pvreditor's Full Review: SIMA SLB-M ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT MOUNTING BRACKET
I have a Canon Vixia HF11 camcorder, a tiny solid-state device that records high-definition video. The camera has a built-in LED light that will illuminate things a short distance away, but this light is quite blue and just not enough to do more than add a bit of sparkle to eyes. I wanted to use a better light and possibly a shotgun microphone, so I got a Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket.
I paid about $15 for the Sima SLB-M from Amazon.
What it is
The Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket is a bent metal frame on which a camera (still or video) can be mounted using a standard 1/4-inch screw. Made from sturdy thick aluminum, the Sima SLB-M is J-shaped. The camera mounts on the long part of the "J" and then the bracket curls over the top of the camera and has mounting points for lights, microphones and other accessories. On that curved part of the "J" are two standard shoe mounts for standard camera accessories. Since the Sima SLB-M is passive (it has no power), these are non-powered shoe mounts.
The long part of the "J" has a slot a couple inches long, to give some lattitude about positioning the camera. In this slot is a standard camera-mount 1/4-inch bolt with knurled plastic edges that make it easy to turn. The entire Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket is simple and well-designed... at least for cameras on which it properly fits.
Mounting it
My Canon camcorder is small, about the size of a Coke can. As it turns out, the Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket is really intended to be used with larger camcorders, and my little Canon just doesn't fit well on the Sima SLB-M.
I can mount the bracket in either of two orientations: with the curved part of the "J" to the right and with the curved part of the "J" to the left. Mounted so that the curve is on the right, the Sima SLB-M bracket encroaches badly on the space my right hand uses to hold and support the camera. A small hand might be able to fit into the camera's grip with the Sima SLB-M mounted on the right, but it's almost impossible (and quite uncomfortable) with my hand.
Mounted so that the curve is on the left, the Sima SLB-M interferes with the camera's flip-out viewfinder. A stock out-of-the-box Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket is just not a good fit for the Canon Vixia HF11 camcorder.
The modification
I'm a handy guy and just happened to have some aluminum around, so I made an adapter plate that attaches to the camera and moves the Sima SLB-M forward about 1.5 inches. This gives enough clearance for either my hand (mounted on the right) or for the camera's viewfinder (mounted on the left), and makes it MUCH more pleasurable to use the Sima SLB-M. The extension adapter I made attaches firmly to the SLB-M with two screws, then I have a knurled 1/4-inch screw that attaches to the camera. Without my homemade adapter, the Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket would be useless for my camcorder.
Using it
With my homemade adapter attached, I really enjoy using the Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket. For one thing, the Sima SLB-M gives me a handy spot to mount my light (also a Sima unit), and this positions the light in a good spot just above the camera. Also, the Sima SLB-M provides a nice supporting handgrip for convenient two-handed operation of the camera, and this handgrip is useful for holding and carrying the camera.
The Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket doesn't weigh very much and my adapter plate adds hardly nothing to the weight. Therefore, I can still hold and use my camera with one hand. I can feel the extra mass from the Sima SLB-M but the camera is so light that the added weight is not a bother. I actually enjoy using the camera with the Sima SLB-M, and think it gives the camera a more purposeful and professional appearance.
Summary
Without my homemade adapter plate, the Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket was nearly useless with my camera. With the homemade adapter plate, the Sima SLB-M is a handy accessory. The Sima SLB-M is low cost, lightweight, rugged and convenient to have mounted to the camera.
If you have a larger camera, the Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket will probably fit without a problem. If you have a small Coke-can-sized camera, you will need an adapter to get the Sima SLB-M to fit properly. As far as I know, Sima doesn't sell an adapter -- you have to make it yourself. Some people can do that and some can't.
I like the Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket with my adapter attached and am glad I got it. However, if you don't have the adapter, the Sima SLB-M just might be worthless for you. For this reason, I'm giving the Sima SLB-M camera mounting bracket a three-star rating and a mild recommendation.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.