SAVH Loc: La Jolla, CA

I currently have a Nikon D-850 and want to buy a Wimberley WH-200 gimbal head. I will need to mount my camera to it. Since our local camera shop, which I usually rely on, is closed, I am seeking input on what mounting plate to use. I read that most use a Really Right Stuff plate but I don't know which one is correct for my D-850. I hope to mount the WH-200 on a good, carbon fiber tripod (probably a Gitzo) and would appreciate recommendations on which ones might be compatible with the camera and gimbal head.

Thank you.

Scotty

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

All of my plates are Arca-Swiss. I love 'em.

My tripod is a Gitzo. One of the older aluminum ones. I highly recommend that brand, as well.
--Bob

jwreed50 Loc: Manassas, VA

I use the Really Right Stuff baseplate on my D850. Take a look at their website. You can buy it as just a baseplate or in an “L” configuration. I use only the baseplate and leave it on the camera. Makes it easy to attach the camera to my ball head or gimbal head.

TomKat Loc: Not here

I have a Kirk Ind on my D850. No complaints.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I'M with malarz,
I use the Wimberley WH-200 w Acra-Swiss type plates on a Gitzo GT5561SGT carbon fiber tripod,Now out of production) Compares to the 5563GSUS While not real lightweight, it is rock steady and will lay flat on the ground if needed.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

The weak link in fastening a plate to the camera is that it can twist off. If you buy an L bracket it has a ridge on it that prevents it from twisting off the camera. With the bonus of being able to swap the camera from horizontal to vertical. We have a Sunway PNL-D850 which gives you arca-swiss on both bottom and side. Plus the Sunway is relatively cheap. Just type that in for a search and you will find it.
The Sunway has one advantage compared to others - it is cheaper.
A disadvantage is that it has no "swank" value.

You may be able to find a base plate only with an arca-swiss bottom plus the edge that stops it from twisting off. We got the L bracket just to see how it would go compared to just the base plate. Didn't go any further and the L bracket is still on there after a couple of years.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

If the OP is using a long lens the plate should be mounted on the lens foot with two screws thus there will be no twisting. Using an "L" bracket as you describe would put more stress on the camera body and the lens mount if using a telephoto .

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

The OP said he wanted to mount his camera onto the WH-200. What I suggested will work fine. If he uses it with a big lens then the camera won't be mounted but instead the big lens foot will. That is a whole different issue. I just went back and re-read the OP but see no mention of using it with a big lens evn though that may be his intention - it just wasn't mentioned.
There is a bit of an issue with mounting cameras or big lens (using its foot). I have had this issue a couple of times and there are ways around it but am always surprised that nobody has made an attachment to do this - not that I have found yet anyway.
The issue is that the logical way to mount the plate to the camera is left/right but on a big lens usually front/back orientation. You can mount to the camera dual plates at right angles to each other thus giving you a front/back but I haven't yet seen anything combined that includes this plus the camera ledge that prevents twisting. If you know of one please post here.

CO

You can do that but it's awkward. Also, you might have difficulty getting it balanced and it will put a lot of stress on the tripod socket threads on the bottom of the camera. I wouldn't mount a camera directly to the gimbal.

Mount the lens collar foot to the gimbal

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chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

You might mount the camera straight onto the gimbal if you have a shorter/smaller/lighter lens BUT want the convenience of using a gimbal. Note in the picture above the arca-swiss plate is mounted front/back on the gimbal and this can sometimes be a pain especially if the plate on your camera is left/right.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

So I see there's a bunch of quasi-useful information offered here and realize you still might be a tad confused. I hope this helps:

First, understand that "Arca Swiss plate" is a term relating to what has become a standard system for quick-release plates and clamps. And while Arca Swiss (the company) manufactures some outstanding ball heads that use this system a number of other manufacturers, like Really Right Stuff, Kirk and more also offer lens and camera body plates as well as clamps that can be fitted on the tripod. The Wimberly gimbal head, as you have seen, uses the Arca Swiss style clamp.

You say you want a plate for your D850, but you are not going to want to mount the camera body onto the gimbal head. Gimbal heads are designed to enable you to swing the camera/lens rapidly to follow moving objects (typically birds in flight) - in order to do that, the weight of the camera+lens needs to be centered on the clamp mount of the head. Unless you plan on using a short telephoto lens (which is rather pointless on a gimbal head) you will be making use of the long lens' "foot", so the bracket you will want in order to use the gimbal head properly will be one for the foot.

Personally I am a fan of RRS gear - though I have certainly used others. If you go to their website (https://www.reallyrightstuff.com/) you can see they offer plates for all kinds of Nikon (and other) long lens feet (https://www.reallyrightstuff.com/plates-brackets/plates-brackets-lenses/nikon-lenses), many of which have a lip of some sort that will prevent the lens foot from twisting out of alignment should the screw loosen a little. They also offer camera plates for specific models of camera - I've had a dozen of these over the years - which are custom designed as opposed to being generic in style. They can get kind of pricey, so if budget is a concern certainly you can find less custom camera plates.

I mention the camera plate side of things even though with the gimbal head you will need to use a lens foot to properly balance the set up because you might, at some point, want to get a ball head for the tripod for use when you are not going to be shooting with the long lens but still want support. Using the quick release system certainly makes operating a tripod setup much quicker and easier, so it's something to consider. Here again, a nnumber of manufacturers offer ball heads that use the Arca Swiss standard clamps, including Arca Swiss themselves (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1373798-REG/arca_swiss_8501303_1_cube_c1_gp_geared.html?sts=pi-ps&pim=Y - if you've just won the lottery). Seriously, though, RRS, Kirk, and a gaggle of others (I have a bunch of heads and like the Acra-Tech brand as well, myself) so you can select from a number of options. The entire point is that the Arca Swiss mechanisms are standardized such that any of the clamps will work with any of the plates.

I hope that helps.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Good advice!

Murray Loc: New Westminster

I agree. Same setup for me.

CO

As was mentioned in f8lee's post above, Arca-Swiss has become a standard system for quick release plates. Really Right Stuff publishes dimensions for their Arca-Swiss plates.

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jim quist Loc: Missouri

I bought the plates I needed for three of my lenses from Wimberley.
You buy the custom plate for the lens, not for the camera body.
https://www.tripodhead.com/products/lens-plates-main.cfm

I have two Wimberley Gimbal heads. The WH-200 that I use with a Gitzo tripod, and the MonoGimbal head that I use with a gitzo monopod. I use the monopod almost every day, I have used the tripod probably 3 times.
https://www.tripodhead.com/products/monopodhead-main.cfm