sorry, a which arca swiss ball head question.

[hollis_f]

I saw a 5DMKII specific one but that might limit what i can use on the tripod. I do have two other cameras and while i doubt ill need to put them on the tripod i might at some point.

Ideally you should have plates for every piece of equipment, and leave them on.

And you'll find that the camera-specific (and, to a lesser degree, lens-specific) plates, moulded to fit the bottom of the camera, are a lot less likely to come loose and introduce a bit of wobble.

 

[dave_bass5]

Cheers Richard.
I dont keep plates on any of my cameras. I dont use my tripod much and i find the plate gets caught on my bag when im getting the camera in and out, plus it doesn't feel good sitting in my hand.
My strap also uses the tripod hole an di use that a lot more, so keeping the plate on is not an option
The other camera's are my never used 60D 9that ill probably sell at some point) and my Canon Powershot S110 pocket camera, so it doesn't make sense to buy plates for those, although i guess i could get a cheap generic one just in case.

 

[dave_bass5]

And you'll find that the camera-specific (and, to a lesser degree, lens-specific) plates, moulded to fit the bottom of the camera, are a lot less likely to come loose and introduce a bit of wobble.

Thanks. Im happy to get a proper fitted one for my 5DMKIII, that makes sense as its the camera that will be used on a tripod most but as per my post above, i think a second, generic one will be a better option for the other cameras.

 

[markmullen]

My strap also uses the tripod hole an di use that a lot more, so keeping the plate on is not an option

If you're going Arca Swiss for your camera plates and L brackets then screw a Kirk 1 inch clamp onto your Black Rapid (or whatever) fastener and you've got both tripod plates and straps usable at the same time.

 

[dave_bass5]

If you're going Arca Swiss for your camera plates and L brackets then screw a Kirk 1 inch clamp onto your Black Rapid (or whatever) fastener and you've got both tripod plates and straps usable at the same time.

And more bulk and weight ;-)

Good idea but im trying to keep things simple and light. Ive never found the need to quickly go from strap to tripod, in fact ive never gone from one to the other.
I tend to only take my tripod out at night, and if thats the case i wont have a strap on anyway (although i do have a wrist strap on at all times, just for extra safety).

 

[hollis_f]

I dont keep plates on any of my cameras. I dont use my tripod much and i find the plate gets caught on my bag when im getting the camera in and out, plus it doesn't feel good sitting in my hand.
My strap also uses the tripod hole an di use that a lot more, so keeping the plate on is not an option

My Kirk plate stays on my 7D all the time. It's low-profile and doesn't catch on anything. It also has an additional tripod hole (to the left of the main tripod screw in the linked image) so you can screw something to the bottom of the plate while it's attached to the camera. Plus, there's a cut-out especially for camera straps (on the right of the image). The two empty scre-holes are for the (supplied) safety stops.

IMAGE

 

[dave_bass5]

I can see that having a plate on is a good idea if you use it enough, its just i probably use a tripod about once or twice a month at the most so cant see the point of complicating things.

 

[Deleted member 49549]

Have seen a rather nice head:-

FB-36DDH2

Ordered one today to go with a Feisol CT-3441T

I shall let you know how they go!

 

[dave_bass5]

That does look good.
Ive seen a few mentions of that head in other threads, and all seem very positive.

Look forward to hearing what you think.

 

[HoppyUK]

Have seen a rather nice head:-

FB-36DDH2

Ordered one today to go with a Feisol CT-3441T

I shall let you know how they go!

Sunway's FB series heads are quite new I think, and from what I've tried would confidently expect them to be very good. Sweet combo with that panning clamp and Feisol legs

 

[Deleted member 49549]

Sunway's FB series heads are quite new I think, and from what I've tried would confidently expect them to be very good. Sweet combo with that panning clamp and Feisol legs

And to think i almost dropped over double this money on a set of legs and head before xmas! Really like the idea of the hybrid legs from feisol, tall and sturdy for a traveller set.

Wasn't sure whether to go for a panning head or the feisol cb30, but think i am better fo having the feature than not.

Should be both here tomorrow.

 

[redddraggon]

Did you successfully convert the manfrotto head to arca swiss in the end?

I'm thinking of doing it as the cheapest way of getting a decent L-bracket set up.

 

[dave_bass5]

Sorry, I haven't even thought about it since my last post. I've not actually used my tripod since either. It's still on the cards, I just need to find time to do it.

 

[dave_bass5]

I know this is an old thread, but i wanted to conclude it by saying i ended up getting a Feisol CB-40 ball head and plate, so thanks to those that suggested this make.

The CB 40 seems a bit lower and not as chunky as the Benro, which i like.
I did manage to get the clamp off the Manfrotto head, but never took it any further.

I got a Mefoto Road trip for my birthday, and that has a Arca Swiss ball head on it, so i got a feel for the different systems and much prefer the AS way of doing things.

The Feisol is nice, the only thing it seems to lack is a spirit level, but as most of my tripod use is at night i never look at these things anyway, and i do have a small spirit level that sits in the hot shoe, which is easier to see.

Now i can safely pack them away in the wardrobe lol.