Mafer Clamp: Versatile steel grip clamp with 16mm spigot, opens to 75mm, holds 35kg. Secures lights to pipes or edges without drilling.
Technical Details
The standard Mafer Clamp is made of hardened steel with a chrome-plated surface and weighs 650g. The clamp jaws open steplessly up to 75mm via a knurled screw and generate a clamping pressure of up to 120N due to their conical shape. The integrated 16mm spigot is 40mm long and conforms to international standards for lighting stands. Variants include the Super Mafer (up to 35kg load capacity), Mini Mafer (up to 5kg), and Cardellini clamps with extended jaws for flat objects up to 50mm thick.
History & Development
Giuseppe Mafera developed the first Mafer Clamp in Milan in 1967 as an alternative to heavy C-stands for location shoots. The original version still weighed 950g and only clamped up to 50mm. Matthews Studio Equipment licensed the design in 1972 for the US market and established it as an industry standard. Since 1985, Avenger and Kupo have also produced identical variants, with load capacities increased to up to 35kg through improved steel alloys.
Practical Use in Film
On "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), the lighting technicians attached hundreds of Mafer Clamps to the vehicle roll cages for LED panels and Kino Flo lights. The clamps allow for quick light positioning without drilling or welding – crucial for rental vehicles. Typical workflow: attach the clamp to a pipe or edge, mount the LED panel or small light, and precisely align it using the tilt adjustment. The disadvantage is the limited load capacity for larger tungsten lights and the risk of slipping on smooth surfaces.
Comparison & Alternatives
Mafer Clamps differ from C-Clamps by their integrated spigot and larger opening range. Baby pins (28mm spigots) require adapters, while Junior pins (35mm) are too heavy for standard clamps. Modern alternatives like Manfrotto Super Clamps offer plastic jaws for scratch-sensitive surfaces and quick-release levers instead of knurled screws. However, for heavy lights from 20kg upwards, traditional C-stands or pipe clamping systems like Scaff-Clamps remain the better choice, as they transfer torque more stably.