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Most stable quick release plate system for heavy lenses?

Anaxagore

Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2005
Messages
149
Format
Medium Format
Hi all,

I often use the simple Manfrotto 200PL plates, with corresponding support in the tripod head.
I was trying to use it recently with a heavy, long focal length lens for which stability is paramount, and could not get a single picture without movement blur. The problem was not the tripod, nor the plate-head connection, but rather the plate-lens connection as even when the plate was screwed very tightly to the lens, there was still some movement of the lens with respect to that plate.

So, I’d like to get a better head/plate system.
I suppose that a plate with two screws (as the heavy lenses do have two screw holes, aligned with the lens barrel, and so does the camera) would certainly be better.

Can the distance between screws be adjusted in all plates, so that it matches the distance on the lens or camera?

What would be your best choice for the utmost stability?

Thanks!

A.
 
Manfrotto Hex plates have set screws which could help. There are a thousand and one Arca-Swiss type plates and some have multiple mount screws with adjustable position. Or there are elaborate contraptions like above which can help if you don't have appropriately placed mount points on the lens.