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Constructing a Magic Arm! (I need your help help! Save my life!)

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~HarlequinMannequin:iconHarlequinMannequin: May 17, 2008, 4:50:53 PM
(Yes, I'm back again! :D)

Okay, so I've been on the look for some way to construct a camera arm that I can attach to my wheelchair so I can move around with my camera w/o needing to take/set up my tripod every time.

I found this today: a Magic Arm ([link])

I need help with finding all the right pieces to make one of these things.

I found the arm itself on B&H: ([link])

But now I just need the other sections, but I'm not exactly sure what they are or what I should be getting.

I know I need the Super Clamp (obviously), but I'm not sure what else. I want as many of the moving/pivoting joints as I can get so I can move it in lots of directions.

It would be really great if anyone could help me figure out what other parts I need!

Thanks,
Jen

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`shagie:iconshagie: May 17, 2008, 7:13:09 PM
I'm not sure you need any other parts. The magic clamp on B&H has a threaded screw - so you can put the tripod there. The question is do you want to replace that with a tripod head of some sort. [link] would work as the head. You might need the reducer bushing to get the head mounted.

--
Michael (shagie)
~HarlequinMannequin:iconHarlequinMannequin: May 18, 2008, 10:25:54 AM
So all I need to buy for it is the Super Clamp, and a tripod head??
`shagie:iconshagie: May 18, 2008, 11:25:47 AM
I believe so. The head that I linked is one that you can control with one hand - it has a grip that you pull the 'trigger' and then you can move it freely. When you release the trigger, it locks down. This would probably be easier than a more traditional ball head or 3 way head.

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Michael (shagie)
~HarlequinMannequin:iconHarlequinMannequin: May 18, 2008, 11:43:28 AM
I can't really 'grip' though. The tripod I'm using now has a leaver/handle that I can just push and move the angle up and down or left to right. Are their heads like that I could buy?

Also, there is this arm ([link]), it's basically the same I think, but I was wondering how it's different. What does it mean by Variable Friction?
`shagie:iconshagie: May 18, 2008, 12:23:15 PM
As you twist the knob, it changes how much resistance to movement there is in the joint.

For heads, I'm not sure. Most all require you to tighten it down to some degree - be it a knob on the side of a ball head or the handles on a 3 way tilt head.

Something like [link] might work (it comes with a pan arm not shown in the B&H picture - [link] ). Not sure how much resistance there is in that design though - its designed for video cameras and the fluid dampening smoothes out moving it around. It might have enough resistance to be able to hold the camera steady.

Given your design requirements you might want to see if you can be in a place that has a variety of heads that you can try and see which one works the best for you.

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Michael (shagie)
~HarlequinMannequin:iconHarlequinMannequin: May 18, 2008, 12:42:46 PM
I'm almost thinking the variable friction arm might be better, because I could tighten it so far and still have the ability to move the joint without have to twist/untwist each time (Am I understanding the mechanism right?) . Or in the case of the other arm lock the lever in place, I'm not sure how it works.

If I went ahead and bought the arm + super clamp, I would be able to go to a camera shop and see what types of heads I could get for it right?
~K00PA-TR00PA:iconK00PA-TR00PA: May 18, 2008, 2:00:39 PM
You might like to look at this: [link] It just appeared in my inbox.

--
"This is the issue :| It's harder than getting a Jehovah's witness to give you a blowjob on the first date... Yes. THAT difficult. ~*astrsk
~HarlequinMannequin:iconHarlequinMannequin: May 18, 2008, 2:38:17 PM
Thank you for the link, though I'm not sure a DIY Magic Arm would be the best for me. I want something that I know will be sturdy enough to hold my camera and be worried about something not holding up and smashing my camera on the ground!
~K00PA-TR00PA:iconK00PA-TR00PA: May 18, 2008, 4:47:54 PM
Yeah, I know what you mean, but I thought maybe it would be useful.

--
"This is the issue :| It's harder than getting a Jehovah's witness to give you a blowjob on the first date... Yes. THAT difficult. ~*astrsk
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