Spider Holster SpiderPro Pro Clamp (Arca-Swiss Style)

I owned the first version and the screw threads failed. This newer version also failed after minimal usage. Probably put on and removed each one around 20 times.

I took a hike up Mt. Talbert in east Portland, OR to experience what it was going to be like photographing hand-held with the "Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp" instead of the "SpiderPro Plate." Mt. Talbert is a forest-covered, 750 foot tall, ancient, worn-down shield volcano 1.5 miles from where I live. Hiking time: 2 hours and 22 minutes during which I took 51 photos of which 28 made the cut. You can see my results here: http://www.pbase.com/fjparis/mt_2014_12_03. This link contains photos of the various Spider clamps discussed in this review, as well as forest photos showing the result of using the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp.I got the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp from Amazon on December 3, 2014. This clamp is used for hand-held photography free of camera straps (and of course no tripod). It replaces my previously acquired "SpiderPro Plate." The clamp or plate attaches to the bottom of my Olympus E-M1 camera and either allows me to carry my camera on my waist belt, hands-free until I need the camera. Either plate attaches to a "Spider Holster" which hangs off my belt. The camera + Spider Clamp or Plate easily slips into or out of the Spider Holster.The new Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp is absolutely gorgeous and, like the SpiderPro Plate, slips into and out of the holster friction free by pulling back on a spring lever with the index finger of my left hand, while the right hand pulls the camera + clamp or plate out of the holster. There is no possibility of the Spider clamp twisting or getting out of alignment, as there is with the SpiderPro Plate.The clamp only weighs 3.5 to 3.6 ounces, which is but slightly more than the 3.2 ounce SpiderPro Plate that it replaces. The SpiderPro Plate is a compromised tool, supposedly designed to work with every model of camera quick release plates. It clumsily requires screwing it into your camera bottom, and can get pushed out of alignment. I was mislead by Spider's claim that the SpiderPro Plate was compatible with all quick release camera plates. It does NOT work with Arca-Swiss plates The Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp rectifies this advertising mistake and is a masterpiece of functional and visual design.The Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp is much more positively fastened to the camera than the SpiderPro Plate, although both are aesthetically compelling, and built with robust and stunning craftsmanship. But even the SpiderPro Plate was not the first Spider plate I bought. This was the "Black Widow Thin Plate." In fact, I bought two of these Thin Plates. The first was bent beyond usefulness in a fall I experienced. The second one I bought also very soon started bending, simply through "normal" use.The Thin Plate is a very fragile device, advertised for use with "small and light cameras" (the Thin Plate only weighs one ounce). I was raised on heavy Nikon SLRs and DSLRs with their huge, bulky, and heavy lenses. So when I got the much smaller and lighter Olympus E-M1 micro 4/3 system, I was delighted by how much easier this camera and the micro 4/3 system was to lug around but was mislead about what Spider meant by a "small and light camera." I thought my E-M1 was accurately described as "small and light," but I was comparing it with my former Nikon systems. I rather quickly discovered that the E-M1 and micro 4/3 lenses were heavy enough to destroy the Spider Black Widow Thin Plate.After going through two Black Widow Thin Plates, I sprung for the SpiderPro Plate. But I was dismayed to discover that the SpiderPro Plate was incompatible with my Really Right Stuff L-bracket for my Olympus EM-1. So when I saw the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp, I just jumped for it and it proved to be my dream come true, perfectly compatible in fit and finish with the Really Right Stuff Arca-Swiss style camera plates.

I started shooting with the Thinktank belt and a Spider Holster clip about 4 years ago and I can never go back to a camera strap of any sort. I had a Black Rapid strap for years that I loved. Once I switched though there's no going back.The build quality on these, like most pro gear, is amazing. The Arca Swiss Quick Release is the best system you can buy. Period.Great product all around.

Another reason to love my spider holster. My camera has an arca swiss L bracket on it which prevented me from mounting it onto my spider holster. With this adapter clamp it's an easy fix. With this attached, my camera comes in and out of the holster with ease. It might seem a little pricey to some but for me is well worth the investment. Thank you Spider Holster!

Top quality. What a beautiful and elegant solution. Love it and highly recommend it. Thanks

Makes it possible for me to use my Really Right Stuff "stuff" for my tripod and my spectacularly helpful Spider system

the product is very high quality and do the job exactly as expected

I love this. It is beautifully crafted and is a much more satisfying solution than the original bolt on piece of kit. I hope I can keep it safe, otherwise I’ll be back for another!

Very well made and functional