Tripod Usage?

[Dave Throgmartin]

Based off other reading I had though the modern Arca Swiss ball heads did not play nice with the traditional "standard" Arca Swiss system -- RRS, Kirk camera plates, etc... would not fit.

Am I mistaken with that point?

Dave

[conropl]

Based off other reading I had though the modern Arca Swiss ball heads did not play nice with the traditional "standard" Arca Swiss system -- RRS, Kirk camera plates, etc... would not fit.

Am I mistaken with that point?

Dave

If I understand what you are saying, I would say you are mistaken. I have Kirk "L" bracket on my camera, Wimberley plate on a lens foot, and some other off brand on another lens foot. All work fine with my Arca-Swiss ball head.

As for my tripod... I debated over light vs. stiffness. I also wanted the hieght without jacking up the column. The big and heavy tripod solved more problems for me. I do not mind carrying the weight. The camera and lens are usually on the tripod when I hike. It is extended and I throw it over my shoulder. Or I can fold it and strap it over my shoulder or back pack. I can tear it down and pack it in a suitcase, or I ship it to my destination. I would like a light one as a backup some day... but there are other things before that.

[Kayaker72]

Based off other reading I had though the modern Arca Swiss ball heads did not play nice with the traditional "standard" Arca Swiss system -- RRS, Kirk camera plates, etc... would not fit.

Am I mistaken with that point?

Dave

I am not sure what you are reading. There may be some truth to it, or maybe not. All "arca swiss" style plates made by different manufacturers are not actually the same size. This is somewhat irrelevant if your head/plateform is a screw in type as each time you screw in the clamp, you "customize it" to the specific plate. But, for example, I have a Really Right Stuff "L bracket" plate and a Markins "quick release" ballhead/platform. Different manufacturers, potentially slightly different sizes. But, my quick release clamp/platform is customizable and I have it set up to Really Right Stuff's dimensions. I might not be able to take a Kirk plate and put it on my ballhead as that might have slightly different dimensions (for example).

So, if this is what you are referring, that the "arca swiss" plates can be slightly different between manufacturers, the solution is to:

1. Have a screw in clamp
2. Have a customizable quick release clamp and use plates from the same manufacturer (this is what I do)
3. Buy ballheads and plates from the same manufacturer.

A bit more on this can be found here and here.

[peety3]

Based off other reading I had though the modern Arca Swiss ball heads did not play nice with the traditional "standard" Arca Swiss system -- RRS, Kirk camera plates, etc... would not fit.

Am I mistaken with that point?

I too find this surprising to hear. I've got a mixed system from three manufacturers with no show-stoppers:

RRS: L-brackets on 2 cameras, screw clamps on monopod and tripod, lever clamps on floor plate, leveling head, dovetail plate under 4 heads
Wimberley: dovetail plate for 3 cameras, dovetail plate for 4 lenses, gimbal head
Markins: screw clamp on ballhead

I do find that there's some compromise with the mix&match when it comes to safety features: the Markins head has a retractable pin for a safety catch, and the RRS L-brackets don't engage the pin.

I do like that the RRS lever clamps are very intelligently made: the lever has basically three "happy positions": fully clamped, half-open which is slide ONLY (so any plate with safety stop screws is still captive; anything else is slide out but not flop out), and full-open which is obviously completely un-captive.