Can I Mount My SB600 To The Non-Justin 175 Manfrotto Clamp?

jhelms

I have the ~$54 Justin Clamp / 175F and use it along with a Joby Gorillapod to mount my SB600's just about anywhere.







I've found that I want another clamp, but think I could get by without the ballhead, which seems to be the expensive part since there is a ~$35+ difference in the regular no-ballhead 175 clamp and the 175F Justin clamp.

Since the SB600 swivels, I'm wondering if I could just stick it on the included Nikon cold shoe foot and then connect it to a regular 175 clamp.

http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/BG2936.jpg

I can't really tell from the product pictures if the regular 175 would allow me to do that - will it?

fotographist

With some doing, yes.
You can attach an umbrella swivel adapter to the side stud and twist it into a knot to get it into whatever orientation you need.
The other way is a bit DIY-ish. Hit up eBay for the cheapest little ballhead you can find ($5.80 with free S+H, like the one found below)
http://www.wmasso.com/pictures/ebay/accessory/miniballhead-1.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=250404107458
Ok, ok, so it's 1.38 inches wide, but stability trumps style sometimes, right?

Then find a cheap shoe mount to screw on the top ($3.95 at mpex.com)
http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/prodimg/LP680.jpg

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,6542.html
Get a washer and a screw that fits in the bottom of the ball head, attach to the clamp at the circular cutout at the end of the handle, and you're rockin'.
If you have, or can get a hold of, a cheap hotshoe adapter, sometimes they have female threads at the bottom, so it can be used in place of the shoe mount.

I think that a $35 jump is pretty ridiculous, especially when you can make a much more stable version yourself much cheaper.

ziggy53

fotographist wrote:

With some doing, yes.
You can attach an umbrella swivel adapter to the side stud and twist it into a knot to get it into whatever orientation you need.
The other way is a bit DIY-ish. Hit up eBay for the cheapest little ballhead you can find ($5.80 with free S+H, like the one found below)
http://www.wmasso.com/pictures/ebay/accessory/miniballhead-1.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=250404107458
Ok, ok, so it's 1.38 inches wide, but stability trumps style sometimes, right?

Then find a cheap shoe mount to screw on the top ($3.95 at mpex.com)
http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/prodimg/LP680.jpg

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,6542.html
Get a washer and a screw that fits in the bottom of the ball head, attach to the clamp at the circular cutout at the end of the handle, and you're rockin'.
If you have, or can get a hold of, a cheap hotshoe adapter, sometimes they have female threads at the bottom, so it can be used in place of the shoe mount.

I think that a $35 jump is pretty ridiculous, especially when you can make a much more stable version yourself much cheaper.

Fotographist, welcome to the Digital Grin.

Very nice idea. Thanks for sharing.

jhelms

Good ideas!

I tried something similar and it's working great so far - I bought some $2 plastic clamps from Lowe's and put a 1/4 x 20 bolt through it. I usually either screw on the Nikon AS-19 plastic cold shoe foot stand or put on a small ball-head that I already had in my box-o-goodies.

Here's a few pics:














I have been using these all the time lately, they really come in handy - here's a shot of the metal one in action:

ziggy53

Great idea John. clap