Manfrotto 804RC2 Pan Tilt Head: I have spent the last two days searching for information on this head. My question is this: Will this head accept a Swiss Arcca style plate? If not can...

George II Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

I have spent the last two days searching for information on this head. My question is this: Will this head accept a Swiss Arcca style plate? If not can it be modified to do so.
Thanks and regards,
George

Oly Guy

Don't know -but why not just buy the proper plate for the Manfrotto-I have and they work great. Ordered the rc2 head plate.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

George II wrote:

I have spent the last two days searching for information on this head. My question is this: Will this head accept a Swiss Arcca style plate? If not can it be modified to do so.
Thanks and regards,
George

Unless you have a specific reason for an Arca Swiss plate, the Manfrotto 200 PL should serve your needs as well. I'm not aware of any advantage in modifying this head, it is excellent as designed.

George II Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

My only reason is that i already have all my equipment with Swiss Arca plates, why would anyone desire to replace what they already have? It is not cost effective, not everyone has more money than sense and I am one. Thanks to all that responded.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

George II wrote:

My only reason is that i already have all my equipment with Swiss Arca plates, why would anyone desire to replace what they already have? It is not cost effective, not everyone has more money than sense and I am one. Thanks to all that responded.

Are you saying that all your equipment has an Arca Swiss plate permanently attached, and cannot be removed?? I admit that I'm not familiar with Arca Swiss, I use Manfrotto and Smith Victor, and their plates are simple to remove from one lens and attach to another. I don't have a plate on each piece of equipment, as I have more sense than money.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

The Manfrotto Plate has a 1/4 screw? Just attach your Arca Swiss clamp to the Manfrotto plate?

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

George II wrote:

I have spent the last two days searching for information on this head. My question is this: Will this head accept a Swiss Arcca style plate? If not can it be modified to do so.
Thanks and regards,
George

No, this head will only accept proprietary manfrotto plates. You don't want to do this. The world is swiss arcca. I have swiss not only on camera bodies but zoom lenses as well. Some of the longer plates allow me to move the plate forward and backward for balance. Manfrotto does not give me that option. I got rid of my manfrotto heads and plates. I have Nikon and the larger zooms came with swiss arcca plates.

Oly Guy

Well maybe you have the ball head-but the manfrotto ball head also allows for much movement and positioning. Otherwise why not switch to a tripod that uses the head you have. why try and put a chevy engine in a Ford car? I think the Manfrotto heads are about 14.00 each on Amazon.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

jrbissell wrote:

Well maybe you have the ball head-but the manfrotto ball head also allows for much movement and positioning. Otherwise why not switch to a tripod that uses the head you have. why try and put a chevy engine in a Ford car? I think the Manfrotto heads are about 14.00 each on Amazon.

The Manfrotto 804RC2 head is $69.99 at B&H.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

jrbissell wrote:

Well maybe you have the ball head-but the manfrotto ball head also allows for much movement and positioning. Otherwise why not switch to a tripod that uses the head you have. why try and put a chevy engine in a Ford car? I think the Manfrotto heads are about 14.00 each on Amazon.

No, I am not speaking about the head. I am talking about the plate. You are not familiar with swiss arcca plates? Manfrotto heads are not $14 at Amazon but their plates might be. I think you got your heads on backwards.

Oly Guy

Yes I meant a head not the plate-but did not know if you had the ball head as part of the tripod or not-Never mind-plates are about 14.00, no amount of work would make the one you have fit-unless you can machine it to fit-which is more trouble than it is worth! Good luck-

George II Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

Mark7829 wrote:

No, this head will only accept proprietary manfrotto plates. You don't want to do this. The world is swiss arcca. I have swiss not only on camera bodies but zoom lenses as well. Some of the longer plates allow me to move the plate forward and backward for balance. Manfrotto does not give me that option. I got rid of my manfrotto heads and plates. I have Nikon and the larger zooms came with swiss arcca plates.

Mark, thank you so very much, this was the information I was looking for. I am thinking I did not ask the question properly, sorry about that. If I may ask what tripods do you use?

Again thank you Mark.
Best Regards,
George