Thread: Something Handy - Manfrotto's Magic Arm

Bob, they are excellent. My main use was photography to hold reflectors, flash etc. I sold mine but would now like another for the purpose of holding a vac hose to the drill press.

I like that little last click on the locking arm - "eeeeeeeee chk"

Cheers
Brett

I opted for the wind it up till it stays still handwheel version Brett. The lever action seemed abrupt on the brand new one I tried out over here, maybe because it wasn't clamped to something while I was fiddling.
Here's my favourite bit of Manfrotto. The thing had lost its tension so I pulled it to bits a few weeks back. Bit tricky to reassemble without help. Turns out there is a socket head cap screw that facilitates tension adjustment. More fiddling and the thing is a good as new. I should use a tripod more often. An 1/8 of a second is becoming a challenge.

BT

Hi Bob

A Nikon F2 now your showing your age (we still process film at work if you want to fire the old girl up )
the super clamps look like they would make a great lathe stops
Handy bit of kit
I was looking at the Chinese knockoffs for 22 bucks wondering if they where any good. only cos I just dont want to see a manfrotto get sucked into the mill while doing a video ( and cos im tight)

happy snapping bob
harty

Looks Good Bob.

In 1997? I visited the Manfrotto factory outlet (well, more of an assembly plant really) just out of Bassano in Northern Italy to buy a panoramic tripod head. It turned out to be within a block from the factory where one of my Uncles worked and my Uncle even knew a couple of the people there. The visit itself was pretty boring - just a big warehouse where all the parts are stored and a half dozen not very big assembly rooms. Most of the parts are made under contract by small time producers all over (and increasingly in eastern) Europe. The most interesting things was a sort of prototype workshop which had some nice CNC gear - I was only allowed to stand in the doorway, and the studios where they were doing a Suzuki photoshoot with lots of motor bikes and bikini clad women. No photo taking was permitted but I had forgotten my camera anyway.

The most interesting thing was purchasing the panoramic tripod head.

Being a factory outlet I was still expecting to pay local RRP (which was about 80% of AUS$RRP) but there was no way my uncle was. After a lot of back-and forth, with lots of Italian hand waving and loud voices, I got it for 60% of local RRP and a couple of bottles of my uncles home made wine which he delivered the next day. A few weeks later when I looked at the actual receipt, it said I paid 40% of local RRP , apparently some tax dodging technique. I guess this is business Italian Style.

This is the head I use most commonly on my tripods.

Thanks for posting this Bob. About a year ago I bought three Waldmann LED light modules, chock-a-block with that Germanic goodness. I have been looking for some elegant and stable articulated solution for mounting a pair of them to Frau Zwei...this may be my answer.

GQ

Hey Bob,

The image of the bikini cad nubiles is obviously burnt in. You didn't need the camera. I have not seen a joy stick head like yours, it looks interesting. I'm wondering if I can do away with the Super Clamps and utilise the quick release mounting plate and shoe. The shoe might be the tricky bit.

And Gregory,

Noga make a larger version of their nifty indicator arm. A less clunky version of the Manfrotto. They appear on Ebay. The edge the Italians have is the range of accessories that go with it.

BT

You have good taste Bob; Schaublin, Manfrotto, Nikon F2...

K.

Bob you just saved some of my old wheelchair parts from being going out in recycle they will be used in my recycle process. I knew I had kept them for something.

Originally Posted by Kraehe

You have good taste Bob; Schaublin, Manfrotto, Nikon F2...

K.

K,

The champagne taste is easily maintained on the beer budget when you focus on stuff forty to fifty years old. Hell, you can pick up a nice F2 for less than the cost of a cheap mobile phone. I even saw an F5 body the other day on Ebay for under five hundred bucks. The mill was a good luck thing, real good luck.

BT

Hi bob

Just a little tease if you like old camera's

Cheers
Harty

Originally Posted by harty69

Hi bob

Just a little tease if you like old camera's

Cheers
Harty

Nice Peter,

I see you have a few of F. Deckel's Syncro Compur shutters there if the TLR is a Rolleiflex and the Technika has a Schnieder lens. I'm struggling but I think the rangefinder on the right is a IIIC BUT it could be an old Canon. The camera on the bottom shelf with the bellows attached looks like a Nikkormat EL as does its neighbour....

How am I doin?

The soft focus is making it tricky. Ha ha.

BT

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Hey Bob,

The image of the bikini cad nubiles is obviously burnt in. You didn't need the camera. . . .

Almost as much as the herd of sleazy old blokes hanging around with bulging eye's and drooling lower lips.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Bob you just saved some of my old wheelchair parts from being going out in recycle they will be used in my recycle process. I knew I had kept them for something.

What do you have planned Ray?

Bob.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Nice Peter,

I see you have a few of F. Deckel's Syncro Compur shutters there if the TLR is a Rolleiflex and the Technika has a Schnieder lens. I'm struggling but I think the rangefinder on the right is a IIIC BUT it could be an old Canon. The camera on the bottom shelf with the bellows attached looks like a Nikkormat EL as does its neighbour....

How am I doin?

The soft focus is making it tricky. Ha ha.

BT

Hi BT

Soft focus i guess thats what you get taking photos on a phone seems ironic doesnt it taking pics of some of the nicest camera made with a phone
correct on the rollie and the linhof
the rangefinders are both horsmans a vh and a 970
the nikon is a em next to it a pentax

there a few leica's in there as well as a few other brands

cheers
Harty