Arm Segments & Clamps for Underwater Photography

ULTRALIGHT'S NEW BUOYANCY ARMS
2.5 TIMES MORE BUOYANT

Large Buoyancy double ball arm segments were designed for the heavy Digital SLR housings and video housing.
They are 2" in diameter and constructed the same as the regular buoyancy arms.
They range in size from 8" to 16" in 2" increments to be able to add just the amount of buoyancy you need
to offset the weight of the housing and strobes or lights.

Arm Length Amount of buoyancy per arm length
8" (DB-BL08) 4.5 oz
10" (DB-BL10) 8 oz
12" (DB-BL12) 11 oz
14" (DB-BL14 14.8 oz
16" (DB-BL16) 1 pound 2 oz.

 

With two arm lengths, 1 AC-CSB, 2 AC-CSF, and 1 strobe adapter and 1 base adapter these are the calculations:
You will need to add in the weight of your strobes underwater to these calculations to get you to the buoyancy you need.

Arm lengths Amount of Buoyancy with parts listed above
Two 8" neutral
8" & 10" 1.75 oz
Two 10" 7 oz
10" & 12" 8.3 oz
Two 12" 11.2 oz
12" & 14" 15 oz.
Two 14" 1 pound 3 oz
14" & 16"
 1 pound 6 oz
Two 16" 1 pound 9 oz.

The new style clamp (AC-CSB) is needed to put between the two new arms if you want the arms to come together.
This clamp weighs 1.3 oz more than the regular clamp.

Salt water is approximately 1.026X more dense than fresh water.
All these tests were done in fresh water


Shows the size difference between the original buoyancy arms
and the new ones and the old clamp and the new clamp

An Ultralight arm generally consists of two arms segments and three clamps giving you the greatest flexibility. Videographers sometimes use just one arm segment and two clamps. They do not need the same amount of flexibility as a still photographer does.

The o-ring in the balls of the arms, base adapters, and strobe adapters eliminates the metal to metal contact. This allows a much more linear clamping force, allowing you to control the arm movement when used with small or large strobes even in varying current conditions.

The ball size of our arms and adapters is 1" or 25mm.

Arm and Clamps for Underwater Photography
Example of two arm segments and three clamps
Arm and Clamps for Underwater Photography
Double ball arm segments
  • DB-03 - very short arm, look like small dumbells, used for macro photography
  • DB-05 - short arm, used for macro photography
  • DB-08 - medium length arm, used for macro or wide angle photography
  • DB-12 - long arm, used for wide angle photography
  • DB-16 - very long arms, used for super wide angle photography

See weight & length page for different combinations

Buoyancy double ball arm segments - were designed for users of heavy cameras and housings. They are constructed of aluminum tubing with the ball ends press fit and glued in. Air trapped inside allows them to be buoyant. See weight & length page for comparisons.
  • DB-B08 - medium length use for macro or wide angle photography
  • DB-B12 - long arm, used for wide angle photography
  • DB-B16 - very long arm, used for super wide angle photography
Arm and Clamps for Underwater Photography
Arm and Clamps for Underwater Photography
Single ball arm segments (top to bottom)
Single ball arm segments - allows you to use one less clamp in the arm set; but reduces flexibility at the strobe head or base
  • SBDT-5 - Single ball 5” arm with a dovetail at the base. Will fit the BA-DB dovetail shoe
  • SBNK-8 - Single ball 8” arm with a Nikonos SB 102,103,105 strobe adapter at the other end
  • SBSS-8 - Single ball 8” arm with a Sea and Sea strobe adapter at the other end
  • SBSS-5 - Single ball 5” arm with a Sea and Sea strobe adapter at the other end

Our most popular arm set consists of a base adapter, two 8” arms segments, three clamps, and a strobe adapter. This arm set is used for both macro and wide angle photography.

Clamps - These clamps are what holds the system together and gives it flexibility. Think of your own arms with the three joints and that is in essence what you have with your strobe arm.

AC-CS - Standard clamp is used to attach two arms, base adapters, and strobe adapters together AC-CSF - This new style clamp is constructed slightly different than the original clamp. This clamp allows 15 degrees side to side movement of the balls. AC-TCS - Triple clamp - replaces a regular clamp in an arm set, allowing use of a flashlight or Ikelite TTL slave (below) or Ikelite flashmeter (see accessories).
Arm and Clamps for Underwater Photography
Arm and Clamps for Underwater Photography
Arm and Clamps for Underwater Photography

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Phone: 805.484.3334 - Fax: 805.984.3008
Email: info@ulcs.com

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