Would you be interested in a large scale QR platform

[Daniel Stone]

Hey all,

I have been playing around with an idea for a couple weeks now, but I wanted to get your opinions, as I know they can be quite varied, as to get a general consensus in terms of interest(or not).

I'm sure many here have, or still do, use a quick release system with their LF cameras. I currently do not, but anything that can help me get set up faster, I'm open to looking at least.

So, my thought is this:
Essentially, a "scaled up" Arca Swiss style clamp and mounting plates. The actual dovetail section would be 2-3x the width of the normal Arca size, and thusly, the clamp would be wider as a result. Combine this with a larger sized plate, to help distribute weight more efficiently.

Thoughts?

Goal would be to have a system where ULF shooters could have a secure, stable platform that would allow easier mounting to the tripod.

This would not be a head itself, but a supplementary clamp and accessory mounting plates.

-Dan

[Michael Graves]

The biggest issue I've had with supplementary clamps and plates is getting a solid lock onto the tripod head. It seems that larger cameras exhibit greater torque and when you try to move the camera on the head, the clamp loosens. I like the idea, and would love something like that so I could more easily mount my 8x10 onto my Tele-Studex with the R5 head.

[linhofbiker]

I use the arca-swiss system for smaller systems. For 5x7 and 4x10 I mount them on a Linhof leveling head with 90mm base that drops into the big tripod where it is locked in place. This makes for a simple system that is easy to take apart. I think the fewer "things" between the camera and the tripod the better.

[Greg Y]

I'm more than happy with the double-tilt Ries head. I'm not a big fan of quick release tripod systems.

[Tin Can]

I like how my new to me Sinar Norma tripod base indexes to the Sinar tilt head. But not to any tripod I have...

I love my 6X7 inch Majestic heads for their ability to use 2 camera base screws. And those screws cannot fall out and compress into the plate if necessary.

The best QR I have is the Kessler Crane (https://www.kesslercrane.com/kwik-release) which does allow 2 screw attachment, but could be longer and wider.

The old and forgotten Linhof 90mm round QR is fantastic only when using the complete system: Camera, tilt base mit tripod. A big round spud.

I have made a Linhof HD Tripod to Majestic 90mm adapter.

A bigger dovetail QR is only the beginning for big cameras.

A look at actual movie camera heads may show the way to a new product.

or not

[Pete Roody]

For me Arca Style clamps are not a "Quick Engagement" system. With a larger system, you want to be able basically plop the camera down and have it engage the locking system. Ever try and get a really large and heavy camera into an Arca quick release? Not fun. I agree with Randy that the movie camera heads would work better than an Arca style clamp.

[Bob Salomon]

For me Arca Style clamps are not a "Quick Engagement" system. With a larger system, you want to be able basically plop the camera down and have it engage the locking system. Ever try and get a really large and heavy camera into an Arca quick release? Not fun. I agree with Randy that the movie camera heads would work better than an Arca style clamp.

There are automatic locking Arca type clamps, Novoflex makes a good one.

[Bob Salomon]

There are automatic locking Arca type clamps, Novoflex makes a good one.
Linhof also makes very good automatic locking quick releases.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I am thinking of bailing the Deardorff V8 from storage even though it is not by a long shot my favorite 8x10. From a fortuitous encounter I have several Deardorff base plates, some early new ones, and some with the usual scratches from users trying to find the tripod hole.

So have any of our forum members found an adequate quick-release plate for the Deardorff V8 camera? I suspect there is a clever solution beyond my feeble imagination.

[neil poulsen]

How about the Linhof quick release system? It doesn't slide in the Arca System, but it grips in a similar fashion. One could maybe attach a larger plate to the quick release portion.

I used the Manfrotto 4"x4" plate on an 8x10 Deardorff, and it held quite well.

[Bob Salomon]

How about the Linhof quick release system? It doesn't slide in the Arca System, but it grips in a similar fashion. One could maybe attach a larger plate to the quick release portion.

I used the Manfrotto 4"x4" plate on an 8x10 Deardorff, and it held quite well.

Linhof also makes Arca type QR systems. Been making them since 2012 or 14.

Sorry, they make heads with that style QR as well as some plates.

[cowanw]

I use a no name Arca style that is about 3 inches long with a Jobu 5 in. plate. But the most important thing was to repurpose an old long Tilt-All handle to fit and replace the screw down gripping mechanism. This way I can tighten the mechanism off to the side of the 8x10 Deardorff base without having to fiddle in tight spaces with a short screw type or the lever type.
I would like a plate whose underside was cut out to fit the Arca type heads but was much larger on the camera side, maybe as large as a Deardorff metal base plate. The Arca style bottom could be similarly enlarged on its surface.

[linhofbiker]

"The old and forgotten Linhof 90mm round QR is fantastic only when using the complete system: Camera, tilt base mit tripod. A big round spud"

My big Linhof tripod accepts my 90mm leveling head so I don't need the "tilt base". It also accepts my ball head (Profi-III) with its 90mm base. It is a little heavy for field use, but what is another 20lbs when you have a big camera outfit to move around.

[PRJ]

I prefer the Arca quick releases these days just because I have three tripods for different sized cameras. The Linhof older quick release that was automatic was fantastic. I still have it around but I don't use it anymore.

You don't need to make a bigger quick release system, but a bigger plate that mounted to the Arca type release would be great. I don't think I've seen any that were much larger than the actual clamp. Something that is like 4 or 5 inches would get rid of any slop. You could make them specifically for popular cameras too. That would be an easy sell.

[Bob Salomon]

I prefer the Arca quick releases these days just because I have three tripods for different sized cameras. The Linhof older quick release that was automatic was fantastic. I still have it around but I don't use it anymore.

You don't need to make a bigger quick release system, but a bigger plate that mounted to the Arca type release would be great. I don't think I've seen any that were much larger than the actual clamp. Something that is like 4 or 5 inches would get rid of any slop. You could make them specifically for popular cameras too. That would be an easy sell.

Novoflex has lots of plates that long and even much longer,

[Pete Roody]

I prefer the Arca quick releases these days just because I have three tripods for different sized cameras. The Linhof older quick release that was automatic was fantastic. I still have it around but I don't use it anymore.

You don't need to make a bigger quick release system, but a bigger plate that mounted to the Arca type release would be great. I don't think I've seen any that were much larger than the actual clamp. Something that is like 4 or 5 inches would get rid of any slop. You could make them specifically for popular cameras too. That would be an easy sell.

The OP said he was looking into a larger system than Arca has now. He must have his reasons. I assumed it was for larger cameras (ULF). With those the current Arca clamp cannot be easily engaged. For large cameras I don’t use a quick release. The Ries system is better. The camera screw is spring mounted and that allows attachment much easier than an Arca clamp. For small cameras (8x10 and smaller), I use Arca style heads.

Bob mentioned the Novoflex system. I mounted a Novoflex Q=Base quick release on a traditional Linhof 3-way head. Works fine and mounting a camera is much easier than using an Arca clamp. The Linhof Quickfix II is also a good system.

Any size Arca beveled plate system would benefit from a redesign that makes mounting the camera easier. Hopefully the OP can develop something that does that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Vaughn]

... From a fortuitous encounter I have several Deardorff base plates, some early new ones, and some with the usual scratches from users trying to find the tripod hole...
Alas, some of us even spin the camera on the tripod head (photo below...8x10 Zone VI...it was so pretty when I bought it 34 years ago). I use the Ries A250 head and am happy with the camera directly on the head...and I find it an easy mount for even the 11x14. But I have been using the head since 1995 or 96 and one can get use to anything. The spring-loaded screw is nice, one can hear when the screw and the hole meet.

PS -- the camera gets spun on the head occasionally because the head only tilts significantly in one direction (down), so if I need to point the camera up, I need to turn the camera 180 degrees on the head. Can a camera be put on to face either direction on the QR receiver on the head? The five-sided Bogen QR don't work well that way.

Edited to add: Whoops the Bogen are 6-sided...I was thinking of something else...disregard!

[neil poulsen]

How about the Linhof quick release system? It doesn't slide in the Arca System, but it grips in a similar fashion. One could maybe attach a larger plate to the quick release portion.

I used the Manfrotto 4"x4" plate on an 8x10 Deardorff, and it held quite well.

The above is OK for 8x10. Even then, the 4"x4" Manfrotto plates are hard to find.

More related to the original query, I think there's a need for a larger quick release system for ULF cameras. Is there anything that exists today for this purpose?

It's got to be especially awkward trying to manually mount a huge camera onto a head, or onto a tripod stage. Even 8x10's that I've seen are all scratched up on the bottom for that reason.

I've always used QR systems for all my camera systems, 35mm through 8x10. (Usually the Manfrotto hexagonal plate system.)

[Tin Can]

Even this big Arca type is hard to use. https://store.kesslercrane.com/kwik-stand-xl.html

I also lost one of it's stick on rubber feet right away.

But it's the best I have.

[Tin Can]

Touch and Go System Overview:

https://youtu.be/7YsOEXwea9A

[tgtaylor]

This thread recounts how I resolved the torqueing problems that I was experiencing with the Toyo 810MII. Note that all problems were not completely resolved until I exchanged the Arca Swiss hex screw for one with one more turn of bite:

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?136093-Anti-Twist-Plate-for-Toyo-810MII

Mounting the camera onto the head is done by sight: You simply open the Arca head and slide the camera onto the head by sight keeping the overflow of the plate even on both ends. No guess work as with the Manfrotto QR system.

Thomas