Equipment Basics: Magic Arms and Superclamps

[@thankyouand3260]

Wow, I've watched many vids on magic arm, but THIS is absolutely the best because you showcase it exactly as needed. Too bad youtube first had to show me tens of other videos before this

[@artstudent1237]

This video was straight to the point and very informative. Perfect and thank you!

[@thenerdcomicbookco.est.1966]

Thank you for sharing great learning opportunity since i just ordered a few.

[@Porshesmiles]

REALLLLLY helpful!! Thanks!! I’m looking at attaching my camera to my wheelchair and this is perfect!! It will make a huge difference!!

[@Tommilesphotography]

Very glad to help. There are probably some gimbals out there that might work well, but likely to be more expensive. Happy to help with any other advice on kit.

[@Porshesmiles]

@@Tommilesphotography that’s really appreciated. I am looking at using a Case Air (Tethering) as I have no finger movement. This will allow me to adjust settings on my iPad. I can move away from Auto!! So, that’s the basic idea. A Magic Arm hold my camera in place and my phone or iPad lets me control it. I’ve been looking at lighting and so on!! Phew!! I'll start slowly!! Thanks again!!

[@Tommilesphotography]

The tethertools stuff is generally very good, although I've not used the caseair myself. When it comes to lighting, I think some manufacturers are now making apps for their lights - I know Profoto do with their very latest kit - that would allow you to control your lighting from an app, rather than fiddly controls if dexterity is a problem.

[@SpursExile07]

Hi - I'm looking at doing the same on my wheelchair, but with binoculars. Do they do one in x3 parts so its a bit longer?

[@markstanley2001]

loved the trick for tether cable.... better than having laptop pulled on floor. also, the safety cable around flash head when mounted on rafter... very safe!! great explanation of tools. have owned and used superclamps and spigots since I started photography. Sooooo useful, can build and hold anything with them! :)

[@yenra]

Great video; thank you! Super clamps and magic arm on the way.

[@martonvarhomoki6676]

useful stuff, great channel!

[@cotswolddroner7714]

I wish I'd watched this before I got my magic arm with no instructions. I was wondering why the ends were just going every which way, then as if by magic, I twisted the knob! Presto! I felt like Houdini... Thanks and cheere!

[@sayujyashankaraanand]

Thanks for the wonderful explanation and very helpful information!

[@Tommilesphotography]

My pleasure - glad it was helpful!

[@ranplan]

Great explanation man!

[@antigen4]

nice to see these catching on! i bought my first (of many) superclamp in 1984!

[@Tommilesphotography]

Well I don't know about "catching on", as I've been using them since about '95 myself, but they're certainly handy bits of kit!

[@antigen4]

yes - they seem (to me) wildly popular now compared to (back then) or even ten years ago - it's amazing how long it's taken though - there are even lots of manufacturers now making (bad) copies etc

[@Tommilesphotography]

Funny - my experience is slightly different - I'm sure I saw more of them back in the late 90s/early 2000s when I was assisting, and these days when I don't shoot as much in the studio they seem less common, but I expect that's contextual!

[@jaycastrotv4501]

amazing

[@jasonw9316]

I have a question that maybe you could answer...I have one of these and was considering getting a carbon fiber stand. If weighted and balanced correctly, could this be superclamped to carbon fiber without crushing / warping the stand...I hear carbon fiber is stronger than steel, but I also hear cheap carbon fiber breaks easily (I’m not sure how light stands hold up).

[@Tommilesphotography]

Good question! I have occasionally clamped these to the leg of my carbon fibre tripod, and they're fine, but do be careful how much you tighten them. It's definitely true that if you tighten them too much there's a very decent chance carbon fibre will shatter rather than bend. I've had CB tripods that have shattered, not through over tightened clamps, more through accidents, so I can definitely confirm it happens. Depending on how big the light stands are that you're buying, I'm not sure the weight saving would be worth it, as I'd imagine they'll be more expensive than aluminium ones. Hope that helps.

[@johnrieley1404]

Hex key to winch, thanks, did not see, and other expositers missed.

[@unconditioned_ride]

Thank you, very instructive. Can I just confirm that the magic arm as such, doesn't connect between a tripod and camera, to allow point vertically down shots? But needs a strong stand and a K clamp? Thanks

[@Tommilesphotography]

My pleasure, and although I don't quite 100% understand what you mean I get the impression you're trying to use the magic arm and a camera platform to shoot "flat plan" style shots. In which case, yes, you'd need to brace the camera in some way, or mount the arm very carefully - the weight of a camera out at one end of the arm will cause it to slip and topple over. If you're trying to shoot "flat plan" stuff, you're much better off with a tripod that will allow you reverse the centre column - loads do this nowadays. Hope that helps.

[@unconditioned_ride]

@@Tommilesphotography Thanks again, yes I know the answer now. I wanted to avoid a new tripod purchase and think this will work instead with a heavy duty stand and the super clamp arrangement.

[@DutchUltra]

awesome!! thanks!

[@Tommilesphotography]

You're welcome!

[@incomeinnovations247]

nice review can I use this as a microphone stand and what stud would I need if its possible to connect a mic clip?

[@Tommilesphotography]

Cheers! You could certainly clamp a microphone into the jaws of a superclamp, and the ends of the magic arms are female 3/8" and 1/4", so any male stud of the same size would do - you could then screw this into something like this: en-uk.sennheiser.com/mzs-8000 and mount your shotgun mic that way.

[@monziibrownize]

This video was extremely useful. Thank you 😊

[@Tommilesphotography]

You’re welcome, very glad it was helpful 😊

[@bulcub]

What make/model are those magic arms and clamps? Thanks

[@Tommilesphotography]

Those ones are Manfrotto, but there are lots of others available.

[@anzaeria]

These things cost 20 quid / 20 pounds? I looked up the prices of Manfrotto Magic Arms in Australia and they're over AU$200.

[@MrPamplemouzze]

Thanks you

[@bulcub]

What brand of arm is that? thanks

[@Tommilesphotography]

Those ones are Manfrotto, but there are lots of others available.

[@windycity92]

i have a much small version, the 7inch magic arm - how do i get it from swiveling from side to side. I have it attached to my ronin-s and a small 5 inch monitor

[@lucadiscala7027]

Thanks. Is it normal that the magic arm spigot (the one attached to the ball of the arm) get holed by the superclamp screw?

[@Tommilesphotography]

If by "normal" you mean "standard", then yes, it's quite normal to have the spigot inserted into the female part of a super clamp, but as it's a standard size you can use it in anything it will fit, such as a light or other accessory.

[@lucadiscala7027]

@@Tommilesphotography hi. What I meant is that when i insert the magic arm spigot to the superclamp and I screw to fix the spigot, that spigot get holed by the superclamp screw. Is that normal?

[@Tommilesphotography]

@@lucadiscala7027 definitely not in that case! Send it back and get it replaced!

[@henry-visuals9186]

I was waiting for you to say, only geeks like me know the difference and now so do you....."You're now a geek" there was even a pause there lol

[@MartR80]

Great video! Just what I needed to see. Could you please add descriptions and or links of the part items u used please? That would even be more useful than this video already is. Great job!

[@Tommilesphotography]

My pleasure, good point about the kit: - Manfrotto variable friction arm - www.manfrotto.co.uk/photo-variable-friction-arm-italian-craftsmanship - Superclamp - www.manfrotto.co.uk/super-photo-clamp-without-stud-aluminium - Superclamp with ratchet - www.calphoto.co.uk/product/Manfrotto-Universal-Super-Clamp-with-ratchet-handle/MN035C - Camera platform - www.manfrotto.co.uk/camera-umbrella-bracket-for-143

[@MartR80]

Great! Thank you for the effort and please keep on making more video's! Much blessings and keep on shooting. :-)

[@PremSingh-wj1nk]

Where to buy

[@Tommilesphotography]

I generally use www.wexphotovideo.com/ as I'm based in the UK

[@PremSingh-wj1nk]

I'm in south africa, Thank you

[@Blackfilmguild]

How do I attach one of these to a Manfrotto 504HD Head. I cant find a magic arm that fits.

[@Tommilesphotography]

Black Film Guild I've got a 504 head, and it's only got female screws - so has the manfrotto magic arm. So, I'd either get a double headed spigot, and screw one end into the head, and one into the arm, or get a smaller arm with male screw ends. Hope that helps.

[@Blackfilmguild]

Exactly, thats my problem. can you point me to a link where I can purchase this?

[@Tommilesphotography]

Probably not for about 48 hours! I'm on a location shoot with no WiFi, and very little signal! I've got one from smallrig that might be what you're after, depending on how big the thing is you want to mount.

[@Tommilesphotography]

Sorry it's taken me a while - got back late last night! Try these guys: www.smallrig.com/supports/articulating-arms.html I've got one of the smaller ones, and it's ideal for things like an Atomos screen or similar.

[@MSmatt76]

Good stuff.

[@orbitacine6205]

whats the maximum support with magic arms and superclamp if i need to grip a light ??' 3kg?

[@Tommilesphotography]

They'll hold quite a lot of weight, but it depends entirely on how you rig them, and what position you put them in. If you think about the physics of it - extended out at full stretch, they won't support too much, because of the increased leverage from something further from the point of contact. But if you bend them slightly back on themselves, and bring the weight (the light in this case) closer to the point of contact, they'll hold much more. I've used them to hold up flash heads dozens of times, but it depends on exactly how you rig them.

[@Musalam]

thank you!