Manfrotto

Manfrotto 184 5/8" Pin Adapter Male Female

A small but essential Manfrotto pin adapter that converts a 5/8-inch stud to 3/8-inch male and female threads for flexible light-stand mounting

$14.76*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 27, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Manfrotto #184 is a small piece of grip hardware with a very specific job: bridging the gap between a 5/8-inch stud and 3/8-inch threaded mounts. On one side, it presents the familiar 5/8-inch pin used by most professional light stands and combo stands. On the other side, it offers both a 3/8-inch male thread and a 3/8-inch female thread, so accessories that expect either configuration can be attached without hunting for a second adapter. For photographers and videographers piecing together lighting rigs, modifiers, or accessory arms, it's the kind of low-profile component that quietly keeps a setup compatible.

This adapter sits squarely in the practical, problem-solving category of studio gear. There are no moving parts, no controls, and no setup beyond threading it into place. That simplicity is the appeal — it's a part that disappears into a build once installed, leaving the stand, head, or modifier to do the visible work. The Manfrotto badge places it among the brand's broader grip and support ecosystem, where consistent thread standards make mixing and matching components more predictable. For owners who already work within Manfrotto's lineup, the #184 is a sensible spare to keep in the gear bag.

Specifications

Brand
Manfrotto
Model
#184
Type
Pin adapter
Pin Size
5/8 inch
Male Thread
3/8 inch
Female Thread
3/8 inch
Category
Lighting mounting accessory

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Combines a 5/8-inch pin with both 3/8-inch male and 3/8-inch female threads, giving multiple mounting paths from a single adapter
  • Carries the Manfrotto name, a brand long associated with grip and lighting hardware used across photo and video studios
  • Compact form factor stays out of the way once threaded into a stand, head, or fixture
  • Solves a common compatibility gap between standard 5/8-inch light-stand spigots and 3/8-inch threaded accessories

👎 Cons

  • Limited to 5/8-inch and 3/8-inch fittings, so accessories using 1/4-inch threads will still need an additional step-down adapter
  • A single-purpose grip part with no built-in tightening wheel, locking collar, or quick-release mechanism
  • Pricing for branded grip hardware tends to run higher than unbranded equivalents that perform the same conversion
  • Source listing provides minimal specification detail beyond thread sizes, leaving exact dimensions and weight undisclosed

Frequently Asked Questions

A 5/8-inch pin plus both 3/8-inch male and 3/8-inch female threads. That gives you three mounting options in one piece for studio and lighting setups.
Not directly. The #184 only addresses 5/8-inch and 3/8-inch fittings, so a separate 3/8-to-1/4-inch reducer would be needed for 1/4-inch hardware.
No. It is a passive threaded adapter without a knob or collar, relying on the receiving stand or accessory to clamp or thread onto it securely.
It uses standard 5/8-inch and 3/8-inch sizes, which are common across most brands of light stands and grip hardware, not just Manfrotto.
Many tripod heads, magic arms, and lighting brackets use 3/8-inch threads, while light stands typically present a 5/8-inch stud — the #184 connects the two.