Manfrotto L Bracket - Change QR Plates ?

[taxboy]

I've got a Manfrotto L bracket with the 200 PL release plates. Is it possible to swap these to Arch Swiss please ? I know that the initial reply will be to get a camera specific L bracket but I use my L bracket reversed so I can still access the remote release in portrait format. Not certain if a camera specific bracket would allow this.

Any advice appreciated

 

[pingu666]

you would need a arca swiss clamp too, so either buy a new head, or splash out 7-10 quid on a arca swiss clamp and put your manfrotto plate under neath that and then itll clamp into your tripod head, but you will have a conversion to arca swiss

 

[taxboy]

you would need a arca swiss clamp too, so either buy a new head, or splash out 7-10 quid on a arca swiss clamp and put your manfrotto plate under neath that and then itll clamp into your tripod head, but you will have a conversion to arca swiss

Thanks for that. Just to clarify I've recently bought a ball head which has the arcade Swiss clamp. Are the plates on the L bracket removable so I can replace those with a couple of Arca Swiss plates or do I need a different type of adapter

 

[HoppyUK]

I've got a Manfrotto L bracket with the 200 PL release plates. Is it possible to swap these to Arch Swiss please ? I know that the initial reply will be to get a camera specific L bracket but I use my L bracket reversed so I can still access the remote release in portrait format. Not certain if a camera specific bracket would allow this.

Any advice appreciated

Are the camera plates removable from the bracket? If so, just replace with a couple of Arca-Swiss plates - a fiver on Amazon/ebay. Or you could get one of the cheap universal Arca-Swiss compatible L-brackets? They're about a tenner. Also, a lot of the camera-specific L-brackets have an off-set so you can get at the remote release socket.

Alternatively, what camera do you have? If it has an IR remote release sensor, as some Canons do, then I use a little IR trigger rather than a hard cable. No need to access the remote socket.

 

[taxboy]

Are the camera plates removable from the bracket? If so, just replace with a couple of Arca-Swiss plates - a fiver on Amazon/ebay. Or you could get one of the cheap universal Arca-Swiss compatible L-brackets? They're about a tenner. Also, a lot of the camera-specific L-brackets have an off-set so you can get at the remote release socket.

Alternatively, what camera do you have? If it has an IR remote release sensor, as some Canons do, then I use a little IR trigger rather than a hard cable. No need to access the remote socket.

Thanks for that I couldn't see a way of removing them and wondered if it just needed a knack or a bit of force. Didn't want to break the bracket just in case !!

I'm afraid my EOS 40D doesn't have an IR facility. I'll investigate the camera specific bracket to check out the offset. I just assumed that there was no room for the release cable once in the portrait position ???

Alternatively a cheapie generic L bracket might be the easiest solution

 

[HoppyUK]

Thanks for that I couldn't see a way of removing them and wondered if it just needed a knack or a bit of force. Didn't want to break the bracket just in case !!

I'm afraid my EOS 40D doesn't have an IR facility. I'll investigate the camera specific bracket to check out the offset. I just assumed that there was no room for the release cable once in the portrait position ???

Alternatively a cheapie generic L bracket might be the easiest solution

If the Manfrotto plate is secured with a bolt/s, and not cast with the L-bracket, then it will come off. Might need heat/force.

But cheapest option would probably be a generic L-bracket (they're actually good quality!) and mount it with an off-set for access. You'll find it a lot easier if you cut about 1cm out of the bracket next to the remote socket, like this http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v1/...ra-body-RRS-Benro-Sirui-Kirk-Markins-Arca.jpg (random google image).

Or, it's easy to built a spacer, for use when you need access to that remote socket. Arca-Swiss stuff is like that, kinda like Meccano for cameras, if you're that way inclined

 

[taxboy]

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

Who would have thought you needed to be an engineer to attach a camera to a tripod !

 

[HoppyUK]

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

Who would have thought you needed to be an engineer to attach a camera to a tripod !

You don't have to be - just pay. But if you're handy with a few basic tools, it helps!

This is what I'd do in your position. Buy a cheap universal L-bracket - I bought this one for £8 http://www.amazon.co.uk/XCSOURCE®-U...28332801&sr=1-1&keywords=arca+swiss+l+bracket just to see if it was any good really. It was, but could be greatly improved, so I set about it with a hack-saw and file. It now fits my 7D like a glove, snug to the left-hand end, with a cut-out for cable access and a nicely rounded corner that doesn't dig into your hand. Could do with some touch-up paint, quite a lot actually, and I'd still have your problem with cable access for vertical framing if I didn't use the IR remote.

I'd solve that with a spacer, made from these two small clamps for £17 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neewer-Alum...=1428332922&sr=1-48&keywords=arca+swiss+clamp attached either side of the cut-out and joined by a £5 60mm A-S plate http://www.amazon.co.uk/PU-60-Quick...8333211&sr=1-3&keywords=arca+swiss+60mm+plate Both the clamps and plate would need a bit of filing and drilling. You'd then have an L-bracket that could be left permanently on the camera, with the spacer attached for verticals It would work pretty much like this Kirk spacer http://www.kirkphoto.com/LBA-1_USB-AC_Spacer_Block.html# though that also requires some work for Canon and it needs an Allen key to fit and remove.

Here's another idea which, thinking about it, might be the best option. Get that universal L-bracket, and any A-S clamp that takes your fancy. Bolt the clamp to the top side of the bracket - job done, no cutting or drilling. You'd end up with something that looks like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-L...mberley-acratech-wimberley-foba-/330893511815 Acratech also do something similar, and probably others too, but only at a price. The above solution would cost les than £15

 

[taxboy]

You don't have to be - just pay. But if you're handy with a few basic tools, it helps!



Here's another idea which, thinking about it, might be the best option. Get that universal L-bracket, and any A-S clamp that takes your fancy. Bolt the clamp to the top side of the bracket - job done, no cutting or drilling. You'd end up with something that looks like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-L...mberley-acratech-wimberley-foba-/330893511815 Acratech also do something similar, and probably others too, but only at a price. The above solution would cost les than £15

Thanks for taking the time over this. My brain is slightly scrambled by looking at various options ! A stupid question I can see how the camera will mount to the universal bracket but how does this mount to my ball head ? Do I need another mounting plate ? Sorry to appear dense over this.

I'm also mulling over a bit of Gear Acquisition Syndrome - a Manfrotto 410 head but I think we'll leave that one well alone for now !!!!

 

[HoppyUK]

You're welcome bud, I'm just thinking out load really. Once you've used Arca-Swiss you will see how it all goes together and everything will make sense.

You already have a ball head with Arca-Swiss clamp, so the A-S L-bracket will fit directly to it, slotting into the 38mm A-S dovetail that runs along the full length.

M'frotto 410 geared head is very nice, converts easily to Arca-Swiss too, but heavy. There's a new and cheaper/lighter XPro geared version http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/product/...3WG/_/XPRO_Geared_3_Way_Head_with_Adapto_Body but it's a bit plasticky and not so rigid.

 

[flintlock1]

I think that Hejnarphoto do a conversion on the 410 for arca-swiss, i have recently got one of these fantastic heads myself. And im looking into getting a reallyrightstuff l plate for my 5D mk2 with grip, so am looking on getting conversion done on my 410.

 

[HoppyUK]

I think that Hejnarphoto do a conversion on the 410 for arca-swiss, i have recently got one of these fantastic heads myself. And im looking into getting a reallyrightstuff l plate for my 5D mk2 with grip, so am looking on getting conversion done on my 410.

Hejnar does lots of Manfrotto conversions, and loads of other cool Arca-Swiss stuff. They'll even make custom parts to special order.

Converting the Manfrotto geared heads is very easy though - just get any Arca-Swiss clamp from Amazon/ebay and bolt is directly to the existing M'frotto QR plate.

Hejnar here http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/

 

[flintlock1]

Even though I have several quick release manfrotto plates for my 410 I can definitely see the benefits of moving to a standard fitting like arca Swiss system.