Locking down a magic arm

[flowolf]

I'm using a flexible arm to mount a monitor to my cage but I cannot get it to 'lock' into place. Vertical lock is fine but with heavier accesories the arm will slide sideways on the ball joints. The arm itself seems fine but maybe it's a faulty copy. Does anyone recognize this issue?

 

[Alex H.]

Are you using a decent arm, or a cheap-o version?

And how heavy are these heavier accessories?

 

[flowolf]

It's a decent arm- strange thing is that I have solid lockdown on occasions but this is the first time I am shooting a lot with my rig and my monitor is swinging away from me... Is it the way you screw on the accessories? I'm talking a Z96 LED light or a DP4 monitor.

 

[wgzn]

the problem with the 1/4 20 screw in arms is if there is really ANY counter-clockwise weight on whats mounted, its going to slowly loosen and start to fall.

this is where the value of something like the zacuto z mount is really evident.

 

[jambredz]

or if u dont want to shell out a 100 bucks on the z mount u can go with this from Berkey. http://www.berkeysystem.com/store/15-mm-series/15-mm-right-angle-block/ I did and love it...does the same thing as the zmount but much cheaper...i use them with the zacuto ZUDhttp://store.zacuto.com/zud-1-4-20.html I also use a nut from he hardware store between the ball joint on the arm and the tightening disc thingy . this makes everything solid.