Bigblue Camera, Trays and Light Adapters

Bigblue Camera Trays, Arms & Light Adapters — Build the Rig That Fits Your Shooting

An underwater camera rig is a system. The camera body and housing are its core, but the tray, arms, and light mounts determine how that system handles — how balanced it is in the water, how easily you can reposition lights while shooting, how cleanly cables and accessories route, and whether you can make changes between dives without tools. Bigblue's camera hardware range exists to give underwater photographers and videographers the components they need to build rigs that actually work in the water, not just on the bench.

Bigblue's tray and arm system uses the industry-standard 1-inch ball-and-socket mounting interface — the same system used by most major underwater photography accessory manufacturers. This means Bigblue arms, clamps, and adapters integrate directly with lighting from other brands and vice versa, giving divers maximum flexibility in rig configuration.

At DiveCatalog.com, we carry the full Bigblue camera hardware range: trays in multiple configurations, straight and curved arms in multiple lengths, ball mounts, clamps, thread adapters, and specialty accessories. DiveCatalog.com is an authorized Bigblue dealer.

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The Bigblue Camera Hardware Range

Camera Trays

The camera tray is the foundation of any underwater rig — a flat platform that mounts to the camera housing base and provides arm attachment points on the left and right sides. A good tray keeps the rig balanced in the water, provides a stable grip surface, and positions the light arms at the correct distance from the housing to minimize backscatter. Bigblue trays use T6061-grade aluminum construction for corrosion resistance and durability, with standard 1-inch ball mount attachment points on each side for arm connection.

Straight Arms (5" and 8")

Bigblue's straight aluminum arms (ARM05 at 5 inches and ARM08 at 8 inches) provide the rigid extension between the tray and the light head. Shorter arms position lights closer to the housing for compact rigs; longer arms push lights further out to widen the angle and reduce backscatter. Straight arms provide the simplest, most stable connection — appropriate for most single-light setups and for photographers who prefer minimal rig complexity.

Float Arms

Float arms are buoyant — they're made from lightweight materials that make the arm assembly neutrally or slightly positively buoyant. This reduces the weight of the rig in the water, makes the lights easier to reposition, and reduces fatigue during long shooting sessions. Bigblue's nine-inch float arm is a popular complement to larger lights or multiple-light systems where arm weight would otherwise make repositioning awkward.

Ball Mounts and Thread Adapters

Bigblue ball mounts (1-inch standard) attach directly to lights that have a two-prong mounting square (standard on the 1800 series and above), converting them for use with ball-and-socket arm systems. Thread adapters (DA-013 Male and Female, ¼"-20 format) allow lights and accessories with threaded mounting systems to connect to the ball arm system. A ¼"-20 thread is the standard photographic thread used by most camera accessories worldwide — these adapters make Bigblue's system compatible with a huge range of photographic equipment.

Clamps — Double Joint and Triple Joint

Bigblue's Triple Joint Clip is the main connection point between arms and mount points. Made from T6061 aluminum with an ergonomic tightening handle, it clamps onto 1-inch ball joints and is also compatible with Bigblue arm bodies directly. One Triple Joint Clip connects two ball-end arms at their junction, allowing the angle between them to be adjusted and locked in position. The ergonomic handle design makes it easy to tighten and loosen even while wearing dive gloves — a practical detail for photographers who regularly reposition their lighting setups between dives.

FluoroDive Kits

The FluoroDive Kit (FDK) converts a compatible Bigblue light into a fluorescence diving light. The kit includes a filter for the light head and a barrier filter for the camera lens — together they reveal the fluorescent proteins in corals and other organisms that are completely invisible under normal white light. FluoroDive kits are model-specific — confirm compatibility with your Bigblue light before ordering. Available for multiple Bigblue light series including the VL4200, VTL2600, CB6500/9000/VTL8000, and the 1200-series.

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Building Your Rig — A Practical Guide

Step 1 — Tray: Mount a Bigblue tray to your housing base. The tray provides the two side-mount points for your arm assemblies.

Step 2 — Ball Mounts on Lights: If your lights don't already have ball mount attachment points, add a Bigblue 1-inch ball mount to each light. The ball mount screws into the prong-mount square on the light body.

Step 3 — Arms: Choose arm length based on how far out you want your lights. For wide-angle photography with a dome port, starting with 8-inch arms is typical — lights need to be pushed out and forward to minimize backscatter and even the illumination across the full frame. For macro, shorter arms work because you're working at closer distances with narrower fields of view.

Step 4 — Clamps: Connect arms to the tray's ball mount points using Triple Joint Clips. Adjust the angle of the arms, position the lights where you want them, and tighten. Check all connections before submerging.

Thread Adapters — When You Need Them: If your camera housing or accessory has a ¼"-20 threaded mount (rather than a ball), use the DA-013 Male or Female adapters to bridge between the threaded system and the ball-and-socket system. This is particularly common when integrating non-Bigblue accessories into a Bigblue rig.

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Who Is This Collection For?

Photographer / Videographer	Recommended Hardware	Key Reason
Setting up a first camera rig	Tray + 2x 8" arms + 2x Triple Joint Clips + ball mounts	Standard two-light wide-angle rig; all components compatible; easy to assemble
Adding a video light to an existing rig	Ball mount + arm + Triple Joint Clip	Integrates Bigblue light into any existing ball-system rig
Reducing rig weight for long sessions	Float arms	Buoyant arm material reduces total rig weight and light repositioning effort
Fluorescence photography	Compatible Bigblue light + FluoroDive Kit	FDK converts existing light for fluorescence; requires compatible model
Mixed-system rig (non-Bigblue accessories)	DA-013 Male/Female thread adapters	¼"-20 standard allows integration with most photographic accessories

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Why Buy Bigblue Camera Hardware from DiveCatalog.com?

• Authorized Bigblue dealer — genuine products, full manufacturer warranty
• Full hardware range available — trays, arms, clamps, adapters, and FluoroDive kits
• Expert rig advice — our team can help you spec and configure the right rig for your system
• Fast shipping — in-stock items ship within one business day
• Rewards program — earn points on every purchase

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Frequently Asked Questions — Bigblue Camera Trays and Light Adapters

Is Bigblue's ball-and-socket system compatible with other brands?

Yes. Bigblue uses the industry-standard 1-inch ball-and-socket interface that is compatible with arms, clamps, and mounts from most underwater photography brands. You can mix Bigblue arms with non-Bigblue lights and vice versa, or integrate Bigblue components into an existing rig from another brand.

What is the ¼"-20 thread and why does it matter?

¼"-20 is the standard camera thread used worldwide in photographic accessories — it's the same thread used on tripod mounts, camera plates, and most photo accessories. Bigblue's DA-013 adapters (male and female) allow any accessory with ¼"-20 threading to connect to the ball-and-socket system, making the Bigblue system compatible with a very wide range of equipment.

What length arms should I use?

For wide-angle photography with a dome port, 8-inch arms typically position the lights well for even illumination and backscatter control. For macro, shorter arms can work because you're shooting closer subjects. For video, light distance depends on the beam angle of your lights — wider beam lights can often be positioned closer than narrow-beam lights. Contact us if you'd like advice for your specific camera and housing setup.

What is the Triple Joint Clip and how does it work?

The Triple Joint Clip is a T6061 aluminum clamp that connects two ball-end arms at their junction and clamps onto 1-inch ball joints. The clamp tightens via an ergonomic screw that can be operated with gloved hands. It allows the angle between two connected arms to be adjusted and locked in any position — useful for positioning lights at precisely the angle you want without needing additional joints or adapters.

Do I need a tray for an underwater camera?

For a camera in a housing without lights, a tray isn't strictly necessary — the housing itself provides the grip. But as soon as you add arms and lights, a tray becomes essential because it provides the mounting points for the arms and balances the overall rig. Even single-light systems benefit from a tray for stability and ease of handling.

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Building a well-configured camera rig makes a real difference to what you can shoot underwater. Browse the full Bigblue camera hardware collection above and reach out if you'd like help planning your rig configuration.