Proper Arca Clamp Size

[dsiegel5151]

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/N...aspx?News=7236

Take a look at this... Manfrotto just anounced a head with a Arca Swiss style clamp.

Pat

Wow, that's sweet. I'm glad Manfrotto finally jumped on board. Over the years it seemed that Manfrotto had no desire to move to an Arca-Swiss type clamp, and furthermore, they made their heads harder to convert to Arca-Swiss clamp heads. I always tell people to get a used Manfrotto 489 RC4 for cheap, take the RC4 clamp off, and then add whatever clamp you wish (this is one head that Manfrotto makes that can be converted to pretty much any type of clamp). This is a good entry-level combination and I have had no problems over the years with this combination for any of my lenses/cameras. I just never saw the point in investing in Manfrotto plates, as they were worthless when upgrading to a nicer head, they are architecturally poor, incompatible with many additional accessories, and a pain in the a&$ when you are shooting with a friend who has Arca-Swiss clamps (i.e., trading gear back and forth was impossible).

I've never used the new series of ball heads from Manfrotto, but to be honest, for how much those new ball heads cost ($300) with the Arca-Swiss clamp, I would probably just get an Acratech GV2. I bought and built my Manfrotto 489 RC4 ball head into a Manfrotto 489 "Wimberley" for $140 (granted, the old 489 is not that easy to find anymore).

[neuroanatomist]

I've never used the new series of ball heads from Manfrotto, but to be honest, for how much those new ball heads cost ($300) with the Arca-Swiss clamp, I would probably just get an Acratech GV2. I bought and built my Manfrotto 489 RC4 ball head into a Manfrotto 489 "Wimberley" for $140 (granted, the old 489 is not that easy to find anymore).

I didn't realize they were that expensive. I had a 468MG (hydrostatic ballhead) that was very good. But for the cost of that head plus a Wimberley C-12 clamp, it comes close to an RRS BH-40 and the latter is an excellent head.

[mcarriganphotos]

That's funny it is announced the day I ask about it. You know, I don't think that Kirk's L-Plate will work. The L-Plate is "hollowed" or "skeletonized" to safe weight and access ports on the camera and I don't think it will contact the safety pin that Manfrotto has on it. Also dosen't look like the Q6 will be used on and Classic heads like the 498 series which is what I was really looking at.

[dsiegel5151]

I didn't realize they were that expensive. I had a 468MG (hydrostatic ballhead) that was very good. But for the cost of that head plus a Wimberley C-12 clamp, it comes close to an RRS BH-40 and the latter is an excellent head.

Yeah, I could only find the prices on the Manfrotto website. I'm sure they will be a little lower when B&H gets ahold of them. On the Manfrotto website, the lowest level ball head (054) with the Arca Swiss clamp is $278. The Arca Swiss clamp does not appear to be an option on the 057 (highest level ball head) and runs $306 for the 055. Unless these ball heads are significantly nicer than the previous Manfrotto heads, I'd be looking Acratech all the way. But then again, maybe they are awesome and well worth the investment. The Arca Swiss clamps will definitely have more people willing to fork out that kind of money. I'll wait for Bryan to tell me that these are comparable/better than other similarly priced heads before I fork out the dough, as I've been thinking about the Acratech GV2 for awhile.