New Arca-type Lever Clamp from FLM

[Ari]

Yes, we're no longer in 2009, we now have our own lever clamp that is also Arca-compatible.
Very strong and secure, this is only the first of three clamps.

This clamp is the QLB-50. We'll also have the QLB-60 and QLB-80 later this year.
The QLB-50 should be available by August 1, 2021.

Video:


https://youtu.be/3dzmSqmH8Ew

And some more details: https://www.flmcanada.com/product/flm-srb-60-clamp-eta-07-31-2021/

Thank you

[cowanw]

Ari, is the top of the clamp ( and the knob and the lever) completely flush such that the clamp might sit under the bed of say, a Deardorff?

[Ari]

Hi Bill,
As you can see in the attached drawing, the knob is offset very slightly.
You’d attach a plate to your Dorff, then the clamp would work unimpeded.
Thanks

217457

[Ari]

The QLB-50 is now available and in stock.
Retail price is $74.00, shipping to USA and Canada included.
Thank you

[Pieter]

The QLB-50 is now available and in stock.
Retail price is $74.00, shipping to USA and Canada included.
Thank you

Will this clamp fit the Novoflex q=Base system, specifically the Rolleiflex Hy6?

[Ari]

From what I can tell, the q-Base system is Arca-compatible, so yes the FLM clamp will accept those plates.
Thank you

[Ari]

The clamp has gone out for independent testing, but I wanted to confirm, through personal testing, that a wide range of generic Arca plates worked perfectly with the new QLB clamp.
I bought 8-9 different plates off Amazon, and all worked great except Manfrotto plates. They're too wide.
The pin in the clamp base has so far worked very well to ensure nothing slides out by accident, despite there being wide variations in channel shape on the bottom of these plates.

A customer has corroborated this. Here's what he wrote:

Beautiful build quality as expected from FLM.
Smooth lever operation with minimal slop.
Easy to set up the initial clamping force.
Repeatable clamping with tight tolerances.
I have access to 3 plates:
FLM QRP-70 – works great as expected
SLIK #6253 – fits easily and works without issues
Manfrotto 501PL – too wide to fit. It came with my Manfrotto BeFree Live Carbon Video tripod.
Overall, I’m very happy with the QR plate and although the SRB60 I had was easy to use and gave me no issues, the QR capability is much appreciated.
I didn’t like the way the lever worked on the other clamps. I really like this new clamp though.

Let us know if you have any questions.
We'll be coming out with a 60mm and 80mm version, the latter of which might be interesting for LF shooters.

[Ari]

The QLB-50 clamp is a great addition to the FLM line-up, but a lot of people were asking for something slightly larger.
I'm happy to say that the QLB-60 clamp is now available.
Retail price is $82.00, and there will be some ball head/clamp combinations coming soon.

A solid, Arca-compatible lever clamp that can adjust to just about any Arca-type plate.

Thanks!

[Tin Can]

Ari

How is the 2 stick lightweight tripod coming along?




The QLB-50 clamp is a great addition to the FLM line-up, but a lot of people were asking for something slightly larger.
I'm happy to say that the QLB-60 clamp is now available.
Retail price is $82.00, and there will be some ball head/clamp combinations coming soon.

A solid, Arca-compatible lever clamp that can adjust to just about any Arca-type plate.

Thanks!

[Ari]

Ari

How is the 2 stick lightweight tripod coming along?

It's in production, Randy, after a re-design for easier use. The first of the series is the CP26-TM2.
The tripod is now an inverted type, meaning the thicker tubes (26mm) are on the bottom and the thinner tubes (22mm) are on top.
So when you're adjusting leg height, the grip is always at waist level, no need to bend down or fiddle with the tripod while on your knees.
Largest tube size has increased from 22mm to 26mm (it was originally going to be the CP22-TM2, but we decided to bulk up a little for added stability).
Some drawings:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51566108335_d4a9ca2da5_o.png (https://www.flickr.com/gp/zsari/9QP37L)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51564380182_5cc8043313_o.png (https://www.flickr.com/gp/zsari/QWHy99)

The CP26-TM2 will be in stock by early November. Retail price is $380.00.
Larger models, such as the CP38-TM2 or CP42-TM2 are in prototype phase, but not far off from coming to market.

[Tin Can]

All great improvements!

We wait

[Ari]

Since I was last here, we've added a new clamp and a new tripod to the line-up, with a second tripod in the works.

The new QLB-80 clamp is a lever clamp with an adjustable jaw, and it's Arca-compatible.
The final product will have several more holes drilled and tapped in the body for more attachment options.
Early February or sooner is when they'll be available, retail price of around $115.00.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51828526412_747eaa17b2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mXUKdY)

Before we can make the 2-section tripod of our dreams, we had to make the more conventional 4-section version.
It's quite marvellous, I have the prototype here. It's 73 inches tall, weighs just under 6 pounds, and is 25" long folded.

The new series is called Atlas, and it will feature a top-notch apex system to serve both 100mm and 75mm standard bowl accessories (centre post, levelling ball, etc).
All Atlas tripods will use 42mm tube diameters.
Here's the new Atlas CP42-L4 (4 section):

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51829596488_403ca31a8e_h.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/gp/zsari/10fJ84)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51830204835_ceca160868_h.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/gp/zsari/0Pb56s)

Retail price for Atlas CP42-L4 will be just under $1100.00 and available in mid-February.
It's available to pre-order at 10% off.

The 2-section tripod will be an Atlas Series tripod, and we're already at work on it. I think it may be a special-order item, but we'll see.
This 2-section Atlas needs a new rubber foot design, different from other FLM tripods, even different from the 4-section Atlas.
That's because the 42mm tube will be on the bottom, and the top section will be a thinner 38mm tube. A reverse tripod which will allow for leg adjustment at about 2.5-3 feet up.
The thicker 42mm tube doesn't have a rubber foot wide enough to support it, so we'll design a new foot for it, and use the same apex as other Atlas tripods.