Full tilt: Phottix Multi Boom solves common umbrella softbox flaw

Phottix has announced a new support accessory, the Multi Boom, designed to give more tilt to umbrella softboxes.

A fiendishly clever bit of kit, the Phottix Multi Boom 16″ addresses a whole host of problems faced by photographers using flashguns in portable softboxes. Westcott Apollo and Phottix Easy-Up series softboxes are quick to assemble but have a major design flaw: they cannot be tilted downwards by more than few degrees. The Phottix Multi Boom — designed by Australian photography enthusiast Elvis Pahr, who also writes the Flash Havoc blog — is made to solve this issue.

The Multi Boom is a pole with a spigot-shaped end that fits into most good umbrella swivel brackets so that it can be tilted up and down. Two shoe-mount flashguns are supported by a mounting plate, positioned so they point directly into the centre of a softbox or umbrella, which fits through a hole at the top.

Tilting the system is possible even at extreme angles and there is a counterweight hook to add ballast for extra stability. When in transit or storage the Multi Boom effectively folds flat, also allowing it to be used as a tabletop stand for two flashguns (above).

The Phottix Multi Boom 16″ costs $69.99, available directly from the Phottix Store.

What do you think of this product? Could it help you?