Arca Swiss Conversions of tripod heads

Hval

PB_PM,

I agree. The costs are not due to RRS, but due to transport, local taxes, exchange rates etc. it doesn't make the products any cheaper though.

Msmoto

If money is an issue I would search the various market places for used equipment. One can often save lots and unless the equipment has been beaten around a lot, the value is good.

Hval

Msmoto,

I agree, and it is what I do. Not a lot of RRS kit seems to come to the second hand market in the UK. If I buy second hand from abroad I still get hit by all the taxes and duties.

One day Soon I shall purchase that BH-55 PCLR ball head, the D800 L plate and lens plates for three largish lenses I would like. A cost of £1300 ish ($2,200). That, however will have to wait until I have that macro lens.

Then, next year the macro rails (B150-B), I hope.

Photobug

@Hval said:

Then, next year the macro rails (B150-B), I hope.

You can't go wrong with the B-150.




You won't believe all the flexibility this tool brings to shooting macro work. Well worth the bucks.

Hval

Ooh, you are teasing me. :-)

Thank you for those photos.

Quick question for those who have Really Right Stuff products. Do those of you with ball heads also go for a levelling base? If so, why?

spraynpray

Stop...showing...me...those...pics...can't...resist...much...longer! :P

Golf007sd

@Hval...the leveling base is fantastic. I have their TVC-23 tripod and the TA-2-LC: Series 2 Leveling Base with Clamp. They also make a universal one called: TA-U-LB.

As for the why: fast and easy way to level your setup without having to kill yourself in getting your tripod legs the right length! Whenever, I go out and I shoot with my tripod, their are almost always areas where foundation is not cooperative. Imaging trying to level your camera when mounted on your tripod between two or three rock...be it at the beach or hillside. Not a single tripod leg is at the the same length, all the while you are trying to find the right level via a level-buble mounted on the hot-shoe or you cameras LCD level indicator. Pain in the ass, if you asks me. Even though the ballhead does come in handy....still not as easy when you are trying to get it at the right composition and be level. Yet with the RRS leveling base one turn...center the bubble and tighten it down. Done! 3-4 seconds max.

My current setup. Note: I also have the panning clamp on my BH-55.


D7000 35 1.8 1/100 ISO 100 @ f/4.5


D7000 35 1.8 1/1250 ISO 320 @ f/2.5

Stop...showing...me...those...pics...can't...resist...much...longer! :P

+1

Hval

Golf007sd,

Thanks for your prompt response. A nice concise answer.

Photobug

Stop...showing...me...those...pics...can't...resist...much...longer! :P

If these photos keep dropping by, I figure you and Golf are going to cave in and buy one. :-)) )

Photobug

Ooh, you are teasing me. :-)

Thank you for those photos.

Quick question for those who have Really Right Stuff products. Do those of you with ball heads also go for a levelling base? If so, why?

Your welcome. I keep them posted on my Flicker account so I can copy and paste quicly.

IN answer to your question, no I do not use a RRS levling base. I do use a bubble indicator in the flash shoe and the LCD level tool.

Msmoto

Just to bring this back to the idea of converting non-RRS to ARCA Swiss clamps.. if one has the funds, replacing the entire ballhead with an RRS head is certainly the very best solution. However, if one has four non-RRS heads, to replace all these may be in the $1500 range and conversion might be done for less than $300…. easy decision unless you own your own company…LOL…. ) )

Hval

Msmoto,

I have sticky tape, string and six inch nails ready to convert my Manfrotto Heads. Do I require a hammer as well?

No, I am going to end up purchasing RRS kit over time to replace my tripod equipment. I will be making adjustments to the Manfrotto Fluid Head to make it Arca Swiss compatible

Photobug

Msmoto,

I have sticky tape, string and six inch nails ready to convert my Manfrotto Heads. Do I require a hammer as well?

No, I am going to end up purchasing RRS kit over time to replace my tripod equipment. I will be making adjustments to the Manfrotto Fluid Head to make it Arca Swiss compatible

You left off the most important item for this conversion. A tube of builder grade adhesive. )

funtagraph

I hesitated to converse all Manfrotto 410 plates to Arca type because I didn't find a quick release Arca type for just snap in with a single hand hold camera - that is where the 410 system shines. I found one here at FLM, an Europe based brand. Checked at a dealer and just ordered three of them for two Gitzo heads and an Arca monoball. Since last X-mas I'm proud owner of an Arca d4 and the rough Manfrotto plates just don't look good on it and make the very compact and comparatively lightweight (compared to Manfrotto 405) geared head less compact. Tripod collection appears to be a hobby inside a hobby...

Msmoto

And, to answer the May 2014 post, albeit a bit late... )

Yes, industrial grade builders adhesive is essential in today's world..... :-*

Hammie

So, after a test run yesterday, I am officially moving from Black Rapid to Peak Design Slide Strap.

This leads to my next dilemma which is my tripod. I don't really use it often so I don't want to drop a lot of cash on converting it to the Arca Swiss plate that the Peak Design strap uses.

I currently have a Manfrotto 488RC4 ball head. I want to change out the RC4 mount to an Arca mount. I think it makes the most sens to get one with a bullseye bubble level embedded for convenience. I looked at RRS and see I can get one for either $86 (screw type) or $120 (quick release lever). This seems to be more than I really want to spend.

Anyone have any experience with something more in the sub-$50 range?

Thanks!

-Lou

spraynpray

Yes Hammie, providing you have the guts to use cheap gear, you can get them for well under that off ebay. I have been using them for years now.

Photobug

Hammie - I would not buy new in the under $50 category. Try eBay as spraynpray recommended and you will get better gear probably sold for $100 or more. Even though you would not use the tripod much you want something stable and reliable to hold your DSLR. I did a cheap tripod once, 20 years ago, never again. To much vibration from the legs and no confidence in the ball head.

spraynpray

To expand on my set-up Hammie, I have converted my Manfrotto and (my partners, some friends and various club members) for under $50 each - that is top plate AND L bracket. They work perfectly well. Feel free to pay more if you prefer.

Hammie

My tripod is the Manfrotto 055XPROB. My ball head is the Manfrotto 488RC4. First, the RC4 plate is huge. Second, my Peak Design uses the Arca Swiss style. Last, IMO, it is easier (and cheaper) to change just the mount versus the whole head.

I'm just not sure which brands are the reputable ones and which should be stayed away from. I need to make sure I have something that will accommodate the same M6 screw that my Manfrotto uses.

spraynpray

As far as I know, there are no bad ones and no good ones. Take a shot at it - buy one they are so cheap that you can just toss them if you can't see how to fit them or don't trust them. I use one of the same plates on my L bracket as the interface to my BR strap and I wouldn't do that if there was a chance it would give up. With regard to the screw, if you choose the right top plate it doesn't matter which thread it uses as you simply re-use your old screw. Note that I assume you are able to engineer solutions to the inevitable small differences there will be between your old top plate and your new one at their interface.

Msmoto

If one looks at the photos of the OP on page 1 of the thread, all four of my first conversions are shown. The Sirui monopod head was one I rotated the plate 90.degrees. This was the most difficult as the original plate was difficult to remove.

One can manage almost any of these, but there was some drilling and tapping done.

As to cost, so far the cheapest Sirui look like RRS. And Spraynpray's experience suggests all the cheap stuff is quite good.

danhowl

I'm a bit of a tripod freak. I am more apt to shoot with a tripod than not. Studio, location, wherever. In addition to the stability, I don't think my back and shoulders could put up with hand-holding all of my shoots so that is not even an option.

Call me a rebel, but I really don't like RRS for anything other than plates. I have RRS plates on all of my cameras and even their replacement foot on one of my zooms. For Arca-style adaptor clamps, I like the Kirk Enterprises clamps for about the same price as RRS. I find RRS tripods and ballheads, while certainly fine, a bit over-built at the expense of weight and I am usually down to the pound when it comes time to fly w/ my equipment.

I prefer Feisol carbon tripods (over both RRS and Gitzo, although I have 3 Gitzos of from small to very large). Feisol is lighter than the others size-to-size comparison and cheaper too. I first found them at PhotoExpo in NYC. They also have Ball-Heads in four different sizes. I have one in the smallest size for their carbon monopod. Also have a real Arca-Swiss B1 which is quite elegant. However, my heart belongs to Foba Superball with Arca Quick Release clamp on top. This is the head I rely on day to day. The main thing I like about it is the lever tension release as opposed to dial for super-fast lock/unlock for adjustments. I move it from carbon Feisol to my Cambo studio camera stand. I also just bought a Foba mini Superball which I am waiting for delivery. It might fill in for fly-away travel and the regular Superball for everything else.

http://www.feisol.net
(no I'm not a shill for them. I just really like their stuff and don't see them discussed much)

Hammie

Decided on the Desmond DAC-01. $25 on Amazon. I also got the hot shoe bubble level.

spraynpray

Depending on the head, you may have to clean that thread out with a clearance hole and don't forget a drop of thread lock (NOT high strength retainer).