Quick release plates

winsnick

winsnick

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Nicolas
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Hello and a very Happy New Year to all the talk photography members !
A quick question about QR plates. Some are designed for each individual camera (Really Right Stuff for example) but most are generic. With a heavy camera + grip (d700+MB-D10) and longish lenses (80-200 f/2.8 & 24-70 f/2.8), I am worried that I would get some rotation between the camera and the plate even with a good make like Manfrotto. I would like a good tripod (looking at Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, Gitzo too expensive) with a ball head or the 322RC2 joystick. If I have to, I am prepared to go with a RRS bh-40 maybe, although it is much more expensive!
I'd like to hear your thoughts,
Nicolas.
 
Is a ball head suited to a heavy camera and grip? It could sag a bit. Maybe you could compare a ball head to something else like a pan and tilt?

I used to have a Manfrotto 055, but I don't think it was the model you quoted. Basically it frustrated the hell out of me and I now use a Benbo which I find allows me to get my camera into the positions I want and is also much more stable than the Manfrotto I had.
 
I use a gitzo pod with a markins q3 head and rrs plates with all my lenses and it copes quite easily with the weight, it's s dream to use to I would never go back now. Also spend as much as you can now or you'll be spending again very soon, get good stuff you wontneed to change any time soon
 
I think those camera-specific plates are a 'marketing feature' ie a useless gimmick. I've just bought a couple and deliberately avoided camera-specific in case they don't fit my next camera. If you get any rotation of the plate the camera is massively out of balance and you're likely to rip the bush out - use the lens collar.

You can't compare the Manfrotto joystick to RRS or Markins - different league (although I'll be happy to sell you mine ;) ). I've just kitted out with Benro tripod and head, as have a few others on here - very high quality Chinese copies of Gitzo tripods and Arca-Swiss heads at less than half price. It's ace kit. Recommended ebay seller here http://stores.ebay.com/DCs-Photography-Store Zero extras to pay :thumbs:
 
I use the RRS clamps and plates for all my gear and on heavy lenses mount from the lens, I use a rrs ballhead and its rock solid, I did have a manfrotto joystick head but found it was not up to the job.
 
I use both Manfrotto and Giottos QR plates on my 40D with the 70-200L, never had any movement between the plate and the camera.

If you are concerned, Giottos make larger QR plates (aimed at video market) that could be used with a large stills camera. These have a larger surface area.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. If I sum up, the RSS camera specific plates are a dream to use and a useless gimmick. Generic plates won't give me movement between the plate and the camera but if I'm concerned I need the bigger plates. Manfrotto legs are not very good, Benro and Gitzo are better.
The legs I was looking at are the 055 carbon fiber version (because lighter)
All very confusing still, but I still love forums !
Thank you and keep the opinions coming !
Nicolas
 
winsnick said:
Thank you everyone for your replies. If I sum up, the RSS camera specific plates are a dream to use and a useless gimmick. Generic plates won't give me movement between the plate and the camera but if I'm concerned I need the bigger plates. Manfrotto legs are not very good, Benro and Gitzo are better.
The legs I was looking at are the 055 carbon fiber version (because lighter)
All very confusing still, but I still love forums !
Thank you and keep the opinions coming !
Nicolas
Click to expand...

Not a bad summary :)

I wouldn't say those custom plates are completely useless (even if I did say it earlier!) if they save a disaster. Point is, if you've got so much leverage on the mount to make it even think about moving, you should be looking at an alternative means of support or mounting. That's what lens collars are for. L- brackets might be good for that, at least they take the strain off the camera, but it's not what they're designed to do.

I have a 70mm plate on the camera because I can just leave it on and the extra length makes the camera more stable when you just plonk it down on the table or something. Anything longer than that and it becomes uncomfortable to hold and I couldn't open the battery compartment etc. The other thing I like about a longer plate is that if you shoot macro and want to move the camera half and inch to the left, you can just slide it along the plate without disturbing anything.

Manfrotto make good tripods! Not exactly rocket science is it, but an 055 in carbon is a very good support. They are just not as finely engineered as Gitzo or the Benro copies - having compared Gitzo and Benro with every test I can think of, they are both really nicely made, very light and strong. BTW, Manfrotto and Gitzo are made by the same company.

Check out this review of ball heads. It's in German, but you'll get the gist of it with this Babelfish translation http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...TF8&me=&qid=1262442678&sr=8-1-catcorr&seller= The usual suspects from Europe and the US come out top - RRS, Markins, Arca etc - but the Benros and other Chinese copies are also right up there for much less money.

Edit: one more thing about long plates - they obviously force you to fit the plate long-ways along the camera. I prefer it that way but some people like to fit them fore/aft, presumably because it moves the locking screw round to the side. Just a point to note I guess. I think that's all I've got to say about camera plates! Oh, the CNC engineering on the aircraft-quality ally is v nice if you're into that kind of sadness ;)
 
Thank you Hoppy and Chilliz for your input, I am now leaning towards a wimberley P5 universal plate with an arca swiss Z1 sp ballhead. (And keep it for life). As for the legs, the internet is full of praise for Benro, can anyone recommend a good set that is quite tall (I mesure 184cm) and I don't want to cramp my back when I aiming upwards !
 
winsnick said:
Thank you Hoppy and Chilliz for your input, I am now leaning towards a wimberley P5 universal plate with an arca swiss Z1 sp ballhead. (And keep it for life). As for the legs, the internet is full of praise for Benro, can anyone recommend a good set that is quite tall (I mesure 184cm) and I don't want to cramp my back when I aiming upwards !
Click to expand...

I have a Benro C-257 M8 with J-2 head. Very nice they both are too :)

I'm 5' 8" and this puts the camera precisely at eye level for me, without any extension on the centre column. I can't remember when I last actually used a tripod at full height though, but I guess some folks might.

All I would say is, if you get one that is as big as you will ever need, but that you tend to use at mostly lower levels most of the time, you'll end up with something massive that you won't want to take with you.
 
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