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Anyone Tried Manfrotto's Binocular Clamp? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter CMB
- Start date
John A Roberts
Well-known member
An image from the Manfrotto site: https://www.manfrotto.com/be-en/binocular-super-clamp-035bn/
- 'Super Clamp' or ‘Bino Chomper’?
John
- 'Super Clamp' or ‘Bino Chomper’?
John
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Yes, I have one. It’s bulky but much preferable to the contraptions that wrap around the binoculars with rubber bands.
Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
It is sometimes marketed by Manfrotto for binoculars, but it is a standard stage super clamp (the same design is made by other manufacturers) for use on stage or photography sets to hold lights and to anchor scenery etc, and which receives various accessories. If you use it to hold a binocular, be very careful. This sort of clamp is designed to hold very heavy objects very securely, so the jaws have tremendous clamping strength. They can easily crush the housing of a binocular body or objective lens cell if tightened too much.
--AP
--AP
It's got a special rubber pad one one jaw, and a smaller tightening knob, thus lower leverage. I don't think crushing the tubes is really a risk, unless the binoculars are extra flimsy and the user extra-heedless.
I agree with Alexis!
I use this clamp to hold a monopod on a tripod and it does have the potential to crush or seriously damage a binocular. Beware.
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Thank you all for your comments.
Looking at the device, I was thinking that it has the potential to damage/crush a tube if not careful. The description under the rigging listings say it's rated to hold 33 lbs (15 kgs). It's a substantial piece of kit for clamping.
Pileatus, I remember seeing that photo of the monopod on the tripod earlier, and wondered what clamp you were using.
Looking at the device, I was thinking that it has the potential to damage/crush a tube if not careful. The description under the rigging listings say it's rated to hold 33 lbs (15 kgs). It's a substantial piece of kit for clamping.
Pileatus, I remember seeing that photo of the monopod on the tripod earlier, and wondered what clamp you were using.
Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
Yes, quite substantial, as I think that is a very conservative rating. The clamp itself can probably hold hundreds of pounds. I assume the conservative rating is based on limits of possibly tearing loose if it is attached to something using the 1/4" threaded socket. If attached to rigging using the quick-release bolt receptacle, it can bear much heavier loads.
--AP
Foss
Well-known member
My concern is that the Manfrotto picture in the jaws do not appear to extend far enough around the tube in the porro prism binoculars shown. Like palming a basketball, it appears to depend upon friction, though in a smaller binocular the jaws may extend far enough to grasp mechanically.
Here are some pictures. The first one shows the convex rubber pad that is specific to this variant of the superclamp. Note also the lower-profile knob (as opposed to the ratcheting lever used in normal superclamps). The other two show it in action on a pair of Swarovski EL SV 8.5x42 for scale.
Fully opened, the jaws are about 5cm apart.
I tested it on one of my wife's hair spray bottles roughly the same cross-section as binocular tubes, and yes, I could dent it, but just barely. Binocular tubes are probably made to a higher standard, though.
I wish alpha binocular makers would put a convenient tripod mounting point the way lower-priced models like the Nikon Monarch HG do on the hinge.
Fully opened, the jaws are about 5cm apart.
I tested it on one of my wife's hair spray bottles roughly the same cross-section as binocular tubes, and yes, I could dent it, but just barely. Binocular tubes are probably made to a higher standard, though.
I wish alpha binocular makers would put a convenient tripod mounting point the way lower-priced models like the Nikon Monarch HG do on the hinge.
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