pedaes Posted July 28, 2013 Share #61 Posted July 28, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) What is the function of the plate on the RHS of the grip looking from the front of the camera? My only negative comment on what looks like a very nicely made bit of kit is that the tripod threads are now very far displaced from the central point of the camera (shades of my old LTM cameras). Wilson I thought the primary function of the plate was the Arca Swiss style bracket for tripod mounting. If using a screw fitting surely the Leica baseplate would be better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 28, 2013 Posted July 28, 2013 Hi pedaes, Take a look here M240 RRS QR Plate. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wlaidlaw Posted July 28, 2013 Share #62 Posted July 28, 2013 I thought the primary function of the plate was the Arca Swiss style bracket for tripod mounting. If using a screw fitting surely the Leica baseplate would be better. I am not familiar with how the Arca system works. Are there flanges on the base plate that slide into a QR attachment on a tripod head or do you have to attach another bit? I use the rather clunky but very secure and quick Manfrotto 200PL system for all my tripods, base plates, bellows and longer lenses. Once (and if ever!!) my Leica MF hand grip arrives, I will leave a 200PL QR plate permanently on my original base plate, as it is very quick to change over from MF grip to original base plate. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted July 28, 2013 Share #63 Posted July 28, 2013 Yes - the plate attaches directly to the tripod bullhead. It provides a firm location that is much "kinder" to the camera in terms of stresses. Arca Swiss is a manufacturer and their name seems to be a bit like Hoover - used as a generic name for the fitting. I have a Kirk head, but there may be others (obviously in addition to AS and RRS) that are compatible - they usually say Arca Swiss style. There is a German supplier of RRS gear - PM me if you want name. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 28, 2013 Share #64 Posted July 28, 2013 Yes - the plate attaches directly to the tripod bullhead. It provides a firm location that is much "kinder" to the camera in terms of stresses. Arca Swiss is a manufacturer and their name seems to be a bit like Hoover - used as a generic name for the fitting. I have a Kirk head, but there may be others (obviously in addition to AS and RRS) that are compatible - they usually say Arca Swiss style. There is a German supplier of RRS gear - PM me if you want name. Thank you for the information. I have invested so much in the 200PL Manfrotto system, with 7 assorted heads, 2 of the excellent heavy duty joystick heads, a geared head, a viscous damped panning head, a couple of different ball heads and a tilt head on my Neotech monopod, plus around 10 to 15 plates, it would be a serious expenditure to change tracks to the neater Arca/Kirk system. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturephoto1 Posted July 28, 2013 Share #65 Posted July 28, 2013 Thank you for the information. I have invested so much in the 200PL Manfrotto system, with 7 assorted heads, 2 of the excellent heavy duty joystick heads, a geared head, a viscous damped panning head, a couple of different ball heads and a tilt head on my Neotech monopod, plus around 10 to 15 plates, it would be a serious expenditure to change tracks to the neater Arca/Kirk system. Wilson Wilson, The point of the L bracket is to allow the camera to be mounted surely and quickly in either the horizontal or vertical orientation to an Arca Swiss Type QR clamp used on tripods, monopods, clamps, etc. I have used the Arca Swiss system since about 1985. It is the fastest, surest QR system of mounting cameras and lenses that I know of. I have been using Arca Swiss Type QR L brackets on my cameras since about 2003 or 2004. They are a great improvement on loading and unloading a camera to an Arca Swiss Type clamp than the standard Arca Swiss Type plate. By the way, this is a photo of my L bracket and grip to show another RRS set-up, this one for the Fujifilm XE-1: https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/859566_480112898717327_466088890_o.jpg Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 28, 2013 Share #66 Posted July 28, 2013 Rich, I use the Manfrotto Q2 L bracket. Like most Manfrotto stuff is is built more like a battleship than the swiss watch of the Arca stuff. However it works just fine, even if you do need a pack mule to carry around more than a few bits of Manfrotto equipment (especially my 074B tripod, which weighs around 15kg with 422 and ball heads on it and transverse bar.) Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/203479-m240-rrs-qr-plate/?do=findComment&comment=2384365'>More sharing options...
Leicaiste Posted July 28, 2013 Share #67 Posted July 28, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have invested so much in the 200PL Manfrotto system, with 7 assorted heads, 2 of the excellent heavy duty joystick heads, a geared head, a viscous damped panning head, a couple of different ball heads and a tilt head on my Neotech monopod, plus around 10 to 15 plates, it would be a serious expenditure to change tracks to the neater Arca/Kirk system. Maybe not: Manfrotto creates Arca-Swiss compatible 'Top Lock' quick release: Digital Photography Review Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 28, 2013 Share #68 Posted July 28, 2013 Maybe not: Manfrotto creates Arca-Swiss compatible 'Top Lock' quick release: Digital Photography Review Manfrotto sent me an email on that, as I am on their mailing list. I could not really see the point of it, unless you had a lot of Arca plates and Manfrotto heads. In fact I only have one of the heads that can be converted, as all my other ones have the PL200 plate system built in. In effect what Manfrotto seem to be doing is offering yet another range of non-compatible QR plates. They already have three or maybe 4 other plate systems. I assume that the Arca system must now be out of patent. The heads are cheaper than Arca heads, so maybe they are looking to attract business from folks who have gone down the Arca plate route. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted July 28, 2013 Share #69 Posted July 28, 2013 The RRS QR package as shown works very well. However, for my hands the RRS grip in combination with the Thumbs-Up grip for the M is less tiring if walking around for many hours since the Leica blip does not have quite enough grip for me and the RRS grip is positioned very close to the body for my hands. All of this assumes you are not using the EVF or a OVF in the hot shoe location. It will be interesting to see how the MF grip handles on the M versus the RRS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturephoto1 Posted July 28, 2013 Share #70 Posted July 28, 2013 Manfrotto sent me an email on that, as I am on their mailing list. I could not really see the point of it, unless you had a lot of Arca plates and Manfrotto heads. In fact I only have one of the heads that can be converted, as all my other ones have the PL200 plate system built in. In effect what Manfrotto seem to be doing is offering yet another range of non-compatible QR plates. They already have three or maybe 4 other plate systems. I assume that the Arca system must now be out of patent. The heads are cheaper than Arca heads, so maybe they are looking to attract business from folks who have gone down the Arca plate route. Wilson There have been many makers of Arca Swiss Type QR clamps (and plates) offered by many makers for a quite a long time by makers including RRS, Kirk, Wimberley, Foba, Markins, Graf, to name but a few. I started using RRS Arca Swiss type QR plates in 1995. So, this has been a cottage industry since at least the early to mid 90s. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 28, 2013 Share #71 Posted July 28, 2013 There have been many makers of Arca Swiss Type QR clamps (and plates) offered by many makers for a quite a long time by makers including RRS, Kirk, Wimberley, Foba, Markins, Graf, to name but a few. I started using RRS Arca Swiss type QR plates in 1995. So, this has been a cottage industry since at least the early to mid 90s. Rich Rich, I had always assumed they were paying a licence fee. Maybe Manfrotto is doing so as well. Given that the Chinese are copying PL200 plates (not very well but they are all over eBay like a rash) Manfrotto might have felt they needed to be in another market. I would laugh my socks off if a group of OEM's took Fleabay to court for aiding and abetting counterfeiting. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted July 28, 2013 Share #72 Posted July 28, 2013 Wilson. Once you use the RRS BallHead with Lever-release Clamp, there's no going back. Exquisitely engineered and fitted as if for a Fighter jet. The Arca plate with clamp allows you to go from portrait to landscape orientation in about two seconds, safely and securely. I have one in Large, Medium and Small (table tripod made b RRS). I have acquired them over the years. Yup, I know, a bit on the expensive side but one gets what they paid for IMHO. BH-40 LR: Mid-sized ballhead with LR - BH-40-LR - Kit Configuration Page Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 28, 2013 Share #73 Posted July 28, 2013 The Arca plate with clamp allows you to go from portrait to landscape orientation in about two seconds, safely and securely. Are you describing its use with the L plate, or by just rotating the head (which will change picture orientation somewhat)? Edit...I see you mention the Arca plate....not the RRS plate, i.e., 'arca style'? Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted July 28, 2013 Share #74 Posted July 28, 2013 I traded in my RRS and Kirk stuff for an Arca-Swiss P0 with a QR plate which I find so much nicer and swifter to use. If I still used heavier cameras than Ms, the P0 might need a bigger brother (like the P1 I suppose), but as it is, it is absolutely perfect. The A-S L bracket is excellent too. I highly recommend it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturephoto1 Posted July 28, 2013 Share #75 Posted July 28, 2013 Are you describing its use with the L plate, or by just rotating the head (which will change picture orientation somewhat)? Edit...I see you mention the Arca plate....not the RRS plate, i.e., 'arca style'? Jeff The L brackets attached to the camera (in this case RRS) allow extremely rapid loading and unloading the cameras- M240 or other cameras very quickly on any Arca Swiss Type QR clamp with screw or Lever Release as those by RRS, Markins, etc. I use my Fuji XE-1 with the RRS L bracket and Grip on my Kirk (and ProMediaGear, and Markins, etc.) Arca Swiss Type QR clamps particularly on my Markins M20 Ball Head. The M240 with the RRS L bracket and Grip should work wonderfully on any of the Arca Swiss type QR clamps. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 28, 2013 Share #76 Posted July 28, 2013 I traded in my RRS and Kirk stuff for an Arca-Swiss P0 with a QR plate which I find so much nicer and swifter to use. If I read the RRS site correctly, it seems that this configuration would not work on an RRS tripod, except with a screw attachment rather than QR lever. Do I have that wrong? This is timely since I'm considering a RRS TQC-14 tripod and BH-30 head for travel use, coupled with the RRS M plate. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturephoto1 Posted July 28, 2013 Share #77 Posted July 28, 2013 If I read the RRS site correctly, it seems that this configuration would not work on an RRS tripod, except with a screw attachment rather than QR lever. Do I have that wrong? This is timely since I'm considering a RRS TQC-14 tripod and BH-30 head for travel use, coupled with the RRS M plate. Jeff To the best of my knowledge, all of the current RRS L brackets and plates should work with all available screw type and I believe lever clamp type Arca Swiss Type QR clamps. The same can not be said about all/some plates made by Arca Swiss and Novoflex among a few others may not fit the newest RRS clamps due to the size and angle of the clamps themselves. This has been my experience using the current RRS L brackets and plates with Arca Swiss, Kirk, ProMediaGear, and Markins clamps. My Novoflex Arca Swiss Type QR plate attached to my rotating collar for my Leica R to Fuji X adapter will also fit all of these clamps. However, as indicated by RRS it does not fit any of the current screw or clamp type RRS Arca Swiss Type clamps. I am using my Markins M20 Head with a Kirk QR screw clamp mounted through the RRS QR to change different heads to my RRS TVC-24L Versa tripod with the RRS TA-2-LC: Versa 2 Leveling Base w/ clamp. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted July 28, 2013 Share #78 Posted July 28, 2013 Yes Jeff, sorry, "Arca Style". Can't speak for the functionality of other systems with the RRS or "Arca Style" systems. You'll love the TQC-14 and if your first foray into RRS, get ready to be hooked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 28, 2013 Share #79 Posted July 28, 2013 To the best of my knowledge, all of the current RRS L brackets and plates should work with all available screw type and I believe lever clamp type Arca Swiss Type QR clamps. But my question to Peter was specifically about his recommendation regarding use of the head and plate made by Arca, not just in the the style of Arca. At any rate, here is the relevant info quoted from the RRS FAQ regarding use of Arca style plates... "Only Really Right Stuff, Wimberley, and Kirk (manufactured within the last year) will be compatible with our lever-release clamps. However all Arca-Swiss style plates work with our scew-release clamps. "To ensure compatibility with lever-release clamps, we offer $22.50 trade-in discount towards a purchase of a Really Right Stuff quick-release plate if you use a plate from Kirk, Foba, Markins, Arcatech, Novoflex, or Arca-Swiss. Plate exchange only for identical model; you must send your plate at time of exchange to qualify for this discount." (see page 31 of the Really Right Stuff catalog for more details)." I prefer to have the QR lever, so unless I'm mistaken, I think I'll need to stick with the RRS plate, which is Arca style, but not by Arca as Peter suggests. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 28, 2013 Share #80 Posted July 28, 2013 You'll love the TQC-14 and if your first foray into RRS, get ready to be hooked. Yep, first try. I've used Gitzo for years, and various wooden pods for LF use many years ago. I've been looking for a light travel pod (other than the Leica tabletop, which I have), and liked the this RRS one compared to the competition, at least on paper and through video and customer review. I've also read very good things about the Arca-Swiss head that Peter likes, but unfortunately I don't think it's fully compatible with my QR attachment preferences. I think, though, that the RRS system will suffice, and satisfy. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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