Flexi Vs Double Ball & Clamps

Which is better?

At Sea Tech, we often get asked about flexiarms vs double ball arms and clamps. Double ball arms and clamps tend to be quite expensive, and if you're looking at forking out hundreds for lights or strobes, it's understandable you might want to save a little money elsewhere. (Especially as we usually don't recommend lighting as an area to "cut corners" and instead usually advise buying the best lighting you can afford.)

Flexiarms

Why choose flexiarms (AKA Locline)?

Aside from a situation where it's a specific fitting (ie., Ikelite has some flexi fittings for the Gamma torch), the reasons to choose flexiarms would usually fall into a few categories: to save money; to keep things simple; and less commonly, to keep your rig lighter.

All this aside, flexiarms are a great choice for beginners or people who are otherwise avoiding complexity.

Pros

Save money
Keep it simple
Not as heavy
Can be easier with non-ball fittings (ie YS).

Cons

Not as versatile
Can move in strong currents
Might not be the best option for larger/heavier lighting
Might end up being replaced with double ball and clamp eventually anyway.

Double Ball Arms & Clamps

Why choose double ball arms & clamps?

We tend to refer to these as the "gold standard" in underwater photography. Double ball arms are without a doubt the professional-level arm, and while they cost a little more, we would definitely recommend these with a larger/heavier light or strobe.

They are a bit more complicated, not only with different length arm segments, but also different types of clamps: standard clamps, long clamps, triple clamps, clamps with auxillary mounts... the list goes on. This, though, is part of what makes them versatile. Protip: Use standard clamps unless there's a specific need for something else. (Or otherwise advised by us!)

Obviously clamps are only a part of the picture since there's a world of fittings and mounts to choose from depending on how're you're setting things up and what you need to mount.

Note: If everything is getting too negatively buoyant, check out buoyancy arms (AKA Float arms).

Pros

Can be locked down to resist strong currents
More versatile
May be easier to maneuver underwater
Can add dioptre holders and other accessories
Lasts longer.

Cons

More Expensive
Weightier on land
Can be tricky to set up
Must be set up properly.

Notes on set up

It's easy to forget, when you're assembling your rig on land, in what can be a surprisingly tricky operation (luckily it usually only needs to be done once), that under the water if you need to lock down your arms or loosen a clamp so you can move an arm, that the clamps must be facing you! So when you're doing your initial set up remember what direction you'll be facing when you're underwater taking pictures!

Dual Beam Lights!

Wide beam and narrow beam all in one! Handy dandy! More over at Sea Tech. Ranging from 10 to 120 degrees!

Happy to help.

Need anything? You can find us over at our website! Email or call, we're happy to help!
www.seatech.co.nz