Marionsho Loc: Kansas

RRS sells a really nice clamp for camera/lens mounting. Is it worth the extra money over the one in the link for a non-pro like me? It's at least twice as cheap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FITTEST-50mm-Lever-Release-Clamp-B2-LRII-for-RRS-Really-Right-Stuff-Compatible-/172471975116?hash=item2828217ccc:g:JcQAAOSw-tNXHtQ~

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Doesn't look too risky as long as you understand this is not from ReallyRightStuff, it is just supposed to be compatible with their equipment. The eBay seller is not huge, but their feedback looks positive. /Ralph

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Yes I knew it wasn't RRS made. E-bay lists a real RRS, used, and it's up to nearly $90.00!

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I would get the one Really Right Stuff makes

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Thanks.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Jim is right, they do make first class tripods, heads and mounts - expensive but top notch assembly and materials.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

With today's technology and manufacturing techniques, it is little or no challenge to make molds of high end items and cast counterfeits made of pot metal. Even if an item bears the cast-in name of a major manufacturer, it may be a cheap knockoff of the original. I ran into this several years when I bought a box of clamps and mounts. I was tightening a dual clamp, supposedly made by a major and highly respected Italian manufacturer, when the solid cast "aluminum" handle broke off in my hand. Further inspection showed that several of the parts were made of inferior "metal" and that the indicators and part numbers on those were less sharply defined than authentic parts. Some items were given to the Mackey School of Mines at UNR. They did not conduct formal testing, but used the items for training. The anecdotal evidence indicated that most of the pieces were made out materials with low melting points. I tried simple Rockwell testing of the remaining pieces and, due to my experience and ineptitude, found that form of identification to be questionable, although an expert could properly deliver more accurate conclusions. I should add that some of the testing at UNR involved testing tensile strength, compression and melting temperatures. I regret that we did not submit the samples for formal testing by the entire Engineering department, but doing so would have involved a rather large donation and we might still be waiting for the results.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It's very risky. I have a collection of plates and L brackets. The are manufactured to different widths. All of my clamps are the screw type, the reason being that each mfgr makes their plates to different widths - an RRS plate is NOT the same width as a Wimberley, etc. RRS suggests that you can take advantage of their lever clamp as long as you use only RRS plates and brackets. I wouldn't buy it.

If you want to save some money, get a used clamp from RRS or other premium brand. Alternately, you can buy clamps from Hejnar Photo. They make excellent products, and can save you $25 on the price of a RRS clamp.

I've been using their 3.25" clamp with my 14 lb birding setup - 600mmF4 and a D800 with battery grip - without any issues. It's beefy, well made, and well finished.

http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/category-s/143.htm

blackest Loc: Ireland

Be careful, actual quality of build of these can be marginal and tolerances can vary. A lever clamp has essentially 2 positions open and closed The closed position depends on the plate being the right width for the clamp. There is also a kind of locking mechanism so it can't open accidentally, this can be poorly made and fail to lock securely. With the lever lock clamp you are taking a gamble that it will fit well with your plates.

The slightly slower screw clamp is a much safer proposition any tolerance issues can be taken up with the screw thread. It's a lot less likely to come open accidentally.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If I had to buy them for my cameras and tripods, I'd give up on tripods. RRS has a 50 lb capacity, but do you need that. I use Manfrotto for a fraction of the price for both pieces.
https://smile.amazon.com/Manfrotto-323-Connect-Adapter-200PL-14/dp/B000JLK5PU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493636040&sr=8-1&keywords=manfrotto+rc2

RRS compatible -
https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rrs+compatible+clamps

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

If you can afford the best - get the best. RRS is the expensive stuff but you will never regret buying their equipment.
That being said, if you still want to go inexpensively, try
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1007334-REG/sunwayfoto_dac_01_50mm_quick_release.html?sts=pi

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

They are all the same width, if you buy the acra swiss type, its a standard and each manufacturer has to adhere to it)!!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Not sure where you got this information, or if it is just your opinion. Here is some hard data:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/QR-clamps

The "Executive Summary" is that Arca-Swiss has never published a "standard" for their clamps/plates, widths vary among the different manufacturers, the RRS lever clamp is unique in that it can auto adjust for a wide (but not all) variety of plates, and that the screw type clamp can be tightened a little more than the lever, providing a little more security.

Your turn - show me anything that says that all Arca-Swiss "style" clamps are created equal and identical.

BTW, as I originally stated, I have a wide collection of plates and L brackets and they are all different - Chinese Import, Kirk, Wimberley, RRS, Arca-Swiss - all are just a little different - maybe less than a mm. But with a non-adjustable clamp, a mm of slop will mean a camera/lens not securely mounted in it's clamp. Screw clamps are far more forgiving.

blackest Loc: Ireland

At least it knocks manfrotto into touch :) Arca Swiss is mostly compatible but each one of the brands really want's you to buy within their brand, and who can blame them. If you really really need lever clamps stick to a brand but expect to pay for it. Even if you get really right stuff lever clamps you still need their plates they may be adjustable clamps but if you need to adjust with each plate change, where is the advantage? Some plates have pins which can fit into a hole in the base of your camera that's useful if you use your camera in portrait mode as the lens weight can twist the plate on the tripod screw. Although that's also a good reason to get an L bracket. Dedicated ones can be fairly pricey but there are adjustable ones which can be had for a few dollars.

I wish i knew about arca swiss before buying into manfrotto, i still have one of their heads gathering dust.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I have been using two Chinese made Arca Swiss clamps that I bought at ridiculous prices. I was skeptical at first but after using both I am delighted with them.
For $36 and without knowing the quality of this clamp I believe it could be worth it. If you want to play it safe go for the used one from RRS. I have used it and it is very good quality.