Accessories

I already had a Manfrotto Magic Arm, but wanted to try the Manfrotto arm with a friction knob for tightening, and I can only recommend this model over the somewhat awkward Magic Arm with its very tight lever and its definite on-off tightening. The friction arm allows for some fine adjustments under tension and a final and very firm tightening using the oversize knob.

The Roundflash is a very neat and practical Polish ringflash adapter, which collapses and expands like a Lastolite reflector. It's made from fabric and is kept in shape by steel bands that can be bent and curled to enable the Roundflash to fit in a very small bag when packed. It's nice and works very well as a ringflash as well as a general softbox for smaller subjects.

A swan neck style arm that fits onto a Super Clamp. Not stiff enough to hold anything substatial - and almost unable to hold itself with no load. Place it in a certain position, and it will slowly creep to somewhere else. It's basically useless for cameras and will definitely shift if moved or shaken. It can be OK for static work and really light loads like small flashes or reflectors, but nothing heavier. Go for a Manfrotto Friction Arm in stead if you want something flexible that can actually hold stuff.

The Magic (AKA Holding) Arm isn't really magic at all, but a jointed arm that locks with a snap and can hold even a large SLR. It's paired with a Super Clamp. Today I much prefer the Friction Arm over this one. This Magic Arm's magic has broken on me twice and is awkward and hard to use with its very firm locked/unlocked positions, which often require a harrowing amount of force to tighten and untighten, and in my case often gives off some nasty grinding sounds.