Build Your Own Justin Clamp for Half the Cost

Besides my camera, the one item that I always travel with is my Justin clamps. They are one of the most versatile pieces of equipment that I own, but they can be pricey. So why not build your own?

In this wonderful video by Joe Edelman, he shows you how to build a Justin clamp for half of the cost of buying a prefabricated clamp. Edelman lays out all the materials you will need along with all the tools. With some basic tools and a little time, you can easily build your own Justin clamp. But if you aren't handy with tools or don't want to be bothered making your own Justin clamp, you can always buy one like the Manfrotto Justin clamp.

I went the easy way and bought my first two clamps. Why do I love my Justin clamps so much? Well, they can do just about anything. I can put one on my C-stand and use the jaws of the clamp to hold a diffuser or perhaps a flag. Or I can use the jaws of the clamp to mount the clamp on a doorway and then place a flash on the clamp. I can put flashes in locations I could never dream of getting them using a light stand or even an assistant. I've used one clamp to support three different flashes at the same time. And of course, they can always be used as a simple clamp.

Why are they called a Justin clamp? Watch the video to find out.