Bricks in Motion
We are a friendly filmmaking community devoted to the art of stop-motion animation using LEGO® and similar construction toys. Here, you can share your work, join our community of other brickfilmers, and participate in periodic animation contests!
A place to discuss, share, and create stop motion films.
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So I just got this cool Magic Arm from B & H Photo and Video. 
I love the fact that the movement is not restricted to one side or the other and can swivel in virtually any direction. 
It is also very easy to clamp onto things, thanks to the clamp which had to be ordered separately. My camera is somewhat small, so the Magic Arm is perfect for it. Have any of you brickfilmers ever used one of these before?
Stay tuned for some test shots.
-Blue_Ghost
Wow, that looks very cool indeed. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
Very interesting. Show us some pictures soon. 
That looks like it could be useful if it could be kept stable enough for stop-motion; not just for wild camera movements, but also for obtaining some camera angles more easily.
Yeah, I would never actually make a film with camera movements that wild.
I was just doing that to show the Magic Arm's range of movement.
-Blue_Ghost
Nice! Could be useful if it stays still enough.
That looks like it could be a real help.
Well......
Forget about seeing any fancy camera movements for my entry in THAC.
The entire arm portion of my magic arm has snapped off from the clamp and the brass pin has been sheared. I must say, I am pretty disappointed that it only lasted me just about a week, especially for the price. It is probably just bad luck, as my tripod broke in almost the same way yesterday. 
Heck. I was really looking forward to using this in THAC. My only two options now, at least for using it in THAC, are to call Manfrotto and see if I can get a new brass pin overnighted to my place, or to weld it back together. I think having the pin shipped overnight would cost more than the arm itself.
If those two options fail, I am doomed. Anyone got any suggestions?
EDIT: Both options have failed. Drat.
-Blue_Ghost
Last edited by Blue Ghost (January 2, 2009 (07:31am))
Sorry to hear Steven... 
Yes, I've been using this for some years now, very helpful. It can be seen in the bottem two photos on this page:
http://www.mirkokosmos.net/?p=12
The first arm I owned broke, too, which doesn't give them a very good reputation, I must say. That was the other type though (one with a lever instead of the knob in the middle). One day, the lever just wouldn't fasten the arm any more.
Mirko
Yes, I have the magic arm with the knob in the middle.
I was able to overcome the broken clamp by making a makeshift mount for it.
-Blue_Ghost
Last edited by Blue Ghost (January 4, 2009 (10:37am))
The first arm I owned broke, too, which doesn't give them a very good reputation, I must say.
My recently purchased Manfrotto micropositioning sliding plate is getting nervous.
It's like a little camera dolly, it doesn't have a very wide range of movement but it's very precise.
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