chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I have purchased swiss-arca from several sources - the US, locally, Hong Kong, Amazon, ebay and the only products I found weren't good were the clamps with quick release levers on them. Every other one has worked with all the others. As I said they are all the same - a bit of machined aluminium, some anodising and a bit of rubber. If I spent the amount I have on generic products on RRS (or equivalents) instead I could have bought myself a D850 for the same amount.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The larger size and contact area of the Manfro 625 and the auto lock feature makes it superior to the A/S system - especially from a safety/stability standpoint - IMO !
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chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I would only consider something like the Manfrotto 625 if I also had room to transport a brick shithouse. It is huge and maybe in a studio or in the back of a truck you might consider it rather than swiss-arca. And maybe the hex shape will give some value for swapping positions.
I had previously been using Manfrottos 323 system but it never gave me quite a satisfactory feeling that it was clamping as well as it could. Both of these, of course, are far greater cost than generic swiss-arca.
I have even got my point and shoot in its cage mounted on a 25mm sa plate. And my 2 pair of binoculars have sa plates for much greater stability when using them with a monopod. Plus my rack, flash's, gimbal, light hoods. SA is just so versatile.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

We are talking about potentially large tripod heads here with potentially large cameras and large lenses on top of them - not binocs or P&S or brick shithouses . Size matters for reasons I have mentioned ! Yes, for SMALL stuff A/S should be OK. Most pros and serious amateurs have LARGER stuff tho.
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RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Interesting. I’ve never shot in such frenzied conditions that I didn’t have two or three minutes to unscrew one head and screw on another.

george19

I found screwing the head on to be awkward: poor shape, poor balance, unsure of thread engagement; quick release just offers a solution that is faster and more reliable, at least to me.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Yep. Either method is a bit fiddley and awkward, and requires care.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

This Sports Pro uses RRS a/s systems with all his larger (and smaller) lenses and every camera body as well. They are designed specifically for this type of use and, by using the a/s system, they are pretty much universal between many different monopods and tripods. The proprietary, and very bulky, designs of the Monfrotto (Bogen) gear are both cumbersome and native to, at best, a couple of their heads. I have a closet shelf full of those ancient design adapters that no longer see any use. Best of luck.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I changed away from the Manfrotto plate system because I felt the arca-swiss system gave a better connection. When I was using the Man 323 system I felt that the design sometimes meant the plates were only touching at a few points when clamped whereas the swiss-arca, when clamped, had a better feel. I think this might have been partly because the Manfrotto fittings were cast but the arca-swiss were machined and slightly more inherently accurate.
Then there is the cost. A Man 323 plate here is about $60, a clone plate is still over $30. The arca-swiss plates ranged from $10 to over $80 depending on the width of the plate. The 25mm plate on my P&S is less than half the width of the Man plate (not even considering the Man 625 stuff).
And I found that generally the AS clamps are no slower to do up than the Man clamps. Apart from the fact that you just cannot use the Man system in the way you can the AS my main regret is that I didn't cotton onto AS a lot sooner than I did.
Any tripod design that does not offer an AS system is backward and awkward and you will inevitably change - just hopefully before you have invested in too many of your manf specific system.

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

Well, once again, the guy from Florida is putting out nonsense without providing any reasonable rationale. Like yourself, I have been using Arca-Swiss clamps with heavy equipment, even had a 12 lb 600mm F4 lens that used tripod collar with an Arca-Swiss dovetail on it. Just watch him double down on his opinion, flawed as it may be.

Anyway, if there is any question remaining, (not you of course) here is a review of the Arca-Swiss z1 which states that its load capacity is 122 lbs.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Arca-Swiss-Monoball-Z1-Ballhead-Review.aspx

The updated one with the panning base under the clamp is rated for 132 lbs

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1029543-REG/arca_swiss_801123_monoball_classic_z1_double.html

This one from UniqBall is good for 90 lb payload

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1465009-REG/uniqball_ubh45xc_2_ubh_45xc_2_ball_head.html

This one from FLM is rated at 132 lbs

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/288482-REG/FLM_FLMCB58FTQR_Centerball_58_FTQR.html

When looking for tripod heads that use this clamp all I could find was the Manfrotto 3D Super Pro 3 way pan/tilt head with a 26.2 lb load capacity

https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/3d-super-pro-3-way-tripod-head-with-safety-catch-229/

It's pretty clear that the Arca-Swiss is time- and pro- tested, respected, designed to reliably support very heavy loads, and universally accepted. Can't say the same for the Manfrotto 625 or most of their consumer-oriented gear.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I would never equate a brick shithouse with a P&S camera. A brick shithouse is something very large and very heavy.
I would equate it with more like a large 4x5" camera using glass plates and including the flash pan.
Most pros and amateurs don't have LARGER stuff. My D850 with 600mm lens fits nicely into my gimbal and all supported on an average tripod via two sets of AS plates/clamps. Works fine and never felt the need to investigate anything more substantial.
Some pros might like to use RRS gear (and maybe a few rich amateurs) since they get a tax writeoff on it. And it is good BUT NOT necessary for most of us.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I am not an engineer or an expert on tripod construction or manufacture. All I can say from long experience that it is not wise to skimp on support equipment simply because it defeats its purpose if it into well balanced, well constructed and stable. In order to maximize stability, when it is required, one must consider the basic quality and design and structural integrity of the components (the tripod, had and any quick release or standard attachment mechanism). Even if each component is of the utmost quality, the way in which the components are joined, balanced, and configured can influence their performance. A head, regardless of its quality of construction, if it is too heavy for the base and only serves to add to the load, the stability will be compromised. If the camer/lens/grip and any other onboard accessories are off-balance even the sturdiest combination of base and head will become ineffective. The use of an inappropriately sized screw or plate can breach the system.

When trying to select a tripod and head, obviously, you need to work backward for your load requirements as well as ease of operations and convenience of transport weight. Sometimes compromises need to be made as well as budgetary issues.

In my own case, most of my tripods and light stands are holdovers from my large format days. When I went in to purchase my first Majestic tripod in 1961, the salesman said, "you can mount a house on that thing" and I purchased it on the spot, I still have it. Someof my gear is overkill by today's standards but I don't worry about camera movement with long exposures or big glass.

Presently, I have, besides my Majestic monster, 1 heavy-duty Manfrotto standard pan/tilt head, 2- ligh duty Manfrotto ball heads, 1- heavy-duty Manfrotto ball head, and 1- Manfrotto one-handed pistol grip ball head for the monopod. I am going to get an Arca-Swiss Monoball Z1g+ Ball Head for my Manfrotto carbon-Fiber model because I am doing more panoramics these days.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

As I have said before , due to the laws of physics, size matters - You all can use whatever YOU want -I will use what I want and try to explain to you why - and the why for me is physics. .......and, yes I use A/S for ALL other things - OTHER than tripod heads - which require more than what A/S has to offer - again according to my physics ! ....... Sorry to step on so many of your tiny toes here !

I do not need some internet guru/article or seller of equipment to try and tell me how good or bad something may or may not be when common sense and laws of physics are involved.
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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This statement is in relation to TRIPOD heads only - which I thought/assumed everyone could figure out ....
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chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Only sort of. It is related to the OPs TRIPODS head ONLY. The question was related to him being able to swap his tripod head between 2 tripods. He already has presumably 2 tripods, a head and a camera but doesn't want to muck around with those insecure and fiddly little 1/4" screw fittings. Which I entirely agree with.
I don't recall whether he mentioned his camera (and am not going to check anyway) nor what weight lens he may have but assuming a mid range DSLR a pair of AS fittings is all he needs.
Quite rightly so you can't argue with physics but using a Manfrotto 625 is grossly overkill for his job. Actually for most jobs as it happens but that is my bias. Note here I said MOST not ALL.