Along with three new clamps, Hejnar PHOTO has released two new Arca rails, the 6.5" long E-031 and 8" long E-032, designed specifically to work with these clamps. As you can see in the picture below of an E-032 rail, the clamp has 4 holes around a threaded center hole, and comes complete with two short pins to use in these holes that prevent the clamp from twisting while in use:
The bottom of the new clamps have a groove and a hole that these pins fit into, so by putting the pins in the correct holes in the rail you can align the clamps either parallel to or perpendicular to the rail. The picture below shows the pins dropped into the rail ready to install the clamp:
The picture below shows the rail with a 2.375" Hejnar PHOTO Clamp installed parallel to the rail:
This next picture shows the E-032 rail with a Hejnar PHOTO mini-clamp installed in the more common perpendicular position to use as a nodal rail for panoramic photography:
These rails are made in the U.S.A. from 6061-T6 aluminum, and feature a black anodized finish. At the time of writing, the longer 8" E-032 rail retails for $49.99, and the shorter 6.5" E-031 for $45.99. Both are available from the .
Fit and Finish
Like other recent products from Hejnar PHOTO, the finish on the E-032 rail is superb. The clamps install quickly and easily using the 1/4" x 20 screw that comes with the clamp, and using the pins means there is virtually no possibility of the clamp being accidentally twisted off. The pins however do not eliminate movement completely – with the screw slightly loose, there is a very small amount of wiggle (maybe 1-2° at most), so some care has to be taken to keep the clamp aligned while tightening. Once tightened the clamp holds very securely.
Performance
The picture below shows the E-032 rail in use with a Hejnar PHOTO mini clamp as part of a multi row panoramic head:
As such the Hejnar PHOTO E-032 rail performs flawlessly and does exactly what it is designed to do. It is more than strong enough to hold a pro level camera and lens setup as shown above. The rail also features a scale and a safety stop in one end. It has dual clamping surfaces so it can be clamped from above or below, and has a long slot down the middle with a captive screw for even more versatility.
The pins themselves are small, so you wouldn't particularly want to be changing the orientation of the clamp in a storm half way up the mountain. However once the clamp is installed and properly tightened, the Hejnar PHOTO nodal rail is a very high quality product and gets the job done.
The Hejnar PHOTO rails and clamps are available directly from the .
