Choosing Extension Arms

Extension arms attach to C-stands, camera equipment, lighting, and other photography components. These arms can make complex setups much easier, with enhanced control and functionality. 

When to Use An Extension Arm

With a C-stand extension arm, you can attach studio flags and other components to your C-stands when setting up lighting equipment. This gives you a higher degree of control as you bounce, block, and diffuse your light.

You can attach an extension arm to your tripod to help you shoot new angles that would otherwise be impossible or inconvenient. For example, you could use an extension arm to create an overhead shot of food or a product on a table. You can also use extension arms to mount external flashes, microphones, and much more.

Types of Extension Arms

There are various types of extension arms for different applications, including flex arms, magic arms, pivot arms, and more.

Flex Arms

Lightweight, plastic, and segmented, flex arms resemble spinal cords, and they're incredibly flexible. You can connect them to most lightweight components easily, without requiring you to adjust lamps.

Magic Arm

Magic arms are also very flexible, and can handle heavier equipment. They feature a metal ball socket on the end of each arm with a super clamp stud, allowing you to easily attach your components with a reliable locking mechanism.

Pivot Arm

Versatile enough to handle various photography tasks, pivot arms use a wheel-locking elbow mechanism that allows you to adjust the tension. This feature is helpful when you're attaching components of different weights and you need to make adjustments. Because of its folding action, a pivot arm is especially useful if you need to save space.

Friction Arm

Friction arms are similar to magic arms, but they allow for partial locking of cameras, lights, and other components. This partial locking mechanism allows you to track objects while filming and make adjustments on the fly.

Grip Arm

Ideal for use with C-stands, grip arms feature durable heads and knuckles that can help you mount various components such as lights and flags.