Arms & Clamps & Focus lights

[robindotadams]

Hey guys,

getting back into photo things following a ludicrously stupid moment in Scotland last August and thinking about improving my strobe arm situ.

Currently I've got 2x DS125s sitting on 6" Ikelite arms.

I'm thinking of getting 2x8" Ultralight bouyancy arms (to compete with "Ikelite elbow"), on with a double ultralight clamp, the other with a triple clamp, which will allow me to get a focus light clamp (ultralight) to use the focus light I've had for a year and struggled to attach!

so I'd end up with
LHS - QR stem, Dbl Clamp, 6"Ike, Dbl Clamp, 8" UCLS Bouyancy, Dbl Clamp, DS125
RHS - QR Stem, Trp Clamp, 6"Ike, Dbl Clamp, 8" UCLS Bouyancy, Dbl Clamp, DS125
with focus light off triple clamp

Thoughts, comments, recommendations, pithy remarks are all welcome

[Alsky72]

Hey, Ultralight also do a large buoyancy arm which is wider than the standard buoyancy arm which I use and they are excellent. I'd also put the buoyancy section close to the housing myself. I've found that having a focus light on a triple clamp doesn't work for me as much as using a hotshoe clamp. I'm sure others would disagree. I can get all these items for a reasonable price if you desire


I can get them for you if you need some.

Originally Posted by robindotadams

Hey guys,

getting back into photo things following a ludicrously stupid moment in Scotland last August and thinking about improving my strobe arm situ.

Currently I've got 2x DS125s sitting on 6" Ikelite arms.

I'm thinking of getting 2x8" Ultralight bouyancy arms (to compete with "Ikelite elbow"), on with a double ultralight clamp, the other with a triple clamp, which will allow me to get a focus light clamp (ultralight) to use the focus light I've had for a year and struggled to attach!

so I'd end up with
LHS - QR stem, Dbl Clamp, 6"Ike, Dbl Clamp, 8" UCLS Bouyancy, Dbl Clamp, DS125
RHS - QR Stem, Trp Clamp, 6"Ike, Dbl Clamp, 8" UCLS Bouyancy, Dbl Clamp, DS125
with focus light off triple clamp

Thoughts, comments, recommendations, pithy remarks are all welcome

[Cussy]

Robin,
I found triple clamps not that great - others get on with them fine. I think I move my strobes too much. So I modified my handle to take a bendy arm and focus light (how to attach a focuslight to an Ikelite setup?).

My housing is due back from it's modification at Ikelite, so I now no longer need the focus arm/handle top - interested in it? I have smaller sections in the top of my handles now.

Plus, I bought 2 x 12" Inon buoyancy arms off of GLOC. They are simply 2 connectors on the end of a tube, so if you wanted them and found them too long you could easily shorten them. Interested?

I now have shorter arms. With Inon z240s I find it's easier to have them closer to the port than I could get away with using DS125s.
Rob

[DDT uk]

Robin

Long time no hear Robin.

Another vote against the use of a triple clamp. Maria has one and hates it. Every time you reposition your strobe you move the focus light and visa versa. I also have mine mounted on my hotshoe adapter.

I have an assortment of arms, all either 5" or 8". The Ultralight are quite expensive and so I originally bought some from Jack Connick in the States Camera Housings, Strobes, Arms, Trays & More! - Optical Ocean Sales Underwater Photo - 800-359-1295!. The B&J arms have proved OK and at £6 per section well worth the money. The cheap clamps aren't quite so good. OK but I much prefer the Aquatica clamp with the wheel. They do hold better.

Daniel

[Cerianthus]

I copied rob's system and it really is very handy!. My housing has also made its way to ikelite for a change to 4 ports and a cleanup.