What head & tri-pod plate to choose?

[bigrob]

Can someone explain the pros and cons of the main players?

I have a Manfrotto mono pod & the head uses a QR2 plate.

However the head is not up to a 1D3 with a 200/2 or 300/2.8 & 1.4x and 2x extenders.

So I want to invest in a better head (ball head maybe) but I have no idea on the pros and cons of the different types of plates.

Any recommendations for a head & plate type welcome.

 

[HoppyUK]

Arca-Swiss type is used by most of the higher end head manufacturers. By far the best IMHO, and the only choice if you want to switch stuff between brands.

Get yourself a nice AS-type L-bracket, fit and forget, tripod hassles over

 

[[GSV]Myocardial]

I'm no expert as I've just been reading up prior to puchasing a tripod and head etc.

But you can buy say a Markins or an RRS ball head without quick release clamp and add your own clamp from any of Kirk, Arca Swiss, Foba, RRS, Wimberley or Markins etc and most should be able to use industry standard plates although from my reading there can be some compatability issues with different plates and the lever quick release systems of different brands due to small inconsistencies in manufacture.

Therefore if you fitted an RRS clamp to the Markins ball head it would be preferable to use RRS plates. Or that is what my reading has so far turned up. But I may just be a baw heid and have no clue what I'm on about, sure it wouldn't be the first time

There was quite a good thread on here recently that I read about heads. Found it: Getting a new ballhead: Markins v RRS

 

[peak4]

To a degree it's down to what you have to spend and what application you want to use it for.
Personally I use an Acratech GV2, not cheap, but then again, neither is the kit you propose to mount.
The GV2 is light enough to carry, has a secure screw operated Arca/Swiss style dovetail fixing and is rated at 25lbs.
It also has the advantage to working a a gimbal head of sorts, maybe not as well as a true gimbal or Manfrotto long lens head, but is appreciably smaller and lighter to carry for normal use.
Passable review of it over on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB3svhAOUDE

 

[HoppyUK]

Foot > Mouth comes to mind with that statement

I'm no expert as I've just been reading up prior to puchasing a tripod and head etc.

But you can buy say a Markins or an RRS ball head without quick release clamp and add your own clamp from any of Kirk, Arca Swiss, Foba, RRS, Wimberley or Markins etc and most should be able to use industry standard plates although from my reading there can be some compatability issues with different plates and the lever quick release systems of different brands due to small inconsistencies in manufacture.

Therefore if you fitted an RRS clamp to the Markins ball head it would be preferable to use RRS plates. Or that is what my reading has so far turned up. But I may just be a baw heid and have no clue what I'm on about, sure it wouldn't be the first time

There was quite a good thread on here recently that I read about heads. Found it: Getting a new ballhead: Markins v RRS

That's true, but only applies to the lever QR system that has to be very precisely adjusted to within a few thou to work absolutely reliably. That's why many folks prefer the basic screw-type lock that is inherantly self-adjusting. I do.

All the lever QR clamps have an adjuster so you can customise them to your particular brand of Arca-Swiss type plate. But if you use different makes of plate and they are a tiny bit different, it only takes a moment to readjust the mechanism with the fine-tune screw, but that kinda defeats the purpose of haviing the faster lever action in the first place.

 

[Blank_Canvas]

My advice would be to go and have a look at some and feel the weight and test the rigidity. It's an important purchase. You may end up with one two light, heavy or flimsy. As for the head it's down to personal preference. I personally like a ball and socket head fior the flexibility but normally use a Manfrotto 3 way pan / tilt with quick release plate which remains attached to my DSLR at all times great for shooting on and off the tripod quickly.

 

[tijuana taxi]

I have a Markins M10, but its a bit overkill for my lenses although it has a very nice smooth action, bit big on a monopod I would have thought

Just got a normal Arca Swiss clamp with RRS camera plate and that grips fine

Thinking of looking for something smaller, maybe their Q3 or who knows what