Grip Kit Secret Weapon.

[ggrantly]

What dimension are the shelves? That is one thing that is always missing.... a good flat surface to hold stuff!.

I started off with a Manfrotto kit which came with a small shelf, ball joint head, and superclamp (see link). Since then I have had several shelves made by sheet metal shops to fit a MBPro and other stuff. 1/8" aluminum makes for a stiff structure, especially so if you have them roll each edge about 1/2" with a box brake. Add a female baby plate and bodabing, a nice shelf to your own dimension. The cost for the sheared and formed aluminum in the laptop size range is about $35 and I have been using Avenger baby plates like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/570226-REG/Avenger_F301_F301_Baby_Wall_Plate.html

Manfrotto offers this kit which is a decent value, but the shelf is pretty small:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555507-REG/Manfrotto_311K_311K_Video_Monitor_Holder.html

If you use zinc-chromate primer and flat black laquer, it looks great. If you want a more exotic finish, have it power coated = $$. On the shelf surface, I add HD velcro to secure my MBPro, wireless, mixer, etc.

Grant

 

[Ken Hull]

An outlet tester that I got many years ago at Radio Shack. It's small and fits in my pocket, so it's always available when I'm on location and want to see if an outlet has power.
Also, some Velcro tie-wraps I got at Harbor Freight. Not just for tying up cables when packing them away; they can secure things like a headphone cable to the tripod leg, so it won't won't pull out.
- Ken