Frequently Asked (Nasty) Questions...

What is a Nasty Clamp?

A Nasty Clamp is a high-quality metal spring clamp which has been drilled, machined, powder coated black, and then assembled with a six-inch long flexible "appendage" mounted to one side.  This appendage then terminates in a 1/4"-20 standard tripod screw. 

Errrrrhhhh...  Appendage?

From now on we'll just call it a "flex-arm," okay?

Okay...  So, what can I do with a Nasty Clamp?

Well, because there's that tripod screw sticking out from the end of the flex arm, you can easily attach just about any sort of standard lighting equipment equipment to your Nasty Clamp, just so long as that equipment has a tripod hole in it AND the equipment doesn't weigh much more than one pound (approximately 450 grams). 

With accessories such as a 1/4"-20 to hot-shoe adapter (available here on the Nasty Clamps site) you can also attach portable off-camera flashes or other hot-shoe mountable accessories to your clamps

Could you be more specific?  Like, REALLY specific?

Of course...  Originally, Nasty Clamps were designed and built so that portable strobes could be made even more portable, and a wide variety of different flash units have been tested out and used with Nasty Clamps.  From personal experience, we know that Vivitar 283's and 285's; Nikon SB-24's, 26's, 600's, 800's, and 900's; the Canon 580 EX; and the LumoPro LP160 all pair up extremely well with a Nasty.  Obviously, there are hundreds of other makes and models that would work great with a set of Nasties.  The various flash units listed above are simply the ones that we've actually tested out and used while working.

What else works with a Nasty Clamp?

Just about any sort of point 'n' shoot camera can be attached to a Nasty Clamp, and we've personally tried out Canon G11's and G12's, various Nikon Coolpix, and a few of the Sony Cybershots.  Many of the newer POV and "action cam" video cameras can also be mounted onto a Nasty Clamp, and here at the Nasty Clamp World Domination Headquarters, we're big, big fans of the Flip camera (which works especially well with a Nasty).

Filmmakers, videographers, and DP's will have a great time pairing their lightweight lighting sources with Nasty Clamps, especially if their arsenal includes one of the newer portable LED lights, such as the Litepanel Micro or Zylight.  This combination of a Nasty Clamp and a portable LED light creates a GREAT production tool, allowing for super quick set-ups and tear downs on location.  As a quick side note, Steadi-cam operators are huge fans of the Nasty/LED combo, and often use this set-up as an "up light," mounted near the bottom of their sled.

Lastly, though certainly not leastly, many of the newer digital audio recorders can mount directly onto a Nasty Clamp, and we've personally tried out the Zoom H4, the H4N, and the (super cool) Q3.  

Just wondering, but this isn't some sort of joke, is it?

Absolutely not!  Nasty Clamps are in use all around the planet, and can be found in the gear bags of many famous photographers, videographers, cinematographers, directors, and media professionals.  They are also used by a number of extremely well known musicians and bands as part of their stage equipment. 

Okay...  So how will a Nasty Clamp help me do my job better?

Simple...  You'll work faster and more efficiently with your Nasty Clamps, because you'll be able to get your lights, cameras, and production equipment into position much quicker.  Plus, you'll have a great time saying "Hand me a Nasty Clamp" while your clients are hanging around.

How much weight can a Nasty Clamp hold?

The heaviest recommended weight that can be placed onto the end of a clamp's flex-arm (without having that arm bend) is just slightly more than one pound (approximately 450 grams).   In an underslung mode -- or with the flex-arm sticking straight up -- quite a bit more than one pound can be attached to a Nasty Clamp.  Just don't mount a multi thousand dollar DSLR onto your clamp an then walk away.  Use your common sense.

What accessories come with a Nasty Clamp?

There are currently two different accessories offered for sale here on the Nasty Clamps website.  The first accessory -- and one that you'll definitely want to get if you plan on mounting an off-camera flash onto your Nasty Clamp -- is an adjustable hot shoe adapter.  This is an extremely well made hot shoe mount (technically, it's really a cold shoe) which has a 1/4"-20 threaded hole going through it.  Simply screw this adapter onto the business end of flex-arm, and then drop the foot of your flash into the adjustable jaws of the hot shoe adapter.  You can purchase the adapter here on the Nasty Clamps site.

The other accessory that's available on this site is/are individual sections of the modular plastic material that's used to build the flex-arms.  With these sections, you'll be able to add extra length to the flex-arms on your clamps.  Just remember that the longer the arm, the less weight that it can hold.  Again, you can purchase this accessory here.

By the way, who actually makes these Nasty things?

Nasty Clamps are designed and built by a Portland, Oregon photographer named Matthew G. Monroe, with a ton of assistance and support from family members.  To get directly in touch with Matthew, just send along an e-mail (via the contact page), or simply give a call on the phone (503-928-2520).  

Do you do wholesale orders?

Yes, if you are a retail camera store, governmental organization, or educational facility and would like to make a large purchase, then wholesale pricing can be easily worked out.  Just get in touch via e-mail or the phone.

Do you also do custom clamps?

Sure...  Though they're not a priority.  Custom work tends to get completed only when there's a slow-down in regular orders, or a super-special "priority fee" has been pre-paid. 

What else should people know about Nasty Clamps?

The most important thing that people should know about Nasty Clamps is that -- despite their name and appearance -- that they're really not all that nasty...  But they are mighty, mighty handy.