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QR plate slipping

abruzzi

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2018
Messages
3,331
Location
New Mexico, USA
Format
Large Format
I have an older Bogen tripod with one of those hex shaped QR plate. When I attach it to a medium format camera like my Pentax 67 or Bronica GS-1, it seems to hold just fine for my purposes, but when attached to a large format camera like my Technika or Shen Hao, the force of inserting the film holder frequently makes it slip a bit, even though I do my best to minimize the force needed by holding the back apart.

now, it’s old and maybe the cork on the top of the plate just isn’t as grippy any more. I was looking at replacement QR plates, and in eBay, I can get what look to be Chinese aftermarket plates brand new for ~$15 with what looks like rubber tops instead of cork. I was thinking of buying a couple (also because I’d like to mount them permanently to my large format cameras, so I’m not having to move the plate.

has anyone tried these aftermarket plates? Is their build quality decent? Anyone have other ideas to get a more positive grip on the camera?
 
I've used those plates in the past with both MF & LF cameras. However, overall I've always had a separate plate mounted on each unit minimizing the change over issues and the under or over tightening issues as needed. For $15 it might be worth a try. If not an ultimate upgrade across the board to a more modern tripod head and QR plates might be in order. I moved away from the Bogen hexagon plate way too many years ago now as it was also a very heavy assembly overall with tripod head and such. Good luck with whatever you plan to do in the end.
 
The hexplate has extra set screws around the perimeter to use to lock the plate to the camera body from twisting. I use the version without the thumbscrew and leave it on the camera body, reserving the regular thumbscrew plates for smaller format cameras.
 
Last edited:
Gary, thanks for posting the image. It reminded me that years ago I bought some counterfeit Manfrotto hex plates that didn't have those set screws.

OP, does your hex plate have the set screws?
 
I'd think about new cork or rubber on the plate.
If you want some cork about 1/16" I have about four lifetimes supply
and would be happy to send you some. If it needs to be thicker use a couple of layers.
Rubber jar openers work OK if you want rubber. A piece of each if you want a hybrid.
 
Dan Fromm said:
OP, does your hex plate have the set screws?
Click to expand...

It has a threaded hole for a set screws but no screw. It has two other holes that are the same size, but they're not threaded. I think I'm pretty set that I need a new plate (well, multiple). I haven't decided on the cheap ebay special or the real thing from Manfrotto. I'm thinking probably to pay for the real item from B&H. Its not that much more.
 
Be sure and get one like in the picture with the slotted screw, comes with setscrews and meant to be left on the camera long term.
 
to come back around to this, I got the new plates in the mail from B&H. (it turns out the the factory plates from B&H aren't that much more expensive than the unknown manufacture plates from China.)

Installed and lightly tightened the set screws (don't want to mar up the bottom of the camera too much), and its rock solid on the tripod. Thanks for the help.
 
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