TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

On the FZ1000, the battery compartment door is approximately 1/4" from the tripod screw. The camera seems a bit battery hungry, so any QR system that I have been able to find requires that the plate be removed from the camera in order to change the battery. Has anybody found a QR system that has sufficient clearance for the door to be opened without having to remove the plate?

ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK

I would contact Really Right Stuff and tell them your concern. They will tell you if they have a bracket that does what you need.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Thanks, I'll give them a shout.

Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.

I solved the problem on an Arca-Swiss QR plate for my wife's FZ1000. Obtain a 1/4-20 socket head cap screw and shorten it so that it is just short of bottoming out in the camera's tripod mount female threaded hole. (take into consideration the thickness of the plate) Elongate the fastening slot in the plate leaving just enough material next to the boss for the overhang of the cap screw head. This will leave enough room for the battery/SD card door to open with the plate installed.

There are two reasons for using a socket head cap screw. It has a small diameter head which will allow the screw to be closer to the battery door and it can be torqued tighter because you use the leverage of an allen key to tighten it. It is necessary to torque it tighter because it is so far off centre that it could be easily pivoted when on the tripod. However, there is no downside to keeping it tight. Just leave it on the camera at all times.

If you have access to a lathe you can undercut the threads of the cap screw so that it will not fall out of the slot.

An alternate method would be to carefully drill a 1/4" hole next to the boss leaving enough material for the head overhang and thereby not having to elongate the slot.

If you find that the plate still pivots under the camera when on the tripod, put a slight cup in the plate so there is good contact at the opposite end of where the screw is situated.

Good luck!

Sergo Loc: Washington State

Go to amazon.com and look up alzo liberator battery clearance. It's designed for Panasonic battery compartment problem. I have one for my FZ 1000 and it works great. About $17.00

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Thanks for the idea, Geegee.It sounds great ... except for the fact that with my partially paralyzed hands, I can be dangerous, especially to myself, when I try to use sharp tools. I can also be quite entertaining when I need precise control over them. I think that I will try the Alzo Liberator mentioned in the following post

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Thanks for the tip, Sergo. You win a prize for coming up with a product sold by someone, in this case Adorama, who was not B & H. The Alzo Liberator looks like the solution unless someone comes up with something better.