Phottix Varos PRO S

The Phottix Varos PRO comes in three models the S (Small), M (Medium) and BG (large or big). They share a lot of features in common.

Pros

  • Beautifully made, a quality product.
  • It weighs in at 24.7 grams with the carabiner. The M and BG models weigh a bit more.
  • The rated load capacity of the S model is 25kg (28kg for the M and 30kg for the BG models).
  • The Phottix S is made of an aluminium alloy.
  • 180 degree movement on the adapter. 90 degrees either side of vertical.
  • The adapter has a lanyard hole onto which a supplied carabiner can be attached.
  • The carabiner allows items like light flash triggers (using a PC sync cable), counterweights and battery packs to be hung from the adapter. This is the only adapter, to my knowledge, that has this feature built in. The carabiner is easily removed if not needed.
  • Tear shaped umbrella slot (mount).
  • The umbrella slot is angled 8 degrees from the horizontal, to centre the flash onto the umbrella.
  • A good quality Screw-in style cold shoe comes with the adapter.
  • A plastic handle on the cold shoe screw allows you to get a good grip and makes it easy to tighten/loosen the screw onto the flash.
  • The spring loaded clamp means easy release of the flash foot.
  • The spigot attaching the Phottix S to the lightstand has 2 points of attachment, a screw in bolt that holds the spigot firm and a trigger (or locking button) that stops the spigot from falling off the adapter. This will stop the adapter and the flash falling off the lightstand even if you forget to tighten the screw onto the lightstand.
  • The screw you tighten on the umbrella shaft and the one on the spigot are curved to maximise grip. This feature and the tear drop shape of the slot will also minimise damage to the umbrella shaft, which are easily damaged (unlike spigots).
  • The elbow on the adapter uses a ratchet system, so the chances of the umbrella titling under weight are reduced.
  • It is easy to tighten or loosen all 3 screw heads on the adapter.
  • The spigot attaching the adapter to the lightstand has 1/4 or 5/8 female threads.
  • The Phottix S can be attached directly to some lightstands without the spigot, like the Lumopro LP605 or the Manfrotto Nano.

Cons

  • It is hard to line up the cold shoe with the adapter. It is often off centre. Under the cold shoe is a plastic ring you must tighten up onto the cold shoe to hold it in place. But the cold shoe can still move. This is not an issue on the M and BG models as the cold shoe is screwed into a spigot which is then inserted into the adapter. I would give it a 10/10 except for this issue.
  • It costs more than an entry level adapter, but it is not an entry level adapter!
  • A well designed adapter, of excellent quality and a fair price for what you get. Score: 9. I would rate the M and BG models a 10, as they have a spigot on the top so you can better align the cold shoe overcoming one of the cons of the S model.

Another Phottix Varos PRO review here.

Varos PRO M & BG

The Phottix Varos M is very similar to the Varos S, except the adapter above the elbow has a spigot attachment rather than the cold shoe being directly attached (so the Varos M is bigger overall and costs about $5 more). The Varos M is better in two ways, first, the spigot allows other devices to be attached, like a Bowens S adapter to which you can attach a strobe, softbox or both. Second, it overcomes one of the cons of the S model, because the spigot on the top allows you can better align the cold shoe.

The BG looks the same as the M, but is physically larger and has a heavier weight rating.