Arca Swiss plate for Nikon 850: Greetings I need to buy an arca plate for my Nikon 850. My tabletop tripod has an arca plate and clamp but they seem too short to support the camera and...

bela1950 Loc: Massachusetts

Greetings
I need to buy an arca plate for my Nikon 850. My tabletop tripod has an arca plate and clamp but they seem too short to support the camera and a 90mm lens. Can I use a plate longer than the clamp? Do I need a minimum length plate to support the 850? If I purchase a plate specific to the 850, can I use it safely on different length clamps.? I want the camera to be secure. I know I have a lot of questions, but I know I'll get the right answers from all of you in this forum.
Thank you😊

CO

You can use a plate longer than the clamp. I have a Sirui L-bracket specifically made for my D500. Companies such as Really Right Stuff and Kirk also make plates and L-brackets. Most manufacturers use a 45 degree dovetail Arca-Swiss design. Really Right Stuff has a diagram for their Arca-Swiss dovetail on their website. Most companies use this design. I made my own Arca-Swiss plate in a machine shop. I used the dimensions from the Really Right Stuff diagram.

This is the standard that most manufacturers use. There are small variations in the 1.500" width and depth of the dovetails between manufacturers but the clamp will cover that range.

(Download)

bela1950 Loc: Massachusetts

CO wrote:

You can use a plate longer than the clamp. I have a Sirui L-bracket specifically made for my D500. Companies such as Really Right Stuff and Kirk also make plates and L-brackets. Most manufacturers use a 45 degree dovetail Arca-Swiss design. Really Right Stuff has a diagram for their Arca-Swiss dovetail on their website. Most companies use this design. I made my own Arca-Swiss plate in a machine shop. I used the dimensions from the Really Right Stuff diagram.

Thank you for the detailed information. It helped.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Go on ebay or KEH and see if you can find a used version. They're just metal so it doesn't matter if used, scratched a bit.

bela1950 Loc: Massachusetts

CHG_CANON wrote:

Go on ebay or KEH and see if you can find a used version. They're just metal so it doesn't matter if used, scratched a bit.

Thank you. Good idea.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

You can use a plate shorter or longer than the clamp. Clamping integrity is what counts. Chances are your limiting factor will be the stability and strength of your tabletop tripod and its head. Often with the smaller tripods you have to arrange the feet direction to prevent tipping over. Experiment using a full size ball head on the miniature tripods; often it works out just fine. As long as you avoid vertical orientation (which is really inviting tipsy ness) you can get by with a simple plate rather than one designed to prevent twisting.

bela1950 Loc: Massachusetts

Orphoto wrote:

You can use a plate shorter or longer than the cla... (show quote)

Thank you for your explanation. Are the generic arca plates, such as Neewer, strong as the plates specific to my camera from Kirk or Acratech?

edhjr Loc: Needham, MA

Personally I like Kirk. Reliable, friendly/helpful.

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

Generic flat plates are generic designs that can be used with virtually any camera but can twist during use. The pin as shown in CO's post is one means for preventing this, another anti rotation method is a curve on the plate which "cups" the camera bottom and is typical for RRS or Kirk plates and others designed for specific camera models. An option is an L bracket as shown in CO's posting which allows for mounting the camera in landscape and portrait orientation. The are not appreciably heavier but do add bulk. Be aware that some designs use the camera strap eyelet on the camera body to attach the L clamp more securely which means that you either leave the clamp on or deal with removing and reinstalling split rings to mount or dismount the L clamp.

bela1950 Loc: Massachusetts

edhjr wrote:

Personally I like Kirk. Reliable, friendly/helpful.

bela1950 Loc: Massachusetts

BurghByrd wrote:

Generic flat plates are generic designs that can b... (show quote)

Thank You. I will order a plate specific to fit my camera. I have had plates loosen in the past and I always need to check before mounting the camera. I also wasn't sure if I could leave the plate on and use it on different length clamps, but now I understand that I can.

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

bela1950 wrote:

Thank You. I will order a plate specific to fit my camera. I have had plates loosen in the past and I always need to check before mounting the camera. I also wasn't sure if I could leave the plate on and use it on different length clamps, but now I understand that I can.

I'm not familiar with the other options but I have a RRS L bracket for my D850 which works very well. The L part of the bracket can be removed so that the base plate which has an anti rotation pin can securely be used alone. The L bracket can be added and it has a screw than can optionally be used to secure it through the camera body strap eyelet although as mentioned this means removing the camera strap split ring. It is designed so that the camera strap split ring can be left in place with the L bracket installed if desired. Both parts, base and L brackets have quick disconnect feature. RRS plates are expensive but as a rule well designed. The part numbers if you are interrested are BD850-L D and BD850.

OregonCoaster

I bought an L-bracket for my 850 (sunwayfoto) for around $60. I see they are now $50. Solid, been using it for over two years. Make sure you tighten the stop screws. No other issues.

photoman43

I use one from Wimberley as the rubber stuff on its bottom which touches the base of the camera makes for a tighter connection. And the plate works on any camera body.

https://www.tripodhead.com/products/camera-body-main.cfm

It can be longer or shorter; no issue there as long as it clamps tight.

bela1950 Loc: Massachusetts

BurghByrd wrote:

I'm not familiar with the other options but I have... (show quote)

Thank you for that option. I like the feature to disconnect L bracket. Will check it out.