Quick release clips - I hate them!

Ian D J

Ian D J

Michael Fish
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Ian D J
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Hence why I was pleased when I have got hold of a tripod that doesn't HAVE that feature (instead, the grip is attached to the base)!

I don't like this quick release feature that seem to be the norm with tripods these days as 1) You either have to really tighten the base to the camera otherwise the camera wriggles loose from it - but end up doing it too tight that it becomes stuck fast 2) How I need a blunt edge object (2p, etc) to insert in the notch to tighten it up in the first place, something I never seem to have on me when I am out and about with the camera. 3) I have lost the base itself once and am afraid the same will happen again and 4) It becomes very fiddly to see where the base slots in when I'm taking photos in the dark.

Personally, the "quick release" feature is a bit like the philips screwhead, why was it invented when the traditional flathead screw does the job very nicely (and less risk of "shearing")?

Now I like my "new" tripod which houses the traditional screw built in the base, it even has a decent handle grip to tighten up by hand.

But would like to hear your thoughts, though. Maybe it's all in the brand (I use a fairly cheapish Velbon).
 
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I'm going to hazard a guess you have never experienced the arca swiss quick release system then.

They are truly excellent. The plates are fairly unobtrusive on the camera but you can get plates that are molded to the shape of most DSLR body baseplates. Removed the problem of the plate coming loose. The release is a simple twist to tighten, but I have never experienced them coming loose. Also, the system has been adopted by a high number of support manufacturers, so it isn't hard getting spare plates and other heads which work with your plates

Never had any of the problems you describe with it. Unlike some of the other woeful attempts by certain manufacturers.
 
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I get what you mean about having to tighten the QR plate with a coin, mine also came with an allen key which I keep in the pocket of the tripod case. Also, I can't see how it's any easier trying to screw the camera into a non QR tripod in the dark.
 
RichardtheSane said:
I'm going to hazard a guess you have never experienced the arca swiss quick release system then.

They are truly excellent. The plates are fairly unobtrusive on the camera but you can get plates that are molded to the shape of most DSLR body baseplates. Removed the problem of the plate coming loose. The release is a simple twist to tighten, but I have never experienced them coming loose. Also, the system has been adopted by a high number of support manufacturers, so it isn't hard getting spare plates and other heads which work with your plates

Never had any of the problems you describe with it. Unlike some of the other woeful attempts by certain manufacturers.
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Hi Richard, just googled it up and it does look like a variation on the quick release grip = that plate that could get easily lost.
But it's like what you have hinted, perhaps it's all in the makes and how much one is willing to fork out. I just want a basic and fairly light tripod that I could carry around with me (am aware it wouldn't be of much use in windy conditions when it comes to taking night time long exposures outdoors but then again, I tend not to bother going out with the camera whenever it does become too blustery anyway).
 
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terryt said:
I get what you mean about having to tighten the QR plate with a coin, mine also came with an allen key which I keep in the pocket of the tripod case. Also, I can't see how it's any easier trying to screw the camera into a non QR tripod in the dark.
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Hi Terry - and if you lose that allen key? :D Just that I've never liked items that needs to be taken apart in order to use it (apart from lens on the camera, of course). :D
 
Ian D J said:
Hi Richard, just googled it up and it does look like a variation on the quick release grip = that plate that could get easily lost.
But it's like what you have hinted, perhaps it's all in the makes and how much one is willing to fork out. I just want a basic and fairly light tripod that I could carry around with me (am aware it wouldn't be of much use in windy conditions when it comes to taking night time long exposures outdoors but then again, I tend not to bother going out with the camera whenever it does become too blustery anyway).
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You are right, it does depend on how much you are willing to fork out for a working solution. For a lightweight head and a QR plate moulded to my camera base I forked out about £80.

Yes, the plate could get easily lost. If it came off... never had one fall off in my time using them. The arca plates are such low profile things that you don't need to remove them in the field - they just stay attached fine. In fact, mine just stay on the camera most of the time. They don't twist (if you buy one to fit your camera) and they don't get in the way.

I used the manfrotto RC2 system before, and while this is considered one of the better ones it is still (IMO) god awful in comparison to the arca release systems.
 
RichardtheSane said:
You are right, it does depend on how much you are willing to fork out for a working solution. For a lightweight head and a QR plate moulded to my camera base I forked out about £80.

Yes, the plate could get easily lost. If it came off... never had one fall off in my time using them. The arca plates are such low profile things that you don't need to remove them in the field - they just stay attached fine. In fact, mine just stay on the camera most of the time. They don't twist (if you buy one to fit your camera) and they don't get in the way.

I used the manfrotto RC2 system before, and while this is considered one of the better ones it is still (IMO) god awful in comparison to the arca release systems.
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:thumbs:
 
I use an Arca plate on my camera and never take it off. I use a battery grip and even in portrait when I have to hold over the plate it doesn't get in the way.

Price wise Arca is a bit more than Manfrottos RC2 system but there are a lot of brands appearing all the time selling affordable arca swiss compatible stuff. A lot can be had form china for very little or there's a few UK companies selling good value gear. If you want the best though you are talking quite a lot of money however.

It would seem the issue here is you feel the need to remove the plate, which sort of bypasses the point in having a quick release plate in the first place. Why do you take it off?
 
RichardtheSane said:
You are right, it does depend on how much you are willing to fork out for a working solution. For a lightweight head and a QR plate moulded to my camera base I forked out about £80.

Yes, the plate could get easily lost. If it came off... never had one fall off in my time using them. The arca plates are such low profile things that you don't need to remove them in the field - they just stay attached fine. In fact, mine just stay on the camera most of the time. They don't twist (if you buy one to fit your camera) and they don't get in the way.

I used the manfrotto RC2 system before, and while this is considered one of the better ones it is still (IMO) god awful in comparison to the arca release systems.
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^^^ This :thumbs:

Arca-Swiss is by far the best tripod QR solution, preferably with an L-bracket.
 
Ian D J said:
Personally, the "quick release" feature is a bit like the philips screwhead, why was it invented when the traditional flathead screw does the job very nicely (and less risk of "shearing")?
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They "shear" because your using a Phillips screwdriver on a pozidriv screw head. Nobody really uses Phillips screws anymore, but they still sell the screwdrivers because too many people don't understand the difference, they just walk into the DIY shop and ask for a Phillips, if people are asking for them, then there's a profit to be had.

A Phillips driver in a pozidriv screw will cam out almost every single time, you can convert a Phillips driver into a fairly effective Pozidriv by grinding the end down by a few mm.

Not to mention the fact that the Phillips was purpose designed to cam out, in order tp prevent over torque.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives

I can't count how many times i've run a screwdriver into my fingers trying to guide in a traditional slotted screw.
 
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I've only ever used the Manfrotto on my small stuff and have never experienced the problems you seem to have experienced.

I tighten the base as hard as I can to the camera - I don't want it coming off or moving. It will come off if I want to get it off but it doesn't move once it's tightened. I also don't need to get it off once it's on, I leave it fitted, that's the whole point for me. I have a base plate fitted to each body and lens that requires it.

It doesn't require a 'tool' to secure/release it. It has a 'handle' attached.

As for trying to 'see where the base fits in' I don't really find that a problem either. I do a lot of shooting at night in the middle of nowhere. Can't you simply feel where it needs to be? How many different ways can it fit on?

As for the Phillips screwhead, it was designed for purposes that didn't suit the normal slotted flathead :) There's more to it than you might think.
 
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Ian D J said:
Hi Terry - and if you lose that allen key? :D Just that I've never liked items that needs to be taken apart in order to use it (apart from lens on the camera, of course). :D
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Chances of me losing that and/or not having a coin are slim :D

But as above, I keep the QR plate on the camera, it never comes off :)
 
I use the arca swiss system, with a plate like this: http://www.amazon.com/SUNWAYFOTO-PC-5DII-Camera-Compatible-Sunway/dp/B007SF8Z5M
The plate is permanently on my camera, it's designed for my camera so I don't have to over tighten it and worry about it dropping slowly even in portrait position.

The clamps are strong and can't see it fail unless I unscrew it accidentally. Only point of failure I could see for my tripod would be dirt getting into the ballhead.
 
I too use Arca Swiss, my Kirk L Bracket was fitted to my main body the day it arrived and hasn't been off since.

Within the last 5 minutes I just converted my 405 head with the proper Hejnar conversion (I'd bodged it with a Kirk clamp and some washers) like my 410 is, I wouldn't consider any other system that I've seen or used over the AS system.
 
matty D said:
I can't believe people still use flat head screw drivers. That's a bit like not having a quick release system for your tripod ;)
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They have their place - right tool for the job an all that :)
 
How else do you get the lids off paint tins?
 
Nod said:
How else do you get the lids off paint tins?
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There's a proper tool for that job believe it or not. But flat head screws are the devil. And so is the the idiot who decided to put phillips screwdrivers in sets when most screws are PosiDrive and have been for decades.

A posi driver won't slip if done right, a phillips in a posi slips often. Flat heads just mean you're about to start bleeding.
 
I thought I was going to be screwed when I first came up with this question

:lol: :D :naughty:

Anyway, ta for taking the time and effort to reply to my thread (that last word wasn't a pun, by the way).
 
I can not see why you would want to remeove a QR plate from your camera.
I fix plates to all my cameras and just leave them.
 
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That's the one!

If you look at the picture you will see that the camera sits on top of a screw and that underneath it is a rotating knob.

Once the camera is placed on the screw you rotate the knob and hey presto! Your camera is quickly attached.

That is why a QR system is not really necessary.

And the Magicball IS a brilliant head as well.
 
I think Jerry means the MagicBall is so easy to use with a basic screw direct to the camera you don't need a QR plate.

A few other heads have that same system and TBH I think that's debatable, and apart from that, the MagicBall has a few other issues. It doesn't have a great rep, won't tilt forward more than 45 degrees, you can't pan with it, and it ain't cheap.

Edit: crossed post with Jerry :)
 
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jerry12953 said:
That's the one!

If you look at the picture you will see that the camera sits on top of a screw and that underneath it is a rotating knob.

Once the camera is placed on the screw you rotate the knob and hey presto! Your camera is quickly attached.

That is why a QR system is not really necessary.

And the Magicball IS a brilliant head as well.
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Ah right. Pretty much the same as a load of other tripod/monopod heads then in that respect. In fact if we are talking 'mainstream' DSLR bodies and tripod heads etc, isn't that how all non-QR heads attach to a body/lens then, they screw in?

I'm one of those that much prefers a QR system and the Magicball looks like it is far from a quick way to attach and detach from my camera.
 
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HoppyUK said:
I think Jerry means the MagicBall is so easy to use with a basic screw direct to the camera you don't need a QR plate.

A few other heads have that same system and TBH I think that's debatable, and apart from that, the MagicBall has a few other issues. It doesn't have a great rep, won't tilt forward more than 45 degrees, you can't pan with it, and it ain't cheap.

Edit: crossed post with Jerry :)
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You are entitled to your opinion, Richard!;)

It doesn't have a full range of movements and you're right, it doesn't tilt down more than about 45 degrees, but it's a damn sight more flexible than a normal ball and socket head.
 
jerry12953 said:
That's the one!

If you look at the picture you will see that the camera sits on top of a screw and that underneath it is a rotating knob.

Once the camera is placed on the screw you rotate the knob and hey presto! Your camera is quickly attached.

That is why a QR system is not really necessary.

And the Magicball IS a brilliant head as well.
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If you only ever use one tripod head, maybe that would be an adequate method. Still not that quick really though, and opens the system up to risk when attaching the camera to a tripod out in the field.
 
RichardtheSane said:
If you only ever use one tripod head, maybe that would be an adequate method. Still not that quick really though, and opens the system up to risk when attaching the camera to a tripod out in the field.
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I have two Magicballs, actually!

Although I wouldn't recommend the smallest one for anything other than a lightweight lens/body combination.

I just wonder if those critical of this head have actually ever tried one.
 
jerry12953 said:
I have two Magicballs, actually!

Although I wouldn't recommend the smallest one for anything other than a lightweight lens/body combination.

I just wonder if those critical of this head have actually ever tried one.
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I haven't used one before but I struggle to see how 'you don't NEED a QR system with a Magicball'.

It looks no different from other threaded ones I've tried and essentially requires two-hands to attach to a body or lens.

It also looks like it would take considerably longer to locate, thread and secure the camera/lens to the Magicball.
 
Lucky you Jerry :D
 
RichardtheSane said:
If you only ever use one tripod head, maybe that would be an adequate method. Still not that quick really though, and opens the system up to risk when attaching the camera to a tripod out in the field.
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I use several heads and pano heads all fitted with the same fitting manfrotto QR system. So changing anything in the field is a no brainer.
I even have a spare QR head.
 
Hi, back again. The "leaving the QR plate on the camera at all times" is a sound idea, except I have three cameras and just the one tripod, so I'd have to keep unscrewing the plate of the camera into the other one, etc.

Or get three lots of tripods.

Now I have the two (the original one with the QR clip) and the "classic version" I've just recently bought, it should be less of an issue for me. :-D

I actually quite like that magicball concept, though - looks like a "best of both worlds" thing. Bet it does come with a hefty price tag.
 
Ian D J said:
Hi, back again. The "leaving the QR plate on the camera at all times" is a sound idea, except I have three cameras and just the one tripod, so I'd have to keep unscrewing the plate of the camera into the other one, etc.

Or get three lots of tripods.

Now I have the two (the original one with the QR clip) and the "classic version" I've just recently bought, it should be less of an issue for me. :-D

I actually quite like that magicball concept, though - looks like a "best of both worlds" thing. Bet it does come with a hefty price tag.
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Or get two extra QR plates, being the logical solution :)
 
jerry12953 said:
I have two Magicballs, actually!

Although I wouldn't recommend the smallest one for anything other than a lightweight lens/body combination.

I just wonder if those critical of this head have actually ever tried one.
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I'm not critical of the head, I can just see it is not suited to my needs :)
 
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