Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

I like this little baby. works great for indoor sports shooting when you can't blast people in the face but still need accent lighting from the stands so you don't have to shoot at a high ISO Setting!

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

The Magic Arm is is great for shooting DSLR Video from mounting the camera, monitor, or lights anywhere any time. I mainly use it for monitors and lights.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Very robust!

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Like most things Manfrotto, this is built well, tough and durable. Took me a bit to figure out the arm lock.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

This is an extremely useful kit. I recently used it at a concert. Due to a large amount of people going to these concerts I knew I wouldn't have space for a tripod. I just used this gear with a small video camera, clamped on a table and a post. Very flexible but when set, tightened it is extremely strong.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

I mostly use this arm to hold my 7" monitor during Shoots.
What a god send it has been. Makes me wonder how I did things without it. Great build. Sturdy and very very durable. Luv it. I would definitely recommend everyone gets one.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

works great for holding reflectors... my only issue is that the knobs have to be tightened down quite a bit to hold.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

I own quite a few magic arms and love them. They are extremely versatile and have proven useful no matter what you need it for. I mostly use it when shooting sports as a support for a LPS/POV but have also used it to mount Producer and confidence monitors during interviews, or to hang Compact-HD cameras in tight locations.

It's easy to use, sets up in seconds, and very light.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

This arm is great for getting lights or cameras setup in difficult spaces. The whole arm locks and unlocks with the toggle at the center. You don't have to adjust each end separately.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Outside of the necessary gear for a shoot, this is the first item I make sure is in my bag before I head out. You can (within weight limits of course) rig practically anything anywhere. Sure I've gotten along for years without one, but now that I have one I can find a use for it on any shoot I go on.

The only problem I've had is that the main joint loosened up on me which caused it to make a scary crunching sound when attempting to tighten it, but once I got it readjusted it's been perfect ever since.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Been wanting a magik arm for a while, and the kit was a good deal. There's some rust in the threads on the ends of the arms, though, which makes me wonder how long it's been in stock? Otherwise great.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Excellent arm to fix any camera nearly wherever you want. Strongly fixed and stable with the clamp. The 2kg weight is a bit heavy but needed for such a product.
Definitely great product, a must have for original shots !

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

I bought 2 of these kits to solve a lighting problem at a fashion event I was shooting at a place with a relatively low beamed ceiling (call it between 8-10 depending on if you were on the stage or not).

Essentially using the clamp to connect to the ceiling beams, and then using the magic arm to connect from the clamp to my Einstein moonlight (4 lbs) and UMF modifier - then running the cord along the beam with some clamps. The magic arm allowed me to position the lights roughly where I wanted them, and high enough to be out of harms way for the event (and a plug for the Einstein's here, the wireless control allowed me to adjust them without climbing a ladder).

The kit is interesting because it contains both a stand and a super clamp and a camera adapter in addition the Magic Arm, this gives you a lot of options. However, this Magic Arm is not a variable friction model and utilized a leaver you must flip 180 degrees to lock. That's different from the Magic Arm with the knob and friction control (which helps you position heavier things a little better and doesn't require the space to flip the leaver). I own both (now) - 2 of the leaver with/kit, and one variable friction model for cases where the levers may not cut it for space reasons (which so far I haven't found).

Bottom line here is there is a lot of value in the kit given the stands an clamps, with a slight loss in function in the Magic Arm compared to the more expensive variable friction model. It would be nice if they had the variable friction as a kit as well, but I suspect given the cost and feature deltas I'd still end up with 2 of these and one of those. It's hard to fault the value here, and the usefulness is outstanding - it's going to solve rigging problems by giving you options.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Wanna clamp it? Then manfrotto's magic arm kit with the super clamp is for you! Very useful when you need that third arm, to hold reflectors, lights, cameras in normal or odd places. Great for off the camera flash photo shooting.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Holds the camera firmly in place. Very sturdy.
Highly recommended

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

We use these arms for recording laboratory testing, and these are the fastest/easiest way to position a camera precisely and securely.

The only problem with these is if you are trying to clamp on to a table lip or shelf that is too short. There is a v cut into one side of the clamp to allow you to grip a bar, however it can interfere with clamping in short areas.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

The Magic Arm has been a great addition to my kit. Very flexible yet solid and sturdy for my 5D Mark II.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

The world would be a better place.

Well made, sturdy, versatile.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Other than my camera, this is the most unique piece of equipment I own. This lets me put my camera in places that otherwise I couldn't shoot from. Behind the glass backboard at basketball games, this Magic Arm gives me a different perspective to the action. It will attach to almost anything in any place you can think of. I use this instead of a tripod in most instances.

Comments about Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm Kit:

Best for travel and outdoor photographic.