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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Clamps for speedlights
Radu Rosca, Photographer
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Tirgu Mures | MS | Romania | Posted: 6:04 AM on 07.30.10 |
->> Hi guys! I'm looking for some super clamps to help me mount my speedlights on location (will probably use them in arenas too) and can't decide what to go for yet. While the manfrotto bogen super clamps seem pretty neat, i've also found some cheap alternatives on ebay ($10) that look like this: http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5632/clamppot2images480gsc.jpg
What i want to know is if has anyone out here used something like that, and do you think are reliable or should go for the more expensive ones. I'm on a budget so every penny i save counts.
(PS: If anyone has some clamps they don't use and don't need them anymore, i'd be interested) |
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Martin McNeil, Photographer
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East Kilbride | Lanarkshire | United Kingdom | Posted: 6:36 AM on 07.30.10 |
| ->> Maybe it's a Friday thing, but when I saw "Clamps for speedlights", I thought of the Lighting Police - out putting clamps on speedlights that don't have permits to be there, ruining Joe McNally's day... |
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Kent Nishimura, Student/Intern
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Honolulu | HI | USA | Posted: 6:45 AM on 07.30.10 |
->> Radu, have you checked out the Manfrotto Justin Clamp? http://bit.ly/c69Jgs
they're a little pricey, but i've used them on assignment, and they come in handy! |
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Randy Vanderveen, Photographer
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Grande Prairie | AB | Canada | Posted: 9:42 AM on 07.30.10 |
| ->> If you are going to be using them in an arena or somewhere high where there is a potential for them to break don't cheap out. Even a super clamp will break apart if overtightened. Remember that no matter what clamp you use, ensure that it has been safety cabled if it clamped above where people have access. Randy |
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Jonathan Castner, Photographer
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 9:57 AM on 07.30.10 |
->> I could be wrong, so call Jody at Roberts. I don't remember paying that much for a Justin Clamp. There's no such thing as too many Justin clamps.
VERY handy and flexible. Otherwise, take Jonathan's approach and build your own.
Could also look on eBay and see if someone is seeing some...
M |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 10:51 AM on 07.30.10 |
->> I'll second what Randy says. Don't cheap out if these clamps will be holding strobes over the heads of players or audience. You can't put a price on safety and you don't want to stand in court saying you wanted to save $20 so you went with an unknown, un-tested clamp instead of the industry standard.
for quick setups you can't beat the Justin Clamp, but they can't be locked down as well as a SuperClamp as they are spring-loaded rather than screw-in locks. |
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Dave Prelosky, Photographer
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Lower Burrell | Pa | US | Posted: 11:01 AM on 07.30.10 |
| ->> Depending on your time frame, keep watching e-bay. Super clamps show up constantly. The last bath I bought were 5 for $60 if I remember correctly. There are several similar products - the Manfrotto are black and have a *lever* handle, the Avenger by Matthews are usually chrome, but occasionally white, and have a *knob* The Matthews are directly equivalent, and are marketed to the photo, cinema, and retail display markets. If you look around at Penney's, you'll see them on the floor with autopoles and sidearms. They're everywhere! |
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Scott Evans, Photographer
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Bay Village | OH | USA | Posted: 12:14 PM on 07.30.10 |
| ->> For me, its the Manfrotto's all the way. I often use mine by mounting a Manfrotto HD flex arm in the clamp, the placing the strobe on the flex arm. It adds a little height and allows for great flexibility (hence the name?). Works well for speedlites but I wouldn't trust anything much heavier on the flew arm. You could buy the super clamp and flex arm for less than the Justin clamp which is why I bring up this option. |
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Butch Miller, Photographer
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Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 1:34 PM on 07.30.10 |
->> I've used the Manfrotto, LumoPro and Avenger versions of the Super Clamp over the years and all have held up nicely ...
My setup for HS gym sports ... using the top rail of the bleachers, the pole keeps the light above anyone sitting in the stands ...
http://tiny.cc/iosoq |
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Eric Francis, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | United States | Posted: 1:18 AM on 07.31.10 |
| ->> I have a combination of DIY spring clamps and super clamps...... it all just depends what I'm shooting and where. The cheap self-made spring clamps are GREAT for quick lighting set ups indoors. |
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