Wimberley Plamp II PP-200

Product Information

Lenses – Should have no marks on the elements andoptically clear. There may be light dust present that will not effect theimagery. When shooting flowers for example there are several issues – the main problem is wind – even very mild wind (sometimes wind you can’t even feel or see) can move a flower and make for an unsharp image. The Plamp II special notch on the inside of the top clamp is ideal for gripping onto the stem of a flower and holding it without any movement. Zytel ST (Super tough) nylon offers nearly unbreakable clip jaws in even the most extreme conditions. Cameras – LCD screen is heavily worn either by de-lamination or has scratches to it. Rubber grips are starting to come away from the body.

For what its worth, I have had some success combining the Plamp with "chenille" from craft supply stores; what we used to call "pipe cleaners". I use the Plamp to hold the chenille, then carefully wrap the chenille around the the plant stem or whatever. Frankly, this doesn't fully solve the vibration problem, but it is easier to reposition the flower (or whatever) than having to move the articulated segments of the Plamp. I also found that even the small clamp on the end of the Plamp would tend to crush non-woody stems, and I don't like doing that. So the chenille avoids that problem as well. Whether you use your Wimberley Plamp as a clamp for macro photography, a third hand for photography, or as a flexible clamp for another purpose, it's an interesting gadget you can have fun with. Our used products are subject to wear and tear in comparison to brand new products. This also applies to accessories that are supplied with the camera including batteries which may have a lower optimum performance level/life expectancy. I'm sure you can come up with your own creative uses for your plamp. these are just a few of the uses that have worked well for me. There are other options out there too. I bought the Wimberly Plamp II for two reasons.

reflectors, generally held in most positions and not fully cantilevered out, can be held and positioned confidently with a single Plamp II. Diffusers can be cantilevered above your subject using one Plamp, however it is pushing the limits of the Plamp’s holding capacity. Holding notch in the clip grabs the steel rim on large and small reflectors providing a secure slip-free attachment (applies to typical cloth reflectors with steel ring hoop). Today we have an unconventional accessory for you, one we had a chance to review over the past few weeks (and – spoiler alert – utterly enjoy). This accessory is called Plamp II and it is a flexible clamp designed to hold delicate objects such as flowers.

Larger arm diameter makes it possible to clamp to another Plamp offering versatile positioning and extension. Use the Plamp to stabilize windblown subjects, adjust the position or angle of your subject, or move obstructing foliage. The Wimberley Plamp is a very useful tool that always travels with me in the field. I use the Plamp to hold a subject like a flower while I photograph it, steady a subject in the wind, and even hold a card to shade my lens to eliminate flare. It works like a third hand.”

Other Camera Accessory REviews

Can you also use it in the studio to hold reflectors, diffusers and other accessories – well, unlike what we said in the video – we discovered that you actually can – at least smaller ones although we still feel that Wimberley could have made the top clamp removable and create a larger – dedicated diffuser/reflector holder (for example one with two “hands” that can hold the diffuser in two separate places). This would have made the design of the Plamp 2 much more flexible (allowing for even more future updates/clamp types for specialized uses. So let’s sum up our short experience with the plamp II. We have used this flexible clamp for a few weeks now. It is very well built and the design of both the Plamp and the accessories is very simple and straight forward and it does exactly what it suppose to do – which is basically letting you hold a flower either outside or in the studio in a very flexible way with close to zero movement. Larger LocLine elements in the articulating arm create a sturdier and more durable product while still retaining flexibility and precise positioning for heavier objects. The clip's arched recess reliably grips larger cylindrical objects (e.g. small flashlights, branches, etc.) Lenses – The lens has dust inside that may affect images. The rubber zoom/focus ring is coming away from the barrel of the lens.

Use the Plamp in the field and you will certainly get a few strange looks from passers-by. It’s not a common sight in Hertfordshire. The Plamp is very easy to use. The best clamping points are those not connected to the camera. Unless you weight your tripod, vibrations may be transferred and cause unwanted camera movement. A sturdy fence or such like makes the best anchor point. If you don’t want to risk damage to delicate stems, you can use something soft, but non-slip around the stem and attach the ends to the Plamp. It's highly effective at preventing the movement of stems in a breeze and will permit flower or other macro photography in less than perfect conditions. Keeping the arm as short as possible will reduce vibrations. It's possible to remove some of the segments and shorten the arm. I experimented with one straw length and two straw lengths and what I found was that I could wind the pair of pipe cleaners around the lens and angle it so that it was not in the shot to hold the straw out straight and then if I was taking a picture of a flower then wind the other end cleaner around the stem or somesuch. Call it a flexible friend. It can make a big difference to photography on days when there’s a nuisance breeze blowing. It can also be used to support a reflector to throw a bit of soft light onto your subject. It’s highly portable and with a little bit of practice, is easy to use. Finally there is a way to stabilise those aggravating windblown subjects! The Plamp II is an easily positionable arm which can be used to hold macro subjects and other useful objects. One end of the Plamp clamps to your tripod while the other grasps the object. One day in the field with a Plamp (or two) and you will begin to realise its full potential. The Wimberley Plamp II is a must for any macro enthusiast. We love macro photography (just watch our super macro extensive article here on LensVid). One thing every experienced macro photography knows is that you will need to learn to improvise – especially ways to hold small items in a delicate way as well as lights in an easy, flexible way close to your subject.I consider the Plamp to be a necessary piece of equipment for serious wildflower photographers and recommend it highly. I am adding it to the equipment list on all the workshops I conduct where wildflower photography is anticipated." It was designed specifically for macro photography and I wanted a lightweight tool, easy to carry, and effective at helping me concentrate to taking great photos.

Diffusers can be cantilevered above your subject using one Plamp, however it is pushing the limits of the Plamp’s holding capacity Wimberley is a well known American photography accessory manufacturer from Virginia which some of you might recognize from their professional gimbals line. As it happens the company also makes a few other accessories including the Plamp II clamp (yes, it is an improved second generation – hence the II). The video above is a summery of our experience with this clamp.

Cheaper alternative (not DIY) to Wimberley Plamp?

Any review of the Wimberley Plamp should include its weaknesses too and I only know of two shortcomings. The first weakness is that the plamp is quite stiff when you first get one. This makes it challenging to make very minute changes in its exact position. Wimberley Plamp 2. One end of the Plamp clamps to your tripod while the other grasps the object. Use the Plamp to stabilize windblown subjects, adjust the position or angle of your subject, or move obstructing foliage. You can also use the Plamp to hold reflectors and lens shades. One day in the field or studio with a Plamp and you will begin to realize its full potential. If you need more reach (e.g. if you are using a 180mm or 200mm macro lens), you have three options. The first option is to attach the Plamp to an object other than your own tripod. The second option is to extend one of the legs of your tripod toward your subject and then attach the PLamp further down the leg of your tripod and thus closer to your subject. The third option is to extend the length of your Plamp by adding extra links to its arm. The trade-off to adding extra length to your Plamp is that it becomes less rigid. One end of the Plamp clamps to your tripod while the other grasps the object. Use the Plamp to stabilize windblown subjects, adjust the position or angle of your subject, or move obstructing foliage. You can also use the Plamp to hold reflectors and lens shades. One day in the field with a Plamp and you will begin to realize its full potential. And now, the newly redesigned Plamp II is even better. 12"Plamp Extension The last part is the main clamp. It has a very interesting design which includes 3 different areas – the first is a rod holder (for holding a an accessory rod+clamp – more on that below), foam holder (for a firm grip of very thin objects with no damage) and a special notch (which is maybe the most important part – we shall talk about it more below).