A few years ago I began producing still and video montages in the youth sports market. Capturing stills and video simultaneously then remixing them into a 3-5 minute highlight reel.

During this time I tried/tested many commercially available support combos to facilitate operating a still and video camera aimed at the same target while being compact enough to carry all day on the sidelines. Some worked ok and some not at all.

Usually the brackets would "drift" and not keep the video camera in line with the still camera. In an attempt to stop the drifting I would tighten the clamp on the support and occasionally distort/crush the tubing damaging the monopod.

So I developed a custom bracket for the Bogen/Manfrotto 680, 681 & 682 monopods. It is compact and very light weight (7oz). CNC machined from solid aluminum for a precise mounting and longevity.

It is easy to mount and is capable of holding a smaller video camera AND a strobe OR two strobes.

Here is a link to photos of the bracket:

http://gallery.me.com/markwatkins4#100121&view=null&bgcolor=black&sel=1

The price is just $38 total including shipping.

MADE IN THE USA!

Is this a commercial sale?

John Power wrote:
Is this a commercial sale?

I don't know. Are these?
floor plate
Rokkor conversion kit

It's a serious question, and I don't know what Fred's views are. But the other innovators who have developed and hand-made helpful products have been allowed to post, and I for one am glad of it.

"Is your gear collecting dust? Post it here!"

John Power wrote:
"Is your gear collecting dust? Post it here!"

Mere puffery!
Hardly more specific than the prohibition on commercial sales, which I think leaves posts like this (and the 2 I linked) in a gray area.

We all know what the point is here. Flashzebra makes some great products for Canon flashes. Can he list stuff here? If this forum opens up to commercial sales then the sky is the limit and we would soon be so swamped with this kind of stuff that there would be no room for the dust collecting gear sales.

I am sure it is a nice piece of equipment. But this is a for profit commercial sale. You know it, I know it, Mark knows it and everyone else reading this thread knows it.

John Power wrote:
We all know what the point is here. Flashzebra makes some great products for Canon flashes. Can he list stuff here? If this forum opens up to commercial sales then the sky is the limit and we would soon be so swamped with this kind of stuff that there would be no room for the dust collecting gear sales.

I am sure it is a nice piece of equipment. But this is a for profit commercial sale. You know it, I know it, Mark knows it and everyone else reading this thread knows it.


While John is correct that this violates the letter of the law, I don't think anyone can argue that this viloates the spirit of the law.

I am assuming that Mark does this as more of a hobby than a commercial venture. For $38 including shipping I'll bet that just covers material and labor.

Wow, such a debate. I am just a full time working photographer. As with many other working pros I have developed tools to make life easier and images better. I view these listings as an opportunity to share tools that I have created. There are very finite numbers of any item listed. Most of the machine items sold have been used by me personally (unless other wise noted). When they are gone there is no more.

FYI, There is no commercial website or store front just a middle aged guy with a computer and access to very talented machinists.

Having know Mark personally over the last 7 years, I can tell you he is a hard working pro photographer who has a creative mind and put his mind into making photography less of a hassle by creating some impressive parts for photo and videographers. I understand the need to keep this board from being commercial, but what is the difference between his handmade products and people who buy gear new with the canon rebate and then turn around and sell it? How about the people who are selling boxes that gear came in? I guess I am biased since I know Mark as a stand up guy who has forgotten more about photography than many will ever know. Lord knows he has been a great person to talk shop with and is free with advice and how to info that many refuse to share. Sorry about jumping on my soapbox (there I jumped off). I am sure that Fred or Fred proxy will eventually make a decision. My 2 cents worth. Thanks Mark for offering a product made by the hard working "little man" out there instead of the big giant corporations....oops jumped on my soap box again. Peace in the valley yall!

Free bump for a nice looking but highly specific gadget.
My .02 is that so long as these are not being produced in the high quantities and the offer is just to have one made for you more or less then I see no problems here. I would consider this far more ethical than the previously mentioned box for sale or memory card for sale that was prohibited then people just stopped including the box with the UPC removed to get around the rules. This looks to be a nice gesture instead of going to circuit city and buying 5 100mm Macros for $300 and then listing them here for $450. Same with 5DII kit lenses. It cost $400 more to get it with the lens so these are bought with the intention of selling the lenses for $900. Now let me stop and get off of my box too.