Review on 🖤 Black Manfrotto 196AB-3 3-Section Single Articulated Arm (Without Camera Bracket) - Enhanced for Better SEO by Matthew Wheeler

I bought two of these brackets to mount a pair of Neewer LED lights to my desk using Manfrotto Super Clamps. I have used Manfrotto Super Clamp and Manfrotto Magic Arm with variable friction for holding cameras in the past and they have worked great. I thought the Manfrotto 196AB-3 3-piece swing arm was supposed to be a cheaper way to support my new lights, but it just doesn't cut it. The manufacturer's specifications state that the mounts are rated up to 2.2lbs at maximum extension and my lights weigh 2.0lbs. I found that the pivot clamps on these arms don't clamp tight enough that the whole thing wouldn't tip over at the bottom pivot if the center of gravity was anywhere other than directly over the super clamp. Even with the arms folded to have a reach equivalent to a 1 or 2 piece arm, they cannot satisfactorily handle my 2 pound LED bulbs. They are fully extended horizontally, but I can say they are nowhere near manufacturer specs. Instead I plan to save up and order a pair of variable friction magic hands. I tried attaching one of my lights to the Magic Arm Camera Adapter and it held the weight with no problem. When you simply don't need to maintain a little tuft of feathers, save your money and spend more on the Variable Friction Magic Arm. Instead of. They don't have the same reach and weigh more in your pockets, but they can actually carry useful weight when oriented horizontally.