Arca Swiss plates - other than black? ("silver")

PerTulip

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Messages
226
Location
Vienna
Format
Medium Format
Hi!

We love our cameras and we also care how they look.

I was researching Arca Swiss (compatible) plates and it seems there is some kind of law that only black is allowed.

I wanted to fit my "chrome"/black Nikon FE2 with a plate and was searching for a small plate, matching the color of the bottom ("Chrome", "Silver", "Metal", "Aluminium"). Does anybody know a source/manufacturer that has plates in other colors than black?
 
OP
OP

PerTulip

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Messages
226
Location
Vienna
Format
Medium Format
I am in Europe. Thanks for the two links, but they don‘t ship to Europe. I used the product names to search eBay and others, to no avail.
 

wiltw

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
6,460
Location
SF Bay area
Format
Multi Format
You might inquire at a metal plating shop near you: Can black anodized aluminum alloy be overplated with a chrome/nickel finish?

Quick research indicates you can chrome plate aluminum:
"US Chrome is able to hard chrome plate on many different surfaces including Aluminum, Titanium, Inconel, Brass, Copper, Steel, Nickel Alloys, Cast Iron, Bronze and many more exotic metals." Whether the anodizing has to be etched off, etc. is not detailed.​

More quick research reveals:
"An article on the coating website Anodizing, Plating, Powder Coating, & Surface Finishing “Changing Anodizing Color ? ( 2005 )” says one needs to strip dyed anodized aluminium between colour changes. According to the article, one cannot simply anodize over dyed anodized aluminium."​
 
Last edited:

jimjm

Subscriber
Joined
May 2, 2007
Messages
1,228
Location
San Diego CA
Format
Multi Format
A search of Arca-Swiss compatible plates at B&H Photo shows several manufacturers that offer plates in gray finish, as well as other colors like blue, green, orange, etc.
I would expect B&H could ship to Europe...
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1281670-REG/mefoto_pmu25ttn_backpacker_air_quick_release.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1597106-REG/nisi_nisi_a_65g_pro_quick_release_plate.html

I'm partial to the Novoflex brand (blue) myself, currently using longer plates on a heavy 8x10 Deardorff camera. Very secure attachment and good quality.
 
OP
OP

PerTulip

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Messages
226
Location
Vienna
Format
Medium Format
wiltw said:
You might inquire at a metal plating shop near you: Can black anodized aluminum alloy be overplated with a chrome/nickel finish?...
Click to expand...
I did that once with a bicycle frame. Sandblasting, then anodizing.

Might not be the worst idea.....
 

abruzzi

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2018
Messages
3,088
Location
New Mexico, USA
Format
Large Format
Get a black FE2? (Ok, that’s not helpful, but some of these other approaches sound like they’ll cost almost as much.)
 

macfred

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 6, 2014
Messages
3,839
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
OP
OP

PerTulip

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Messages
226
Location
Vienna
Format
Medium Format
abruzzi said:
Get a black FE2? ....
Click to expand...
I have many black cameras... :-D

macfred said:
This one is on Amazon GER - they'll ship to Austria I guess https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07NP46RDB/ref=cbw_us_de_dp_ags?smid=A3OJWAJQNSBARP
Click to expand...
It's searchable/findable on Amazon, but it's offered by Amazon US and they don't ship. "Dieser Artikel kann nicht an den von Ihnen ausgewählten Lieferort versendet werden.....Verkauf und Versand durch Amazon US"
And shipping costs+fees (new regulations since 01.07, FYI!), would be prohibititive. Shipping costs from Asia (Japan, China,..) are tolerable, but for some reason, ordering in the US is always very expensive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…