Quote Originally Posted by Dr Croubie View Post
I was thinking along the lines of getting a RRS Arca-swiss L-bracket, and getting a head to match, I was wondering if it would just clip into something like the 357/501/504 slidy-plates. (I like the idea of the slidy plates because it's less to shell out on a real macro-rail or for panoramae-positioning, even if it's not as easy to use).
Do arca-swiss plates slide, or are they just clipped in and held fast in all directions?
I will give you credit Dr, you come up with some very good ideas. I usually don't shoot macro with a rail, but I think your idea will work. The Wimberley P50 would be ideal. The P40 on my 500mm has two screws in the end that act as a keep to stop it from running out of the head. What Wimberley had in mind is that you can set your supertelephoto lens in your Wimberley head, move it back and forth and balance it perfectly.

It would do what you are asking; I think if you tried this using an Arca Swiss Compatible head, I would go with the screw type head rather than the quick release head. It would give you more control. The only thing I see that might be a problem is the spacing and mounting of the longer plate, as it either needs to mount foward or would need to pass under your camera.