Manfrotto Gizmo

[Steve40]

[Pops]

Re: Manfrotto Gizmo

Looks like a useful piece of kit ......
how about the weight of the entire unit?

[Steve40]

Re: Manfrotto Gizmo

The clamp itself is cast aluminum, so the catalog gives the weight at .9 lb = 14oz. The little short stud weight is negligible, and the larger 3/8 tripod head mount; maybe a couple of ounces.

With the little Silk head, I would guess about a pound total. With the larger manfrotto head, edging close to 2 lbs; but in a very compact package.

I wish a few years ago, I could have had this clamp with me, in the Smithsonian Institute. They don't allow tripods, or anything closely resembling them. So I used table tops, stair rails, held my breath, and turned blue in the process. Because the little camera I had, would not shoot over ISO 200 without a lot of noise, this clamp would have been a blessing.

Its amazing how little torque is needed to secure it, so a beast would have a problem trying to pull it off, whatever its clamped too. As long as you have a secure head, you would never have to worry about the camera attached to it. Oh! there is a little insert held in place here, by the rear thumb screw. That fills the triangular gap in the upper jaw, for clamping to smaller flat surfaces.

[Pops]

Re: Manfrotto Gizmo

Looking again I wonder if it would leave indentations on surfaces!
I suppose you could glue felt strips at the points of contact to eliminate the possibility of that happening. Could prove embarrassing (and expensive) if its not your property that you have clamped onto

[Steve40]

Re: Manfrotto Gizmo

That's where discretion, would probably be the best position. The inner surface of the clamp has rubberized pads, although rather of the hard variety.

The biggest danger would be when using the insert, the surface on it is even harder. Then again - even the directions, warn about over tightening the clamp. I don't think the thought is of damaging the clamp, its built like a tank; but rather the surface you fasten it to.

That table I clamped it on has a soft vinyl top, it hardly left a mark. Which of any, soon smoothed back out. The clamp's pressure seems to be really! well distributed.

[David M]

Re: Manfrotto Gizmo

Looking again I wonder if it would leave indentations on surfaces!
I suppose you could glue felt strips at the points of contact to eliminate the possibility of that happening. Could prove embarrassing (and expensive) if its not your property that you have clamped onto

Photographers have been using these clamps on safari tour buses and tundra buggies photographing polar bears for a couple of decades. I've never heard of any damage caused to these vehicles.

[Pops]

Re: Manfrotto Gizmo

Photographers have been using these clamps on safari tour buses and tundra buggies photographing polar bears for a couple of decades. I've never heard of any damage caused to these vehicles.

Like Steve said, I guess its down to the consideration of the user. Certainly appears to be a very useful piece of kit.

[Steve40]

Re: Manfrotto Gizmo

Like I said, discretion needs to be used always! in anything you do. I really! would not want to clamp, to someone's expensive furniture. Or some piece of antiquity.

As far as hand rails, room dividers, or shelves, I would think there would be no problems. If this clamp were like some, where the locking action was done like a C clamp, with a small rotating disk. I genuinely! would have concern, for fastening it to any surface. But this device is a "Clamp", the action is a smooth application of pressure, not an abrasive one.

So again using a bit of discretion, I do not think there would be any problems, using this clamp.