Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I shot an outside wedding last weekend and used the Vagabond Mini to power an Einstein light. I moved the light often to various locations. It was the first time I had used the light and loved it. One problem.............the battery would not stay attached to the light stand. I ended up using duct tape to keep the battery from falling off. I know this is a problem based on what I've read on different web sites. Someone please tell me there is a better way.

It helps if you sit the VML on the top of the section of the light stand that's beneath it - it's like a little lip created by the top of each section. Also, you can get a 12' roll of Velcro at a home warehouse type store for <$10 and wrap a section of it around the bottom half of the VML and lightstand. Works great like that or if you wanted it even more solid you could stick a piece of Velcro to the VML itself and wrap the same way - allowing the band to actually adhere to the VML though.

I guess the velcro would probably work but it's just one more thing to keep up with. I'm hoping someone has come up with something where the clamp that comes with the battery can be altered or whatever to make it rock solid.

Stretch/elastic Velcro works pretty good. I keep it wrapped around the VML when not in use, so it never gets lost. Available at Lowes or HD.

Someone did come up with a way to use clamps, and I think it's described somewhere on this forum.

I use the Monfrotto super clamp it costs about $40 but has multiple uses. It has a removable stud with a1/4 20 thread that screws into the Mini Vaga where the clamp that came with the mini attaches.

Take clamp off. Throw it away :D
Use the strap and hang it on the stand knobs. Ball bungie the pack to the stand.

If you really want to use a clamp, use a Manfrotto as folks mentioned.

Take a piece of 12ga romex, about 12" long. Bend into a teardrop and crimp both ends into a ring lug. bolt that onto VM. Now you have a strong but flexible loop that can slide down the stand all the way to the tripod legs and just hang there.

I haven't had a problem moving mine around with attached with the clamp as long as the battery is resting on a knuckle of the light stand. If mine were falling off I always have a few bungee cords in my bag that I could reinforce the clamp with.

I'm hoping for an improved clamp design at some point: it should be able to clamp to the larger diameter stand-tube sections at the bottom of light stands. I can't imagine why I would want to mount the thing halfway up the stand--the lowest point on the stand is best for lower the cg, helping to stabilize the stand.

I have found this link to someone who's used a truss clamp:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christophergoette/5884585711/

I'll be getting the VM soon, but have placed an order for this clamp in anticipation :) It's really affordable at $7 from B&H (GLJRCLAMP), and should be sturdy enough for wedding battlefields everywhere :lol:

8/28 Update - I've received the clamp, and it securely attaches to my lightstand, but the screw that came with it is too big for the VM, so I gotta look for a proper 1/4"-20 screw with a wide and shallow head. Irene's going to delay this search at the local hardware stores :(

8/29 Update - Using a 1/4"-20 hex socket screw with a shallow head and 1/2" length, and a thin 1/4" washer, I was able to leave enough clearance so the screw head would not touch the middle or widest lightstand section. A few more weeks until I can order the VM!! :D