Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi everyone. I was just wondering whether it is possible to do clamshell lighting with PCB light stands/accessories? I want to be able to mount a light to a lower part of the stand, but I don't know if that is possible. Are there 3rd party solutions to this?

Our stands only have one point of mounting, at the top. If you wish to also have a lower poing of mounting, a Bogen Superclamp does a nice job, and can clamp to just about anything, including a lower leg of a light stand. They are about $30US and are availabel at any well stocked photo supplier.

Manfrotto also makes a great SuperClamp. I use them all the time.

Thanks for the replies...

Taking a look at the pictures of the superclamps, I'm guessing that I will need to buy 2 of them? One to clamp to the light stand, and another that will attach to the original clamp? I found a double super clamp locally here: http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoLightingGripSupport/129666/manfrotto-038-double-super-clamp.aspx

Do I need to buy specific boom arms that are compatible with PCB lights, or at they pretty standard?

Again, thanks for the help.

One clamp is all that is needed to attach a light to the lower end of a stand. These clamps have a 1/4-20 thread and a socket for a long spigot. Either way, your light can connect to it (the spigots may need to be ordered seperately, however). Depending on the modifier you wish to use and the position you would like to place the light, articulating the light is a different matter.

As for booms, you will want one that has the 5/8" stud on the end for the light. If mounting to our stands, get one that clamps to the center shaft instead of one that mounts to the stud.

Thanks for all the information.

To update, I got the Manfrotto Superclamp. I needed to buy the extra 5/8" spigot to attach to the clamp and to fit my X1600 on, but having the superclamp seems to give me the freedom to mount a flash unit anywhere, X1600s and speedlites (on provided stands), as long that the clamp can wrap it's claws around it.

It works beautifully. Thanks everyone and thanks PCB support!