I hope someone had a basement office full of photos of you and the magic arms with red string connecting them all together trying to figure out the Gerald easter egg conspiracy.
Despite you saying "these are just magic arms and clamps" I found this video really useful... It's a bit of a rabbit hole to go down when shopping for this type of gear, and barely anyone has useful videos on em! So thanks, Gerald :D
I always tell people, “Buy your third tripod, first”. I’ve bought countless cheap pieces of camera/lighting support and always ended up spending the cash for the quality equipment in the end - costing much me more in the end. Thanks for reviewing these, Gerald, it’s time to save up for these. Let’s hope they get a Canadian distributor soon (and our dollar recovers a bit). Remember these are your camera’s insurance against gravity!
These look really solid, with a clever quick release system. Thanks for the review. I can see grabbing a couple of these for situations where I want something fixed. In the video, I hear the term friction arm being used a bunch. These arms are rosette arms, really, and as you mentioned, with pretty solid teeth. For really fixed uses, these look great. I think the advantage of an actual friction arm like the Bright Tangerine, Matthews, Manfrotto, etc, is that depending on how tight you crank it, you can have different degrees of movable tension. For monitors and such, that's nice - being able to make adjustments without grabbing the crank, all the while having things stay put when you want them to. Anyway, different tools for different scenarios. The best true friction arms (Like Bright Tangerine) also stay put once cranked hard. However, they can also be set with less tension and used as mentioned above. Just thought that it would have been useful to mention the two different systems, the advantages of each, and that there are good quality vs poor quality versions in each category.
Discovered iFootage by chance a week ago and these arms are a godsend. Years of frustration went “poof” in a matter of seconds when I understood the versatility of their quick release heads and the overall build quality. The longer one is a permanent fixture on my camera and my monitor is now STABLE in any configuration. Worth every cent, even when buying from Canada.
Hi - I need to attach a Sony A7R5 to a wooden serving tray (to show food being served) - would I go for the second model Gerald showed us plus a clamp.
As someone that constantly uses a 7" monitor attached to a rig, the quick releases on these look like a fantastic timesaver. Thank you for bringing them to my attention, instant purchase from me!
I ordered an SA-32 and an MA 3-4. Probably should have ordered a second MA 3-4 as well. While your review clued me into them ( and used the UNDONE discount code) I had already been very impressed by the SeaStars Q1 and the Cobra2 180 monopod. What they need to make clearer, and I could only infer from your video, is which connectors are included. It would be great if they made a baby pin receiver and maybe even a baby pin attachment.
I’ve been using a couple manfrotto arms for the past year and have been a bit surprised with how much even they sag. Gonna snag one of the midsize ones of these
I just received the 11inch ifootage arm today and it’s hands down the best arm I’ve ever purchased. SUPER solid and brilliant design. Totally worth the money 👍🏻💪
FANTASTIC! Finally a good and clever solution. Thanks Gerald. Bought all of them but not the LT versions. This is brilliant. With your EU link and discount code
That extension arm is exactly what I'm looking for for my purposes. I've been looking for some kind of blend of a magic arm and an extension and it extends further than anything else, which helps the situation!. iFootage comes in clutch again! I already have the monopod with the claw stand and it's sooooo good and solid! They know what's good, and I don't consider the higher quality to really be breaking the bank either. Thanks for talking about these things! I wouldn't have found it otherwise, at least as soon!
Having spent hundreds on boxes full of friction arms and related mounts, only to wind up mostly disappointed - I will certainly take a close look at these next time I buy. I agree that paying more, ONCE, is much better than the try-cry-try again method!
Ah finally some good arms!! Gerald I particularly enjoyed the shots of you straining to bend them, one of those should definitely have been the thumbnail 😂
We've used both the Small rig and wooden camera friction arms and both have failed while under their maximum load multiple times. We actually had to rebuild the wooden camera one with washers and new stuff inside because it wasn't covered by their warranty and buying it again was like $150. I'll have to give these a shot!
I'm Gerald Undone and I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's son. I'm only plucking pheasants till the pheasant plucking's done! *Has to be said as fast as possible
Excellent. I really enjoyed watching this video about things which are to clamp something to something else. One day I might have two somethings and then I'm sure they'll be really useful.
Great content as always, thanks for the quick detailed impressions! I’m sure I’ll talk myself into needing some of these in the future, love their gear.
How do they compare to noga arms? Every other friction arm I've used is pale in comparison. It was so frustrating so I finally cracked and bought a single cine arm for $100 and haven't looked back.
Awesome! The Smallrig arms have bugged the sh*t out of me. I love my iFootage monopod and tripod, so getting these is a no-brainer. Great review, Gerald - thanks.
Man - just got two of these. They are PRICEY but they are some SOLID kit. Those jaws on the elbow joint are huge and the quick release system on the ma series seems really well engineered. But also expensive. But so sweet.
If these had been out a couple years ago I probably wouldn't have splurged on Noga arms and a mix of Noga and 16x9 QRs. These seem to occupy a really nice intermediate point between the Smallrigs and the "high-end" arms. One thing I really like about the Nogas is that the center joint is entirely friction-based, with no detents. Apparently it isn't cheap to make a joint like that that can hold up to the weight, though.
Sad to see this video end. Weldone, Gerald. Gotta get me some. Great carnivorous teeth with unforgiving bight. Red flash never gets old. Works for me toenails. Sets off the Birkenstocks!
I love the ifootage equipment, I bought the c-180 monopod in your recommendation and love it, yes is a premium price but it’s way above and beyond anything else 👍🏻
Hi Gerald - good coverage. We just published our own review of the spider crabs - we also love them (we had them for almost a year). Did you notice any difference between the pre-production ones and the production units?
Super, and I really enjoy this unscripted stuff. Like a sense of discovery and less rambly. The product is very expensive considering this is something you would need a few of. Would have been cool if it came as a kit. Say a telecopic arm, a couple of clamps, some shorter and some longer magic arms and those superb quick release/ends
Those LT versions, because they have that 1/4 inch screw at one end would rotate. One of the biggest annoyances is camera mounted monitors that constantly spin around.
Gerald. You have no idea. I literally ruined the ball head mount on the top of my iFootage monopod trying to figure out how to mount something with1/4 thread. Thankfully they sell the whole thing separately. I had ZERO clue that the larger thread was spring loaded to reveal the amall thread beneath. That one second of this video made things so much easier. THANK YOU!
Awesome content as always! I would like to suggest a video idea, I've investigating different camera brands, types and models and their nomenclature is often a nightmare. A video categorizing the current lineups within each brand by targeted buyer could be incredibly useful. Love your channel btw
Excellant review as per usual Gerald thanks for that. Quick question though. I need to attach my Tascam sound recorder to my tripod when out filming wildlife. Don't need the versatility of the expensive MA arms and liking the LT 4-5 arm, can it be used with the pipe clamp on the SA one which are available seperately or are the ends fixed. Thanks
These genuinely look like amazing products and would solve a lot of my filmmaking problems. Unfortunately, the EU store isn't delivering to the UK by the looks of things which is a shame as I would have definitely bought one of the big SA-32 arms. :(
These look fantastic, definitely going to be switching to these over time. I will say though, the SmallRig small arm I bought a couple months ago (same size you had as your example) did have an O ring in a recessed groove similar to the iFootage one.
A selection of a few high quality magic arms is definitely on my gear wish list! These arms have steep prices for sure, but, as with every tool I own, I want my daily drivers to be of outstanding quality, and keep the cheap tools for the occasions where I need a few more than normal. Soon, soon... Also, thanks for the quick bit on CDN shipping - hopefully your affiliate codes will still be active once they get that sorted!
My iFootage magic arm MA-3-4 and SA-32 just arrived. Great stuff. So strong and the double safety lock works great. I used your "UNDONE" discount code. Mr. Undone, will you please suggest to iFootage that as well as the"cold foot" head included with the shorter magic arms that they make an actual cold shoe clamp , preferably with a recessed channel in the center so pins in a hotshot type flash do not ground on the metal body of the clamp? Also I'd like to see a head with a baby pin receiver.
Great timing on this video... I just bought a handful of the SmallRig magic arms. Lol One note though all of the SmallRig magic arms that I received have O-rings on the mounting ends instead of the large rubber pads. That must have been a recent design revision.
I find it difficult to conceptualise how to set these up - how to put something together.. Would you mind doing it all in one studio stand using these products?
Just stumbled over this. Coming from the pro area of camera, never heard of iFootage before. The look very good and my criticizm about this video would be that they are NOT expensive. They might be more expensive than SmallRig, who happens to be one of those that turned the accessory industry upside down. And that‘s about it - there are others you might want to have a look at if you think these are expensive (e.g. Bright Tangerine, wonderful stuff), THEN you might get an idea about expensive (and thinking about it, they are not expensive as well, they are just rediculously perfectly machined and priced accordingly). Apart from that, thanks for introducing me to the brand.
I have the small rig ones and they feel super tough and stable, a bit too much so as they are very heavy to bring when travelling! What are you attaching to them!?
This is awesome! I normally look for magic arms that use 15mm sockets as that has been really easy to use. If they can get a double ended arm with those awesome sockets or once they get accessories to purchase so both arms can have locator pins and not the cold shoe mount. Overall I cant wait for more accessories for this arm, seems like a similar ecosystem like BT without spending 400 dollars!
I would love to see you do a "Canadian Camera Shopping" video. Things like how Nikon Canada and Nikon USA are different companies, and the warranty doesn't cross the border. What you can actually get in Canada, vs. what is going to be a challenge (for example, Rokinon doesn't have a Canadian distributor). Amazon is generally not an authorized seller, but a company selling VIA Amazon may be....do your research. Things like this.
As someone who's been relying on the SmallRig ones (which I like), I definitely recognize they have limits, and I need something stronger for a few use cases. So already ordering something.
What I don't get is how to attach a camera on sideways to TC6 in order to take photos over objects on a table or landscape photos over the edge of a cliff, for example?
Got to check these out! I went whole hog a couple of years back and bought infinity arms instead - not sure if the cost to performance is quite there, but they have help up beautifully in super harsh conditions. I would like another cost effective alternative as an option for lighter work though :)
Question for all of you here: Remember when years ago there was a few brands that were game changers? Aputure, edelkrone, smallrig... Do you think now it's ifootage, godox, ulanzi...?
I was really excited for these! Until iFootage told me there would be no way to get clamps for the spider crabs without buying the telescoping pole support. "We don't have plans to offer the clamps separately..." drastically reduces the usefulness of these crab arms if we can't buy clamps for them.
Yeah because they are a Chinese manufacturer that knock of customers products from which they order from them then sell themselves directly. They used to be in manufacturing only but then decided to sell directly themselves out of China. They used to get orders from customers (importers/distributions) in America but then decided they could do better without the middle man.
I have spent 12 years looking for something that actually works. I've hated every single articulating arm I've ever owned. Buying 2 of these right now.
I really want to buy a couple of these, but at $40 shipping that 5% off isn't going to cut it. Hopefully they get Canadian logistics figured out (or stock at B&H) soon.
Okay, those arms look excellent and price is not a factor with me when I am getting quality items. I want to replace the Smallrig monitor mount for my Ronin RS2. Smallrig only works with a 5” monitor and I like my 7” Feelworld but it runs into my gimbal rig. This would allow me to mount the monitor at any angle. How would I connect it to the side area on the RS2? A small cheese plate. I would like to know if there are other ways of connecting these magic arms. Thanks
