or tripod head on. The metalhead is much more elegant, but I do with it came with a 3/8 or 1/4 threaded stud instead.

Have fun!

By: Syl Arena

Syl Arena — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:16:58 +0000

John – the rest of the gear shown is: a stanard umbrella adapter and a wired hot shoe (both from FlashZebra.com) plus a Lastolight EZYbox HotShoe. The ell-bracket comes with the EZYbox. You might be able to find it separately on Adorama.com.