Dovetail Rod Support, keeps long, heavy zooms from drooping off the Arri dovetail. Available in 15mm and 19mm. $140, free shipping.
Long zooms are heavy. Heavy lenses put stress on the camera flange. And when the front of that lens starts pulling down off the dovetail, you’ve got a stress problem, and eventually a support problem. The Clean’s Dovetail Rod Support is the fix, a USA-machined bracket that slides directly onto the Arri dovetail and supports your rods from underneath, so the lens stays where you put it and the weight is properly distributed across the rig instead of cantilevered off the front.
It’s one of those pieces you don’t think about until you need it, and once you have it you won’t understand how you were getting by without it.
How the Dovetail Rod Support works:
The Dovetail Rod Support slides onto the Arri dovetail, no tools required to get it into position. Once you’ve found the right spot along the dovetail for your lens and balance point, a locking knob holds it firmly in place. That’s the whole install. Slide, position, lock. The rods seat into the support, the front end of the zoom has something to actually rest on, and the stress on the dovetail plate drops significantly.
No rods included, this is the support bracket itself. Pair it with whatever 15mm or 19mm rods are already in your kit.
15mm or 19mm, which one?
Match it to the rod diameter your lens support system runs:
**15mm**, the standard for most camera rig rod systems. If you’re running a typical follow focus, matte box, or lens support setup on a 15mm rail system, this is your size.
**19mm**, the heavier-duty studio standard. If you’re on a 19mm studio rail setup, common on larger cinema cameras and bigger zoom configurations, this is the one.
Both versions are $140 and function identically. The only difference is the rod diameter they’re built for. If you’re unsure which your rods are, measure the diameter, 15mm is roughly 9/16″, 19mm is roughly 3/4″.
Who this is the Dovetail Rod Support for?
If you’re regularly pulling long, heavy zooms, the kind of glass that makes the front of yer rig feel like it’s trying to escape, this is for you. Documentary operators dealing with big broadcast zooms. Narrative ACs who run heavy cine zooms on a dovetail and feel the flex. Anyone who’s shimmed, taped, or rigged something janky under the front of a lens to keep it from drooping knows exactly what problem this solves.
This is an exclusive Clean’s Camera Support product, you won’t find it anywhere else. USA-machined, covered by the lifetime repair policy. Send it back at any time and we’ll fix it at a modest price, no matter the age.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dovetail Rod Support:
- Does this come with rods or a dovetail plate?
No, this is the support bracket only. It works with your existing Arri dovetail and whatever 15mm or 19mm rods are already in your kit. - How does it attach to the dovetail?
It slides directly onto the Arri dovetail. Once you’ve positioned it where you need it, a locking knob secures it in place. No tools required for installation. - Which size do I need, 15mm or 19mm?
Match it to your rod diameter. 15mm is the standard for most camera rig setups. 19mm is the studio standard for larger builds and heavier zooms. If you’re unsure, measure your rods, 15mm is ~9/16″ diameter, 19mm is ~3/4″. - Is this available anywhere else?
No, the Dovetail Rod Support is exclusive to Clean’s Camera Support. - Is it covered by the lifetime repair policy?
Yes. USA-machined, send it back at any time, fixed at a modest price, no expiration. - What’s the lead time?
Check the pre-order banner at the top of the site for the current shipping window. Backorder items are available in 1–3 weeks.
Also worth having:
flat surface inside yer Arri Bridge Plate for handheld, shoulder work, and shotbag balancing. ($125)
low mode J bracket for Steadicam operators. ($250)
the right tool for all the knobs and screws in yer kit. ($50)
Links for the Dovetail Rod Support:
Terms for the Dovetail Rod Support:
“available on backorder” items will be available in 1-3 weeks. See “Contact” for more details.
