Converting a Manfrotto 460MG Tripod Head to Arca Swiss Fitting

Buck

Buck

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Hi

I have a 3-way Manfrotto Tripod Head (MG460) and I want to convert to using can Arca Swiss plate. (To use an L-Bracket)

Some I have seen allow you to remove the Manfrotto plate and replace with an AS fitting but the plate on mine doesn't have a central screw so cannot be undone/removed.

Apart from buying a new tripod head I would see if anyone has bought an adapter plate that replaces the manfrotto QR plate, that they can recommend. (There are lot's on eBay but I'm not sure I'd trust my camera to one of those without recommendation!)

Thanks
 
I've never converted from Manfrotto to Arca but have adapted my Manfrotto 410 head to take the same QR plates as all my other supports using a Manfrotto adaptor plate. One of the many adaptors available through Amazon would do the job - I'm sure there will be recommendations as to which manufacturers to avoid! (Personally, I'd avoid ebay sourced stuff.)
 
Hmmmm! the solution to me is to attach amn AS clamp to the heads QR plate. It should be solid enough!

PS in the case of the Wimberley C-12 clamp I have attached to my BR sling strap.....the clamp has 3 off small grub screws that I drove into the rubber washer on the BR strap bolt. Seeing as the Manfrotto QR plate has a rubberised face the same method would ensure that the clamp & QR plate are well connected. Plus, as I recall of the Manfrotto head to plate connection they are pretty darned rigid when locked down.
 
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Have you looked at hejnar. They do a lot of conversions incl 460mg.

i did it for my mn410


looking at weight capacity and cost of mg460 might be cheaper looking for one if the used benro 3 way arca compatibles though
 
Probably better to buy a suitable Arca style head.
I changed everything from Manfrotto to Arca fitting four years ago.
It makes life far easier, everything fits a 1 1/2 inch 38mm Groove now.
Hybrid systems just add extra bits and complications,
it is better to have everything fitting everything else.

You could screw an Arca style Quick release to a Manfrotto plate as a temporary measure.
But the Mg160 is a low cost head And probably not worth the bother, I did that to mine but have not used it for at least three years.
 
Thanks for the replies - I think you have confirmed my thinking that it may well be better to let the Manfrotto head go and buy a new Arca Swiss compatible one. From both a cost and a simplicity perspective.

@Jim_Tod - I did look at the Hejnar conversions a while back but the price seemed prohibitive as I'm not that wedded to my current head.

Now the question is, Another geared head or a ballhead? Decisions Decisions!
 
Buck said:
Thanks for the replies - I think you have confirmed my thinking that it may well be better to let the Manfrotto head go and buy a new Arca Swiss compatible one. From both a cost and a simplicity perspective.

@Jim_Tod - I did look at the Hejnar conversions a while back but the price seemed prohibitive as I'm not that wedded to my current head.

Now the question is, Another geared head or a ballhead? Decisions Decisions!
Click to expand...
Geared, geared, geared. You will feel nothing but frustration with not being able to easily microadjust having been used to it

Have a look at the benro
 
Buck said:
The one I'd looked at a while ago was the Benro GD3WH Precision Geared Head
Click to expand...
That’s the one. Takes a little bit to get used to as there’s a security pull to open the jaws fully but decent geared head at a reasonable price ( as arca geared heads go) and lighting

I got one after I’d damaged an mn410 head for the second time and couldn’t face spending the money on the mn410 again and was looking for a replacement
 
Buck said:
Thanks for the replies - I think you have confirmed my thinking that it may well be better to let the Manfrotto head go and buy a new Arca Swiss compatible one. From both a cost and a simplicity perspective.

@Jim_Tod - I did look at the Hejnar conversions a while back but the price seemed prohibitive as I'm not that wedded to my current head.

Now the question is, Another geared head or a ballhead? Decisions Decisions!
Click to expand...


If you already have a decent geared head, I'd go for a good ball head but since it's to replace a 3 way head, I'd go for one of them!
 
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