Manfrotto 035RL Super Clamp with Standard Stud

I wanted rock-solid support for my camera in situations where space and speed were important, also for intermittent repeat shots taken from precisely the same vantage point over a period of months and for long exposures/bulb shots. Tripods and monopods came with various trade-offs. I found this clamp and bought it on the basis of both the specifications and the reviews. It can be used for a range of things, and has a supplementary screw mount as well as the stud. But I only use the stud and for my camera equipment. Not all things have degrees of goodness. They either completely work or they completely don't work. This is something that works 100%. Italian made. A simple but high quality industrial standard of build and materials. A good instruction leaflet, in case you lose your intuitive powers. It's a little chunky to fit in a pocket and, according to specs, weighs 1.2 pounds. So, if you pack it it in a camera case with lenses etc., make sure they are protected from it. The jaws open to a max capacity of 1.25 inches. Without the wedge adaptor - but with care - I managed to secure it to a 2.6 inch board and again to a 3/8 inch thick flange. And, of course, it will accommodate a pipe, or similar shape, up to at least 2 inch diameter. When you tighten them, take care that you don't crush something. The stud holds the camera about an inch above the clamp. For me, that was enough to clear any obstructions. One end of the stud has a standard quarter-inch thread for your camera etc.. The other end is hexagonal to mate with the clamp. The clamp has a quick-release press-in knob and a well-sized thumbscrew to secure the stud completely. So, you can remove the camera and stud to rotate them or stow them; that's a form of quick release, if you're happy with the length of the stud in the camera. However, I've used a ball head and quick-release plate - both Cullmann - for over 20 years, so I wanted to transfer them to this clamp. They did. The whole setup is as good as it gets. There are other adaptors and accessories that you could use to mount camera, flash, reflector, etc. simultaneously. The thumbscrew also secures a removable wedge, which fits into one jaw of the clamp and turns it from something to use on a pipe to one on, e.g., a tabletop or plank. I had a minor quibble with the thumbscrew. It can get in the way of your fingers when securing the clamp to an object. But it's not impossible to deal with; I soon adapted to it. A little more thought at the design stage would have avoided this. You can use the clamp anywhere there's a lump of the right dimensions. I've used it on a table top, deck rail, car steering wheel, branch, chair leg, door, etc. This clamp is as reliable and immovable as the thing you secure it to. No duck tape required unless it gives you pleasure. I wish I'd bought one sooner, and recommend it without hesitation.

This takes ALL of the hassle out of mounting your DSLR or iPhone/Android as a camera to shoot video (clamp this to anything anywhere and you are good to go in less than 30 seconds). I bought this because I was tired of messing around with the standard generic spring "smart phone spring loaded clamp" that you see everywhere. They are easy to use and about 99 cents on ebay, but I actually value my phone, and after a few times of those things almost losing their grip on my iPhone while I was shooting video or product shots I realized that 99 cents versus replacing this overpriced iPhone was not a tradeoff I could live with. I even tried the Square Jellyfish (don't - just don't). This clamp is a monster. If you are at all serious about filming with your iPhone, Android, or DSLR and you need a reliable way to get your "camera" (or phone) to remain motionless while you shoot this is what you need. It may seem like overkill at first, especially when you compare it to those cute little spring clips, but once those spit your phone out because you bumped into it while adjusting focus you will come to see how amazing this thing is. It clamps ANYWHERE. You can mount your iPhone to a branch, or a broomstick (if you don't have a monopod), or to a tripod, a C-stand, literally anywhere. The adjustment knob/handle spins easily for quick expansion and the jaws open ridiculously wide - I believe well over 45 degrees (I didn't use a protractor). I was a bit hesitant about buying something so industrial, but this will last me a lifetime, and all of the instructional videos I make in the future will be a lot easier because I am not fighting with my equipment - I am just getting the shot. To me, that is what really counts; doing what I do instead of wrestling with crappy equipment (which I have done far too much of already - being on a budget). I really think you will like this thing. Thanks for reading this.

I couldn't help myself. I'm a little OCD, apparently, but since I have one of these I just couldn't bring myself to buy one of the knockoff models I've seen online. I have two matching Manfrotto clamps. The quality is there; these things will last decades with even slight care. Plus, the attachments on the imitations don't match exactly, either. That's important to know if you're OCD like me or you use the attachments for...well, you know...attaching things.

If you don't have one of these and you occassionally find yourself looking for a place to put a flash or your camera somewhere where a light stand or tripod isn't practical, then you should try this clamp. It has huge jaws that will clamp to the edge of a 2x4 or bigger down to bery thin material if necessary. The v-shaped jaw also allows it to clamp effectively to almost any round pipe -- but be careful that you don't crank it down so tight that you collapse one of your light-stand shafts. Difficult to figure out (and un-documented in paper that comes wtih the clamp) is a small plastic wedge-shaped "filler" device that can be secured in the "V" of the jaw in order to make plug the V and make one side of the jaw flat. That actually helps the devide grab more firmly to a shelf or wall of a cabinet when there's not enough room to slide the clamp all the way onto the shelf (all the way back to the hinge side of the jaw). The wedge is stored out-of-the-way at the base of the smaller t-shaped knob. That standard stud is the key piece of the clamp and is what you'll mount any kind of ballhead or just a flash hotshoe. The stud is also secured into it's slot on the edge of the clamp using that smaller t-shaped knob. One end has threaded male tip that fits a hotshoe and the other end is slightly larger and fits the sometime larger opening of a ballhead mount -- like the bolt on top of your tripod. Other Manfrotto studs will also fit the same slot where this stud mounts, but they'll need to be any of the studs that have a hexagonal base (not one of the round ones). Therefore, if you need a female stud mounted to the clamp so that you can do something like mount this sideways to the top of a tripod & then use the jaws to grab something, that's the kind of versatility you have with this clamp. Manfrotto's web site has several documents (catalogs & product data sheets) that show the many different ways that this clamp can be used. Once you get one, you'll realize you can probably use 2 or more in your lighting kits.

Product arrived in a sealed amazon package but inside was clamp package was already opened damaged and missing stud. Thankfully customer service was very helpful and rectified the situation promptly. Great product great customer service but bad packaging overall still 5 stars

I purchased the 035RL clamp with the understanding that the 'RL' designation was for the 'Ratcheting Lever' functionality in addition to the rest of the great features of this clamp. Unfortunately, it does not ratchet. The handle simply rotates the tightening screw directly--the screw is attached permanently to the handle. So I will have to deal with that limitation if I run into a situation when needing to use the clamp in tight spaces, but I haven't had to do that so far. Other than that, the clamp works great. I am using it in conjunction with the 244 Variable Friction Magic Arm (reviewed separately with more info about intended purpose and examples) to provide a highly versatile and super-stable support when a tripod can not be used or when it is deemed a more practical setup.

Kinda the industry standard (one of 'em, anyway) so they're what you expect - they do a good job, they hold well, stay clamped and stable, they're-heavy duty. These clamps have removable, easy to change, pins and 1/4" threads on the clamp heads that allow you to thread in magic arms or whatever rigging uses 1/4" so plenty of flexibility in that option, alone. The included insert allows one to clamp on flat surfaces, or remove it and you can squeeze round stuff like c-stands, you can even use the pin to attach one clamp to another, offering even more versatility.

Absolutely neat. One of these connects to most surfaces , strong grip versatile and can attach extra things to this , like an extender or screw on clips as well

Solid and dependable

The item was shipped without the Standard Stud. Its completely useless for the intended purpose.

Had been looking for this for a very long time. Finally got the perfect fit

Very sturdy clamp but stud was missing. The product package was open inside but outside packaging was intact

This is a must have for any home / studio setup, it can carry heavy equipment (Like Flashlights, Continuous lights or any other thing) I mounted Godox SL300 (very heavr flash) and AD 600 and they work fine, once it locks, it DOES NOT rotate the equipment, which give you stability and peace of mind. It has an adaptor to mount to flat surfaces too (Table,edge...etc) or any rod...