Tripods and qiuck release styles.
I’m new to this forum and an amatuer at hobby photography. I shoot with a Nikon D750. I have 2 tripods, a sturdy Manfrotto and a lighter weight, but stable MeFoto - both with ball heads. They have different quick release attachments and the one that came with the MeFoto is much easier and faster for me to use. Can the Manfrotto tripod head be adapted to use the MeFoto release? And if it can, is there any reason this should not be done?
gjrose wrote:
I’m new to this forum and an amatuer at hobby photography. I shoot with a Nikon D750. I have 2 tripods, a sturdy Manfrotto and a lighter weight, but stable MeFoto - both with ball heads. They have different quick release attachments and the one that came with the MeFoto is much easier and faster for me to use. Can the Manfrotto tripod head be adapted to use the MeFoto release? And if it can, is there any reason this should not be done?
The main reason might be personal preference - one is as solid as the other.
I want to follow this subject as I am having a similar problem.
gjrose wrote:
I’m new to this forum and an amatuer at hobby photography. I shoot with a Nikon D750. I have 2 tripods, a sturdy Manfrotto and a lighter weight, but stable MeFoto - both with ball heads. They have different quick release attachments and the one that came with the MeFoto is much easier and faster for me to use. Can the Manfrotto tripod head be adapted to use the MeFoto release? And if it can, is there any reason this should not be done?
Welcome to the forum. Just buy a MeFoto Ball head and remove the Manfottoball head and replace it with the MeFoto. Problem solved.
Your MeFoto is most likely an Arca-Swiss compatible ball head as are most other brand name tripod heads. The Manfotto is its own proprietary design. The top plate of the Manfotto might be removable and if so you could replace it with an Arca-Swiss style top screw or quick release plate from Really Right Stuff or other supplier. But if it is not a very good ballhead it might make more sense to just swap it for a new Arca-Swiss compatible ballhead. Then with an Arca-Swiss compatible quick release plate on the camera you could mount it on both heads.
MichaelH wrote:
Your MeFoto is most likely an Arca-Swiss compatible ball head as are most other brand name tripod heads. The Manfotto is its own proprietary design. The top plate of the Manfotto might be removable and if so you could replace it with an Arca-Swiss style top screw or quick release plate from Really Right Stuff or other supplier. But if it is not a very good ballhead it might make more sense to just swap it for a new Arca-Swiss compatible ballhead. Then with an Arca-Swiss compatible quick release plate on the camera you could mount it on both heads.
Your MeFoto is most likely an Arca-Swiss compatibl... (
show quote)
Also try Kirk Industries. I've had min since the 1990's. There is a stand alone Arca Swiss release mechanism that should fit on the Manfretto after the existing release is unscrewed (try that first).
Go with an arca Swiss Mount.
Cdouthitt wrote:
Go with an arca Swiss Mount.
Definitely the most secure locking mount.
Haydon wrote:
Definitely the most secure locking mount.
It also gives you the best chance of "borrowing" someone else's more expensive gear to "test" out.
Cdouthitt wrote:
Go with an arca Swiss Mount.
Arca Swiss mount. These are universal and very easy to use.
gjrose wrote:
I’m new to this forum and an amatuer at hobby photography. I shoot with a Nikon D750. I have 2 tripods, a sturdy Manfrotto and a lighter weight, but stable MeFoto - both with ball heads. They have different quick release attachments and the one that came with the MeFoto is much easier and faster for me to use. Can the Manfrotto tripod head be adapted to use the MeFoto release? And if it can, is there any reason this should not be done?
It's always better if you include model numbers. Manfrotto has a couple of different QR mechanisms that are not compatible.
At any rate, the MeFoto ball heads are Arca. You can convert a Manfrotto ball head to Arca in two ways. The simplest is to get an Arca clamp and mount it on the quick release plate. You need one that you can screw into from the bottom, rather than one that takes a mounting screw through the clamp from the top (as pictured in a subsequent post). This does add another layer of connection, which can add to instability. The main issue will be to ensure that, when mounting the Arca clamp, the QR plate does not interfere with the clamping knob or lever.
The second option is to remove the Manfrotto clamp from the ball head and replace it with an Arca clamp designed to fit. Depending on the Manfrotto ball head model. You want to be sure that the anti-twist mechanism is compatible; simply screwing an Arca clamp into the Manfrotto ball head post is not a good idea as there is insufficient surface contact to ensure an anti-twist connection. There are clamps designed for this; I think ProMedia gear makes one. You would have to know your ball head model and search a bit. However, these are not inexpensive.
The alternative is to replace the Manfrotto ball head with an Arca ball head. There are a lot of options, with a wide range in price.
Personally, I use ballheads from Acratech (expensive), Vanguard (inexpensive and large) and Sirui (inexpensive and small). I would avoid names that you are not familiar with; especially with full frame gear you want a ball head that will support the weight.
gjrose wrote:
Thanks for all the quick replys. Once I knew the terminology I googled the Arca-Swiss quick release and came up with this.
Just be careful, some Manfrotto tripods have a top of the ball plate that is incompatible with conversion clamps. Better off getting a new Arca Swiss ballhead. ANd, you will probably need a thread adapter too.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.