Universal Arca plates

LMNOP · Nov 17, 2015

Hey APUG,

Gotta change all my QR plates over to Arca! This is long overdue, and frankly I wish I never got into the Manfrotto game, it would have been cheaper to start with Arca. I've yet to upgrade my tripod legs, but my new ball head will require Arca type plates, and I only have 1 coming for my RZ67. As for my other cameras, I am sort of stumped. The GW690 seems to have an option out there, so do my various 35mm cameras, but most importantly, my large format rig, the Calumet C400 - I'm not sure where to go on that one.

Has anyone used a lower cost universal plate on any of these cameras? I see some on Amazon for like 12 bucks, much more appealing than the custom 60 dollar versions. Any input is appreciated.

nsurit · Nov 17, 2015

I've used the plates from acratech.net for a number of years on a variety of different cameras and have been more than pleased. Great quality at a fair price. Bill Barber

munz6869 · Nov 17, 2015

I have a couple of genuine Arca plates and heaps of $4 cheapies from eBay. The Arca ones are beautifully machined, the cheaper ones not so much - however, they ALL do the job fine. If I were wealthier, I'd get all Arca ones, but sadly this is not the case.

Marc!

narsuitus · Nov 18, 2015

munz6869 said:
I have a couple of genuine Arca plates and heaps of $4 cheapies from eBay. The Arca ones are beautifully machined, the cheaper ones not so much - however, they ALL do the job fine.

Also my experience.

Dr Croubie · Nov 18, 2015

Big arca-clamp fan here. Accumulated quite a collection over years of fleabay watching.
I've got arca plates on everything from my 7D and EOS 3 (custom fitted Kirk L-brackets), and generic plates on my K88CM, M645, some big lenses like 180/2.8 and 300/4 Sonnars, even my Toyo 45G and Cambo SCX 8x10 have arca plates.
Some are Kirk, some Acratech, some Really Right Stuff, lots of Sunwayfoto (they're great for the price).
Got a Sunwayfoto DYH90 levelling base on my biggest tripod and a 20cm long plate on my 8x10, it's magnificently stable (as is everything lighter).
Also, I've got a Kirk SS1 security strap which means I can walk with every camera hung around my neck (although Marc's witnessed what happened when I undid the wrong clamp and my M645 went-a-tumbling).
Walked around with my travelwide hung off my shoulder last weekend using it.

Ironically, the only genuine 'arca swiss' branded item I own is a Monoball P0 head on my smaller tripod, which has a non-arca-type clamp on it, so I had to order the model with a screwthread and put a 3" Kirk clamp on it.

LMNOP · Nov 18, 2015

Ahhh, mixed info. BH chat told me ONLY Arca branded plates will work! I am guessing this is a sales tactic, though they are usually above that kind of thing.

cowanw · Nov 18, 2015

Depends if the head is a flip lever or screw capture mount. If the later most if not all plates will work. If flip lever, not so much.

Dr Croubie · Nov 18, 2015

LMNOP said:
Ahhh, mixed info. BH chat told me ONLY Arca branded plates will work! I am guessing this is a sales tactic, though they are usually above that kind of thing.

It's possible that they weren't lying, but maybe ill-informed.
See my post above about the Monoball P0. It's a genuine Arca-Swiss brand, but if you buy this one, it doesn't have an 'arca-type' quick release, it's got some weird 'slidefix' thingy that you need special plates for (just like manfrotto). So I had to buy this one and put on this clamp (the extra grubscrew stops it rotating). Although apparently now you can get this ballhead with a proper 'arca-type' clamp, but I couldn't at the time (3 years ago).

The clamp/lever thingy can also catch you out, best solution is get one with both like this one that I've got on my big tripod for my 8x10. I can actually notice, when I switch to my 4x5 (with a different brand clamp on the rail) I have to adjust the screw bit or the lever doesn't clamp properly. You can get lever clamps with less-obvious screw adjusters (like inside the clamp), but if it doesn't have any adjustment avoid it.

John Koehrer · Nov 18, 2015

Some of the cheapies need a little modification to work right. A few have had locking grooves in non compatible locations.
Nothing a file or dremel tool won't fix.

mfmike · Nov 21, 2015

Add another vote here for the Acratech universal Arca style plate. Not as inexpensive as some, but beautifully made and comes with a captive screw and a tool.
Cheers,
Mike

Rolfe Tessem · Nov 21, 2015

I don't think you can go wrong with Acratech, Really Right Stuff, or Kirk. When I bought my Arca B1 years ago at B&H, the sales guy steared me to RRS and said to forget the actual Arca ones.

Rolfe

LMNOP · Nov 25, 2015

I need some perspective here...

I ordered an Acra Tech plate to go with my Kirk plate, that way I could have one on my RZ67 and my GW690. This is all mounting to my Arca Swiss Monoball B1. I've just received the Acratech plate only to find that it wiggles back and forth inside the fliplock clamp unless I adjust the tension.

Is this normal? Should I have to switch the tension in the flip lock for each brand of plate? I dont understand how this can be labeled "universal" when there is play between different brands. I have a second Kirk brand plate here and it works just fine at the same tension as the other Kirk plate. The Acratech is smaller. Is there a reason for this or solution other than adjusting tension every time I use my GW690?

cowanw · Nov 25, 2015

LMNOP said:
I need some perspective here...

I ordered an Acra Tech plate to go with my Kirk plate, that way I could have one on my RZ67 and my GW690. This is all mounting to my Arca Swiss Monoball B1. I've just received the Acratech plate only to find that it wiggles back and forth inside the fliplock clamp unless I adjust the tension.

Is this normal? Should I have to switch the tension in the flip lock for each brand of plate? I dont understand how this can be labeled "universal" when there is play between different brands. I have a second Kirk brand plate here and it works just fine at the same tension as the other Kirk plate. The Acratech is smaller. Is there a reason for this or solution other than adjusting tension every time I use my GW690?

Read post #7
Yes this is normal.
Get rid of the flip lock and use a screw tightener or stick with one manufacturer

LMNOP · Nov 25, 2015

cowanw said:
Read post #7
Yes this is normal.
Get rid of the flip lock and use a screw tightener or stick with one manufacturer

Wow. Thank you. Its a relief to hear that put into words. Now I wonder if I should return this or just switch clamps. To be honest this fliplock feels sort of flimsy. I wish this was more clear from the beginning, I appreciate your comments.

Universal Arca plates

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