March 28, 2012

New Hejnar PHOTO Modular Lens Support Bracket

Hejnar photo modular Long Lens Support Bracket with F60 clamp and G13-80 rail
With the new modular Long Lens Support Bracket (LLSB), Chris Hejnar has raised the design of long lens support to a new level.
The principle of an Arca Swiss® compatible vertical rail that can support the front end of along lens, as described in my article Ideas for a Long Lens Support Bracket (Part 1), remains quite the same.

However, although the former one piece design was quite functional, the new modular design addresses all possible limitations of the one piece design, that would be met with a variety of long lenses, whether they have tall or short lens collar and/or narrow or wide front barrel diameter.

The Support Bracket
The Hejnar Photo modular Lens Support Bracket is comprised by three interchangeable parts.
1. The Wheel Bar
2. The Wheels and
3. The Arca Swiss® compatible rail.
All metal parts are made of solid CNC machined aluminum.

Looking at the standard LLSB assembly pictured below, we can discriminate the modules as:
A 2" (5cm) long rail with a full length double dovetail plus a captive slot in the center that permit an up or down adjustment either by its dovetail when used with a quick release clamp or by its slot if attached on a rail front by an 1/4"-20 screw. The standard wheel bar which is screwed on top of the rail, and two 1.25" (2,86cm) diameter wheels screwed on the bar which serve for supporting our lens, while permitting the lens' rotation for zooming or focusing. The wheels have rubber rings on their perimeter for lens protection.

Hejnar Photo modular LLSB 2.0 Front
Hejnar Photo modular LLSB 2.0 Front side view

The back side picture is more detail-revealing about the different modules attached together.

Hejnar Photo modular LLSB 2.0 Back
Hejnar Photo modular LLSB 2.0 Back side view

Choice of Wheel Modules
The innovation of the new modular LLSB design not only permits it to sit very low close to the surface of a long lens rail (for lenses with very short lens collar) but also to have a choice between four (4) combinations of wheels and wheel bars, in order to accommodate any diameter of front telephoto lens barrel.

Hejnar Photo LLSB standard wheel module
Hejnar Photo LLSB standard wheel module with 1.25" (2,86cm) diameter wheels.
Hejnar Photo LLSB standard wheel module back
Hejnar Photo LLSB standard wheel module with 1.25" (2,86cm) wheels back view, with the rail retaining screws in place. The use of red Locktite , which is more permanent, is obvious for securing the wheels in place. 
Hejnar Photo LLSB 0.75" wheels module
Hejnar Photo LLSB standard wheel module with smaller 0.75" (1,90cm) diameter wheels.
Hejnar Photo LLSB with 0.75" wheels
The standard LLSB assembly pictured with smaller 0.75" (1,90cm) diameter wheels, for large front barrel telephoto lenses.
Hejnar Photo LLSB 1.25" wheels extended module
Hejnar Photo LLSB extended length wheel module with 1.25" (2,86cm) wheels, for even larger front barrels.
Hejnar Photo LLSB 1.25" wheels extended module back
Hejnar Photo LLSB extended length wheel module with 1.25" (2,86cm) wheels viewed from the back.
Hejnar Photo LLSB 0.75" wheels extended module
And last but not least, Hejnar Photo LLSB extended lenght wheel module with smaller 0.75" (1,90cm) wheels.


Choice of Wheel Bars
The wheel-bars are also sold separately, at a low cost, in case one would like to interchange between standard and extended lengths for different lenses.

Hejnar Photo LLSB standard wheel bar
Hejnar Photo LLSB standard wheel-bar comes with two spare screws for mounting the wheels.
Hejnar Photo LLSB extended wheel bar
Hejnar Photo LLSB extended length wheel-bar with the spare screws.

The Rail Module
The main LLSB module is actually the small rail that holds the wheels in a vertical position, regulates the height and stabilizes the lens.

Hejnar Photo LLSB 2" rail module top
The rail modules are 3/8" thick. As previously mentioned have a full length double dovetail plus a captive slot in the center that permit an up or down adjustment either by its dovetail when used with a quick release clamp or by its slot if attached on a rail front by an 1/4"-20 screw.
Hejnar Photo LLSB 2" rail module screw holes
The rail top side reveals two M3 tapped holes and two 5mm dowel pin holes, for the wheel-bar attachment and alignment respectively.

Choice of Rail Modules
Choices do not stop with wheel-bars and wheels. Anyone can pick the most appropriate length of LSSB rail module for his/her lens collar height. The readily available module lengths are 2" (5,08cm) and  3" (7,62cm), but if these are not enough, according to Hejnar Photo, any rail length may be ordered.

Hejnar Photo LLSB 2" & 3" rail modules
On the left Hejnar Photo 3" long LLSB and on the right 2" long LLSB.

Using the LLSB

The picture below demonstrates the use of the standard modular LLSB attached  on the front of a Hejnar Photo G13-80 rail by means of an F012 quick release clamp, as height regulator. All sit on top of the Hejnar Photo Monopod Head MH-01.

Hejnar photo 2" modular Long Lens Support Bracket with F012 clamp on G13-80 rail
Hejnar photo 2" modular Long Lens Support Bracket with F012 clamp on G13-80 rail on Hejnar MH-01

I hope you found the article useful, thank you for viewing.
All Photos used by permission: © 2012 Chris Hejnar / Hejnar PHOTO

Update June 2015
Concluded a full Hejnar PHOTO Modular Lens Support Bracket MOD-1 Review with the MOD-1 updated version.





Price and Availability
Prices for the standard modular LLS Bracket packages start from US$ 65.00 (+shipping where applicable) and are available from the Hejnar Photo online store.
For the price of the individual modules please refer to the LLS Bars and Wheels or LLS Rails in the Hejnar PHOTO online store.

If you are interested in the product, do check the Recommended Sellers page for a valid Hejnar Photo discount coupon before ordering.

Referenced Articles:
Ideas for a Long Lens Support Bracket (Part 1)
The basic Long Lens Support Bracket idea (Part 2)
A versatile Long Lens Support Bracket idea (Part 3)
A versatile Long Lens Support Bracket idea for push-pull zoom lenses (Part 4)
Hejnar PHOTO F010A and F012 Quick Release Clamps

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