Wimberley FAQs and Support Topics
C-12 vs. C-30 – Quick-Release Clamp
The C-30 quick-release clamp was originally designed to be mounted on the lens platform of the classic WH-100 Wimberley Head. All of our clamps use the Arca-Swiss system for our line of products. The C-30 was designed to fit the geometry of the large support platform and to securely clamp the heavy telephoto lenses that were produced in the 1990’s. As the quick-release technology became popular, the clamp quickly became a standard component of the classic Wimberley Head WH-101.
A smaller, 2.5 inch long quick-release clamp was developed a bit later as a more versatile, QR clamp. It offered the same mechanical advantage as that of the C-30 without the bulk and heavier weight. The C-12 clamp is widely popular and ideal for use on monopods, ground pods, and to retrofit non-Arca style ball heads. Our clamps were designed to be used with a wide array of plates with the Arca-Swiss geometry.
The C-12 clamp is an improved version of our original C-10 standard clamp for use with ball heads. Since it has the same mechanical advantage as the larger C-30, it can handle small and large lenses alike. The C-12 clamp was designed to retrofit a wider variety of ball heads and converting from a non-Arca-Swiss to the Arca-Swiss system easier. Refer to our compatibility chart on our website for ball head retrofit.
The C-30 clamp would have the same issue as the discontinued C-10 clamp with respect to mounting on ball heads. We feel the C-12 has sufficient clamping strength for most of the applications our customers may encounter. Here’s a comparison guide:
Feature | C-12 clamp | C-30 clamp |
Retail Price | US $79 | US $100 |
Set screws included (anti-twist) | 3 | 0 |
Center hole type | Threaded | Threaded |
Center hole size | 3/8”-16 | 3/8”-16 |
Fits ball head stem with raised bosses (anti-twist) | Yes | No |
Fits 3/8-16” stud on monopod, tripod, ground or window pod | Yes | Yes |
Made for attachment to old-style Wimberley Head (model WH-100) | No | Yes |
Fits ¼”-20 stud on ball head QR plate, monopod, tripod, ground or window pod | Yes, with BS-100 bushing | Yes, with BS-100 bushing |
Safety stop screw grooves | Yes | Yes |
Included hardware | BS-100 brass bushing, hex key, | Mounting hardware for installation on WH-100 (&WH-101) lens support platform |
Posted on February 4, 2015 at 3:18 pm