Most stable quick release plate/ for heavy systems?

[Anaxagore]

Hi all,

 

[neilt3]

Hi all,

Can you be any more cryptic ?
Define "heavy system" .

Do you mean 5"x4" , 7"x5" , an old 10"x8" tailboard camera , ULF ?
Medium format , 135 ?
A large half frame camera ?

Lot's of options , depending on your weight requirement's .

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I use Arca-Swiss type plates on everything from cellphone camera adapters to 11x14". Maybe I have one or two original A-S, and the others are from RRS, Kirk, one custom one for Sinar, and a bunch of generic ones from eBay. For the large flatbed cameras, I use longer plates. In general, I find screw clamps to be more solid than lever clamps, particularly when the plates might be manufactured to slightly different tolerances. I also use longer clamps for larger cameras.

A convenient thing with a folding flatbed camera that has a tripod thread on the body and on the bed, like my 4x5" Linhof Tech V, is to put a short plate on the body and a longer plate on the bed, oriented so they line up, and with a long clamp you can slide the camera from one plate to the other (when the bed is in the flat position) for better balance with different lenses and focus positions. It also serves as an ersatz macro rail in a pinch.

 

[Arthurwg]

I'm using a SCHOON quick release for my heavier equipment. It's German and well made but it's rather primitive, without any failsafe release. I wouldn't carry a camera attached to a tripod with this, even if I were strong enough.

 

[Two23]

The problem with most QR is they have relatively small surface areas. That makes them a focus point of vibrations. I'll use large area QR plate that is Arca/Swiss compatible up to 5x7 camera, but will not use one on my 8x10.


Kent in SD

 

[neilt3]

The problem with most QR is they have relatively small surface areas. That makes them a focus point of vibrations. I'll use large area QR plate that is Arca/Swiss compatible up to 5x7 camera, but will not use one on my 8x10.


Kent in SD

I'm typically using a Manfrotto 410 for my larger gear .
Bronica ETRSi, Bronica SQ-Ai, Kiev 88 , Mamiya TLRs and 5x4 cameras .
It holds them rock solid .

I've not used my Kodak half plate/ 7x5 tailboard camera or 10x8 with it yet out in the field , but suspect it's capacity would be too borderline to those cameras weights ( including lens) to be satisfactory stable.
I have a leveling head that goes directly on the tripod and can connect directly to the 3/8" mount of the camera .
The tripod needs to be set up almost exactly right , the adjuster is just for fine tuning .

@ the OP , read this thread , it might help you .

Ball or Three-way for MF

I’ve got an RB67 on the way and need to get a head for my tripod (Bogen 3051) to accommodate it. What do you guys prefer for medium format, a ballhead or a three-way head? The RB67 has a rotating back, so there’s no need to flip it on its side to take vertical shots. This will be used out in...

www.photrio.com

But specify what gear you consider a "heavy system" for better guidance.

 

[juan]

I use RRS for my smaller formats, the SINAR system for those cameras, and don't use quick release at all for 8x10. I have an 8x10 field camera and its much more stable sitting flat on the big, flat tripod head platform. I've seen too many cameras fall off the tripod with the Bogen/ Manfrotto system to use that again.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I use Kessler Crane Quick Release V2. Note that they have a whole system of quick release for photography and videography systems beside camera use. They claim to be the heaviest Arca type quick release system made. I use it for my RB67 and 4x5 and it seems very strong.

Kwik Release

Discover the Kessler Kwik Release Receiver, featuring a patented drop-in design and an audible click for secure confirmation. Experience unrivaled versatility with adjustable Kessler plates and a robust 65 lb. vertical hold cam lock. Transform your rig today!

kesslercrane.com

 

[Besk]

Like many of us I have a wide variety of cameras and resisted using the Arca-Swiss system for a many years but finally succumbed and, like David Goldfarb said above, use it for everything. I also use the screw clamps rather than lever clamps because of the wide variety of plates on my cameras.

The clamp is small for the very light traveling tripods. But the clamps are much longer on the heavier tripods which are used for everything up to 5x7 field type cameras.

The Sinar system can 't be beat for the their rail cameras though.

 

[Anaxagore]

I'm typically using a Manfrotto 410 for my larger gear .
Bronica ETRSi, Bronica SQ-Ai, Kiev 88 , Mamiya TLRs and 5x4 cameras .
It holds them rock solid .

I've not used my Kodak half plate/ 7x5 tailboard camera or 10x8 with it yet out in the field , but suspect it's capacity would be too borderline to those cameras weights ( including lens) to be satisfactory stable.
I have a leveling head that goes directly on the tripod and can connect directly to the 3/8" mount of the camera .
The tripod needs to be set up almost exactly right , the adjuster is just for fine tuning .

@ the OP , read this thread , it might help you .

Ball or Three-way for MF

I’ve got an RB67 on the way and need to get a head for my tripod (Bogen 3051) to accommodate it. What do you guys prefer for medium format, a ballhead or a three-way head? The RB67 has a rotating back, so there’s no need to flip it on its side to take vertical shots. This will be used out in...

www.photrio.com

But specify what gear you consider a "heavy system" for better guidance.

Let’s say I want to use it on longer lenses of the Rollei system - whether the moderately heavy 60-140 zoom (light enough to be shot handheld but a good workout, and the weight does not help stability when handheld), the lighter 300mm, or the much heavier 1000mm (8740g, but the size of the length creates torque that makes it feel heavier) for which stability is paramount, maybe some others.
The camera and most longer or heavier lenses of the system have one 1/4” and one 3/8” holes, but the distance between both varies. On the 140-280, the smaller hole is closer to the body, on the other one it is closer to the front of the lens.
Some lenses have a larger outer diameter even close to the body, so plates cannot protrude to the front, and using some digital backs they cannot either protrude to the back without impairing some functionality, so about 7cm is the maximum plate length for the body (for lenses of course it is not important)

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Let’s say I want to use it on longer lenses of the Rollei system - whether the moderately heavy 60-140 zoom (light enough to be shot handheld but a good workout, and the weight does not help stability when handheld), the lighter 300mm, or the much heavier 1000mm (8740g, but the size of the length creates torque that makes it feel heavier) for which stability is paramount, maybe some others.
The camera and most longer or heavier lenses of the system have one 1/4” and one 3/8” holes, but the distance between both varies. On the 140-280, the smaller hole is closer to the body, on the other one it is closer to the front of the lens.
Some lenses have a larger outer diameter even close to the body, so plates cannot protrude to the front, and using some digital backs they cannot either protrude to the back without impairing some functionality, so about 7cm is the maximum plate length for the body (for lenses of course it is not important)

Kessler has 4" and 6" long plates that have a 1/4 and 3/8" moveable screws to adjust to the distance between the screw holes on the camera or lens.

 

[Anaxagore]

Kessler has 4" and 6" long plates that have a 1/4 and 3/8" moveable screws to adjust to the distance between the screw holes on the camera or lens.

Do they have shorter ones? 4” are already 10cm, the plate should not be longer than 2.75”…

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Do they have shorter ones? 4” are already 10cm, the plate should not be longer than 2.75”…

They have different kind of plates with two screws. See this link at the bottom. Call them also to explain your issue.

Kwik Release

Discover the Kessler Kwik Release Receiver, featuring a patented drop-in design and an audible click for secure confirmation. Experience unrivaled versatility with adjustable Kessler plates and a robust 65 lb. vertical hold cam lock. Transform your rig today!

kesslercrane.com

These smaller mounting stands may work:
https://kesslercrane.com/products/kwik-stand-mini the quick stand mini is 2 1/2" deep. Click on eh Specs link after opening this link.