No More Octopus Wrestling
With the 2026 Upgrades becoming available for retrofit to older Magnify2 systems, one of the world’s most esoteric activities – Octopus Wrestling – will die out.
What, you might ask, is Octopus Wrestling? (I didn’t actually know it was a real thing, just my own “in my head” name for the fight to change the camera etc.) It’s that whole evolution of changing out the camera on the pre-2026 Magnify2.
I always hated the wrestling match that was required when the simple task of changing the camera was needed. At the time, that setup was state of the art and the best way we had to make the Magnify2 do the job it needed to do.
But, oh, the process!
Raise the Z axis as high as it will go; disconnect the cables; carefully release the clamps and let the whole arm assembly slide down; change your grip to hold it securely and then manuever it to a convenient work surface.
I’m sure that you have been there too. In my head, this was always Octopus Wrestling and I dreaded it. It was too easy for things to slip. It was a heavy and awkward set of delicate equipment and it always made me nervous.
I’m delighted to tell you that those days are over. My rig (I mostly work remotely, in Oregon) was dropped off at the mother ship for the upgrades, I picked it up on a Thanksgiving trip to the Bay Area – and what a difference those changes make! I have the V2 Control Box, Capture Update and the two upgrades here. It’s important to note that whilst in theory it is possible to install one or the other of these upgrades, IMHO it makes sense to do both together. The key benefit is the dramatic reduction in mass with the removal of the original arm and mounting.
No More Octopus Wrestling!
Above is a view of the 2026 rig; note how “clean” and simple the camera/lens/lights and mounting are compared to the earlier version of the rig. You can see the whole rig and control box at the top of this post.
Camera Quick Release Upgrade
When you upgrade a pre-2026 rig, you need two parts: a remplacement Manfrotto mounting rail the arca-style clamps and camera plates:
This simple to install upgrade enables easier and quicker secure camera changes on the pre-2026 GIGAmacro Magnify2 system. The adapter uses the system’s existing dual camera slides, converting the rig to an ARCA-style mounting for the camera. This allows for faster, more precise attachment and exchange of the cameras while maintaining optical alignment and stability.
The new slide and arca-stlye camera clamp
Note that in the upgrade, the arca-style clamps are fitted to a Manfrotto slide (the same as you have now) and uses the existing Manfrotto clamps on the Z axis.
On the new production rigs, an arca-style rail is mounted directly on the Z plate.
The upgrade itself is easy, just remove the camera/flash/arms from the rig and slide in the new plate. The camera on the arca-sytel plate which is in turn secured by the screw clam on the Z axis.
Mini Light Arms
New light arms for the flash heads
These adjustable mini light arms replace the large-scale magic arms on the pre 2026 GIGAmacro Magnify2 imaging system.
These new arms allow for positioning of the flash heads and are a major upgrade in usability
For the light arm upgrade you will need to remove and replace two 5mm (allen key) bolts, placing the light arms and replacing the bolts.
Mounting the replacement arms at the bottom of the Z axis plate.
The flash heads are mounted onto the new arms with locking screw threads, in exactly the same way as the were on the old arms.
That’s it! A simple, cost-effective way to dramatically improve the working improvement of your Magnify2.
We will talk more about the other 2026 Upgrades in upcoming blog posts, the upgrades are all available here, if you can’t wait!
Graham has worked as a business and marketing leader in high technology, aviation and not-for-profit large and small organizations.
He jumped out of corporate life in 2007 to ‘have more fun’ and does so helping small companies with strategy, business, and marketing as well as traveling and making pictures.
He loves working with smart groups of people to solve challenging problems.
Gadgets of all sorts (especially anything to do with aviation and flight) and photography have fascinated since early childhood. He is also an accomplished photographer who exhibits regularly and a former competition aerobatic pilot.
Graham is a transplanted Brit (hence the humo(u)r) who moved to CA in 1996. Now in Oregon via North Carolina (grandchild chasing)
He is a retired Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Chartered Marketer.
You can find him on LinkedIn please connect with him there.
