Alu-arms or flexarm-system – what is the difference

There are 2-different kinds of arm systems
In order to carry a light on your housing system, you need a tray system that has an attachment for an arm system.
There are in general terms two different ways to go, when you have to choose an arm system.

1) The flexarm system (often made by Locline units) and…
2) The alu-arm system (made by aluminum pieces with arm balls at the end.

How flexible??
It is a clear misconception that flexarms are more flexible than the aluarmes.
Aluarme is far more reliable and it is possible to attach e.g. a lensholder to them and you can trim them with floaters (StiX).
When you just get used to the use of clamps and how hard they are to be tightened, you discover how good a system alu-arms really are.

Especially on a camera that needs to do macro, a flexible and reliable arm system is evident.
Here you really need to be able to put the light as you like – and wouldexpect it to stay in place.

Float arms
The metal arms are more heavy, so it is a good idea to mount some floats on them.The StiX floats are the easiest and cheapest way to get your entire system buoyant.

But it is also possible to add an arm with “build in floats”
Those arms come from different brands and in different size depending on the amount of lift you need them to give.Always remember that alu-arms are put together with a clamp and that thick float arms should have a long clamp in order for the arms to bens together.
It is the price and weightFlexarms have the advantage that they are a cheaper investment overall and that they weigh much less, which can be important for someone who wants to go on a diving trip and have limited weight capacity.

Note:
Almost all experienced underwater photographers use alu-arms.