Pan Tilt head with Arca Swiss Plate: I have a Manfrotto 804RC2 tripod head. It is, of course, a pan/tilt head. I like the pan/tilt feature for some applications, but would prefer to...

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Pan Tilt head with Arca Swiss Plate

Sep 27, 2015 10:53:39 #

Rokko Loc: Minneapolis

I have a Manfrotto 804RC2 tripod head. It is, of course, a pan/tilt head. I like the pan/tilt feature for some applications, but would prefer to have a head that takes an arca-swiss quick release plate and L-bracket. Preferrably for under $200.

I am having trouble finding a head that meets those specs. I have found lots of ballheads that are arca-swiss compatible, but the pan/tilt heads I have found are either way more expensive than $200 or look cheap.

Does anyone have any suggestions for an arca-swiss compatible pan/tilt head for under $200?

Thanks.

Sep 27, 2015 11:35:33 #

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Rokko wrote:

I have a Manfrotto 804RC2 tripod head. It is, of ... (show quote)

Have you considered using an inexpensive adapter plate screwed firmly onto the existing quick release plate? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RK2DSIM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

Could be worth trying at the price....

Sep 27, 2015 12:31:21 #

Rokko Loc: Minneapolis

Thanks for the suggestion.

How does the adapter attach to the 804RC2? There is no screw hole in the 804RC2 head and the adapter doesn't seem to be designed to clamp into the head like RC2 plate.

Thanks.

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Sep 27, 2015 12:46:01 #

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Rokko wrote:

This is the head correct? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/434497-REG/Manfrotto_804RC2_804RC2_3_Way_Pan_Tilt_Head.html

I have two heads that take the older hex style of plate. You just screw the two together, so the RC2 has the ARCA clamp attached to it. It seems pretty solid, especially with 3/8 size screws. Essentially you have a hybrid ARCA/RC2 quick release plate, but your pan/tilt head will have an ARCA clamp attached.

Then you mount the RC2 into the head, but you have an ARCA clamp to interface to the camera or lens.

Does that help?

Sep 27, 2015 14:30:16 #

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Rokko wrote:

I have a Manfrotto 804RC2 tripod head. It is, of ... (show quote)

What Peterff is trying to get you to do is this (sorry its a little crooked, I just screwed them together quick for a demo):

Arca mount attached to a Boger Hex QR Plate

(Download)

Sep 27, 2015 15:40:32 #

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

MT Shooter wrote:

What Peterff is trying to get you to do is this (sorry its a little crooked, I just screwed them together quick for a demo):

Thanks. I didn't have time to take a pic today! It's a bit of a kluge, but for the money, could be worth experimenting.

Also, taking out the thread adapters and using a single 3/8" screw of the right length could provide an even more robust hybrid fitting.

MT, you have way more experience than I do of this kind of thing, so please say if you think it is a bad idea, or an OK quick and dirty fix, or something else....

Sep 27, 2015 15:45:03 #

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Peterff wrote:

Thanks. I didn't have time to take a pic today! It's a bit of a kluge, but for the money, could be worth experimenting.

Also, taking out the thread adapters and using a single 3.8" screw of the righ length could provide an even more robust hybrid fitting.

MT, you have way more experience than I do of this kind of thing, so please say if you think it is a bad idea, or an OK quick and dirty fix, or something else....

Stacking QR mounts is never a GOOD idea, but it can be a quick solution to made do.
No QR system is as stable as direct mounti g, they are just a quick and easy method of setting up for the shot.

Check out Photo Critique Section section of our forum.

Sep 27, 2015 15:51:48 #

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

MT Shooter wrote:

Stacking QR mounts is never a GOOD idea, but it can be a quick solution to made do.
No QR system is as stable as direct mounti g, they are just a quick and easy method of setting up for the shot.

Agreed. Thx

Sep 28, 2015 07:55:05 #

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

This one might be a quick very inexpensive solution for you but I really don't know how much weight you are putting on the head. I own one of their carbon fiber tripods and for the price I couldn't beat it. I'm planning to purchase their monopod as well so I don't have to keep taking it off my tripod.

http://www.amazon.com/Koolehaoda-360%C2%B0single-Hydraulic-Damping-Three-dimensional/dp/B00N2XCPGY/ref=pd_sim_421_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1CTNHHF8R3X7QBHG2WWR&dpID=41HPz3f-zGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_

Sep 28, 2015 09:09:07 #

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Peterff wrote:

Have you considered using an inexpensive adapter plate screwed firmly onto the existing quick release plate?

That's what I did with all my tripods, but I used the Manfrotto system. If I can't remove the plate from the tripod, I insert the plate that would go onto the camera and then attach the Manfrotto tripod plate to that. I have the matching Manfrotto QR plate on all my cameras.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JLK5PU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1K6S0U4KGY5NH&coliid=IOIOJAHCWFVN3

Sep 28, 2015 16:21:41 #

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Rokko wrote:

I have a Manfrotto 804RC2 tripod head. It is, of ... (show quote)

Here is what I think is a really nice one
.....http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/765804-REG/Custom_Brackets_TILT_HEAD_AS_Tilt_Head_AS.html

Check out Video for DSLR and Point and Shoot Cameras section of our forum.

Sep 28, 2015 17:10:25 #

jcboy3

MT Shooter wrote:

Stacking QR mounts is never a GOOD idea, but it can be a quick solution to made do.
No QR system is as stable as direct mounti g, they are just a quick and easy method of setting up for the shot.

Sorry, but an Arca mount us just as stable as a direct mount, and sometimes is more stable. For example, my custom L-bracket in an Arca mount is more stable than any direct mount, there is no chance of twisting out with that setup.

But I would recommend using the Arca QR adapter on the Manfrotto QR plate.

For more stability, get the Manfrotto QR plate with the stabilizing pin and drill a corresponding hole in the Arca adapter.

Oct 3, 2015 08:54:41 #

Rokko Loc: Minneapolis

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses.

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