Quick releases and field cameras

[Richard Ross]

I have been using the old venerable Bogen 3028 Super 3D head with a Wista DX for many years as well as a Velbon PH-253 for backpacking. I am finally getting the urge to upgrade to a nice ballhead with an Arca style quickrelease for general use and have a question (which is probably easily answered by my marching down to Samy's camera if I had the time) about the two styles for the quick release lock: knob vs lever. The lever would seem to be easy to use under the large bottom plate of a field camera, but is the knob also easy to use or is the clearance a bit tight as I imagine?

[Peter De Smidt]

It really depends. I tried one of the Really Right Stuff lever clamps, and it didn't work well with my D200 on a RRS L-bracket. (Yes, I know, that's a very different application.) It was very hard to grab the lever to release the clamp. In addition, the knob types tend to be usable with a wider array of plates, as they have a greater clamping range. My Arca B1 has the knob type clamp, and I've used this with a number of cameras, including a Toyo 45AX, and it's worked fine. For a field camera, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of the cheaper Arca style quick release plates on Ebay (or elsewhere.) I bought one recently for making a panoramic slide, and the quality was very good. I'd only resort to something like a RRS plate for something like an L-bracket for an slr, where the fit is very important. It's true that the lever is a little lower profile, but this should be that big of an advantage, especially for a 4x5 field camera.

[timparkin]

I have been using the old venerable Bogen 3028 Super 3D head with a Wista DX for many years as well as a Velbon PH-253 for backpacking. I am finally getting the urge to upgrade to a nice ballhead with an Arca style quickrelease for general use and have a question (which is probably easily answered by my marching down to Samy's camera if I had the time) about the two styles for the quick release lock: knob vs lever. The lever would seem to be easy to use under the large bottom plate of a field camera, but is the knob also easy to use or is the clearance a bit tight as I imagine?

The clearance under my Ebony would make a screw knob quite difficult to use. I'm happy with the lever knob although my RRS lever clamp is having a problem releasing when the lever is opened.. I shall be looking at a different make if possible and send my current one for servicing. Beyond the levers lack of desire to release on occasion, caused possibly by wear/corrosion on the pin that the clamp travels on. The lever clamp has behaved very well.. Never a problem with it coming loose accidentally and is a joy to use when you can just drop the camera onto the tripod and close the lever for guaranteed safety.

My worry about screw clamps has always been the possiblility that a bit of gravel or rock could get caught and give the impression that you have tightened down hard when in fact the rock could crumble and let your camera drop. With a lever clamp, if you had a peice of debris in between the clamp plates, it either would not close or be very stiff.. You know for a fact that if it closes, you have a good grip.

Tim

[Keith S. Walklet]

My wife and I have older RRS plates and a special replacement knob for the quick-release lock. I don't recall if it was a Kirk or RRS product. It is a star-shaped knob that was designed for limited clearance applications, like under a view camera.

But, as Tim mentioned, care must be taken with the screw lock QR to make sure that you don't get a false lock. I bounced an SLR off the pavement that way... :-(

[Ivan J. Eberle]

The problem I have with screw knobs is that they're not by definition really quick-release, or --more importantly-- instantaneously clamping.

I still use an old and battered Manfrotto Super Heavy Duty Ballhead with a superb snap-in Q/R that uses the confounded hex-plates for my 4x5. (To be fair, the more recent hex plates are not nearly as bad, what with the points rounded off, as were the originals with the sharply cast points.) The simple reason for still using the hex-plate for LF (despite also having a considerable investment in Arca stuff) is because I haven't found a better suiting nor as indestructible a Arca Q/R clamp to date.

The closest may be the either the Novoflex Q-Plate or new style Arca B2 lever plate. Each has quirks.

The Q-plate requires rotating a collar to lock it down, and this is awkward without the protruding screw-in post that keeps falling out. (the collar can be sticky in cold weather, too.) Works okay for MF, but coupled with the Classic 5 ballhead, it was a wickedly expensive solution that probably isn't very well suited to LF. The Classic 5 itself has a poorly functioning design for the pre-tensioning that doesn't have nearly enough friction for LF or large telephotos. Too, the anodizing is soft.

The newer style Arca brand Q/R that has the lever with a safety catch is very close to what I'm looking for, but I've so far resisted it for its crudely sharp edges and the fiber-filled plastic safety catch that appears fragile (I take the occasional spill off-trail so these are serious considerations).

[Bob Salomon]

Linhof's QuickFix I and QuickFix II are lever operated quick releases developed specifically for large format cameras. But they are not Arca compatible. The Berlebach 150 quick release is an Arca compatible quick release that is knob operated but is very fast.

[Brian Ellis]

If I were using a ball head with a 4x5 camera I wouldn't get a RRS ball head, either screw or lever. I have the screw type that I use with my digital camera and it works fine but the knob is under the lens and there's much more clearance between the lens of a DSLR and the screw knob than there would be between the knob and the bed of a LF camera. I would think a lever would present a similar problem.

I've gotten a "false lock" twice with the DSLR and the RRS head and as a result the camera has fallen off the tripod when I let go of it, once onto a concrete sidewalk and the other time on to my garage floor. I now am very careful to make sure the clamp is really locked on the camera.

[rfesk]

I have been using a "quick release" system for several cameras including a 5X7 Sinar Norma (now sold) and my Busch Pressman that is fast, light and secure. And cheap.

Using a 1/4# aluminum plate approximately 3 inches X 4 inches I drilled and tapped one end and mounted it on the ball head. Then drilled and tapped a 1/4" threaded hole on the other end located where there would be plenty of bearing surface for the camera. I then salvaged a 1/4" screw from a flash bracket.

To mount the camera you rest it on the plate (which is attached to the ball head), line up the screw from below and tighten it. Very fast.

To keep the camera from rotating on the aluminum plate I installed two nylon screws at one end to keep it from rotating.

This setup offsets the camera backwards from the ball head a couple of inches. But this arrangement actually balances the press type cameras such as Pressman better. On the Sinar Monorail you simply balance the camera over the ball head.

I will try to post a photo of my set up sometime if anyone is interested.

[Matus Kalisky]

I "upgraded" to ballhead with arca style quick release (with a knob, not lever) and it works perfectly with my Tachi 4x5. There is not too much space to access the knob, but it posses no problem at all.

[Pete Roody]

The Novoflex Q=Base is the best Arca style quick release imho. It is also the only quick engagement Arca compatible quick release. Just drop in the camera. Novoflex should mate it to a compact 3-way pan tilt head (forgetabout ballheads with large format) and they would have an unbeatable Arca compatible head. Better than anything Arca makes. You can screw it on your existing heads to add a quick release.

[SamReeves]

The quick release is a huge plus IMO. Although I just have a poor man's Slik UA212 for my Tachi. The quick release really pays off when you're navigating quickly from photo to photo on the road. I usually unmount the Tachi, leave it on the back seat set up, and drive out to my next location if it's not too far away. :)

[neil poulsen]

I use the Bogen hexagonal quick release tripods heads. I use the 3039 for 3-way adjust for LF and a ball head for a 2 1/4 camera. I treat my 35mm digital camera just as I would LF on my 3039.

The last time I checked, one could still get the 4"x4" (or so) plates that work on the hexagonal heads. These plates would work well for flatbed cameras.

[sun of sand]

I don't want to intrude or maybe or I do
I use the cheapest stuff with my Tachi and perhaps cheap is fine when it comes to a 6+lb max setup -cam/lens/holder/darkcloth
But I use an ordinary no name tripod with ordinary no name levered quick release and ordinary no name 3 way head which it attaches to with it's no name locking "safety" pin to keep the no name quick release plate lever from releasing
I've never had an inadvertent release of the locking pin or the lever whether climbing steep inclines, bushwhacking or trudging through rocky creek rapids
Lightweight is the word but I find it impossible to mess this up
I sling it over the shoulder and grip by head mount horizontally and
The whole piece of junk would have to disassemble itself before the camera would fall to the ground
I don't know
People have 2,4 and 5 systems and test twice as many
I don't even know what most of this stuff is nor the various options they allow

I'll let the site know when I lose my camera and lens and groan over replacing $1500 of stuff due to a $100 new cost tripod & head combo lol


Not to talk about JBrunner but in one of his youtubes his 8x10 shakes to death on slightest touch while on his Ries ..Don't believe he has a photoplane head but I'm sure it's something more than decent
Looks like some old hollywood cine head
Is this normal for you guys with 8x10?
We don't get to see the sturdiness of his tachi 4x5 in the bacon vid

[Peter De Smidt]

For the last week I used an Arca B1 head with a knob tightened quick release with a Toyo 45 AX field camera to photograph in South Dakota. There were no problems tightening the quick release knob.

[Aahx]

I have used the arca screw type releases with my Chamonix 45N from two manufacturers with no problems to date. The first is my Acratech GV2 Ballhead, and second my Photoclam Multiflex. With these types of releases I always check to make sure they are secure before letting go of the camera. I used to use a Bogen lever hex plate system for my Wista 45 field, but I have switched it as well to my arca style release as well. I always found I got a little "wobble" from hex plates from time to time (not all hex plates are made the same). At least with the aftermarket arca plates and screw mount, I can always screw it in to make sure it is a secure fit unlike the bogen system I have previously used. I did almost drop the camera on a couple occasions with my Bogen hex when the lever seemed to be secure and it popped out when a little lateral tension was applied. So no system is "perfect" but I have found the arca style screw to be my personal favorite.

[Drew Wiley]

I've been using a Velbon lever-style quick release with my Ebony 4x5 for the last decade. Works great and very light weight (magnesium). Also sometimes use it
for my 6x7 MF.

[William McEwen]

OK, so no one here (except me) has had his 17.5-lb. 8x10 Wisner TF with 355 Schneider lens slip out of the presumably tightened Bogen heavy duty "quick release" and fall into a ditch, inches from where his photo subject was posing?

(Later that day I contacted Ries and ordered a standard head, which arrived quickly. I've used nothing else since.)

[Gordon Moat]

I have been using a Manfrotto hex plate on a 3047 head for a while. Recently I switched my 4x5 camera to the 3/8 threaded plate, instead of the more common 1/4-20, and it seems a little more secure.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography (http://www.gordonmoat.com)

[Ivan J. Eberle]

Earlier in the thread I referred to my Novoflex Q/R clamp by the wrong name; Pete Roody got it right when he mentioned the Q=Plate. It's certainly enticing, alright, with snap engagement. That said, it's easily twice as spendy as needs to be, has soft aluminum anodizing subject to rapid wear. I could be a lot more enthusiastic about the Q=Base with a few refinements. Cam-clamping would be foremost. I've dropped a really expensive telephoto lens on a Sidekick out of it, because the jaws are held tight only by spring tension before the locking collar is twisted (thankfully I caught my 200-400VR before it fell to the ground).

The Bogen/Manfrotto cam-over hex-plate bases have the distinct advantage of not allowing lateral force to wedge them open once engaged. Brush or tree limbs can flip the lever of a quick release open if you are moving around with the camera attached (though in this regard the Manfrotto is great because at least the heaviest-duty lever bases have a spring loaded, push-button engaging safety catches that prevent this, once engaged).

Incidentally, anyone experiencing play with the Bogen hex plates may be inadvertently using an older hex plate with a newer head or Q/R plate. There was a dimension change to the system about 20 years back. The earlier plates are nearly identical in appearance with the second being a fraction larger. (There were at least 3 versions down through the years. The newest plates with the radiused edges and points all seem to fit tightly on my Super Heavy Duty Ballhead).