Okay, here goes. This is going to be hurried, because I am about 99.5% ready
to pull the trigger on an E-330 from B&H and want to get this done before I
come to my senses. I keep thinking about all that ground-level macro stuff I
like to do.
The Cullmann QR system has many advantages: the plates are small, like about 1
1/4 in. square and 1/4 in. deep; work forwards and backwards, weigh next to
nothing, are absolutely secure (I even use them with the Mamiya RB67 and
Graphics), can be used sideways, if necessary, by rotating the adapter, are not
expensive, and never get in the way. I've got Cullmann QR adapters on my
Manfrotto 405 geared head, Gitzo ball head, both Cullmann tripods (naturally)
and even on an old go-to-hell Quick Set Pro-Am that I don't hesitate to stick
in the mud and the muck and the meadow muffins, if there should be any where I
want to set up.
I've got probably 18 or 20 of the QR plates, and they're attached to just about
anything and everything I'm likely to ever want to mount on a tripod. They're
small enough that you may forget they're there. The gear will usually fit even
with a plate attached anywhere it would fit without one. For instance, the
300/4.5 and 400/6.3 Zuikos still fit in their hard cases with a plate attached.
There's a pair of Cullmann QR plates that haven't been off my E-1 and 50-200
DZ since I got them. They're there when I need 'em, and when I don't need 'em,
I don't even notice they're still there.
I couldn't recommend them more highly unless I was selling them, which I'm not.
Gotta go now. I've got something to do.
Walt
--
"Anything more than 500 yards from
the car just isn't photogenic." --
Edward Weston
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Joel Wilcox" <jfwilcox@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> On 3/5/06, Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >OK, at bit later than promised, but here are some pix of my 410 head
> > >with the standard plate mount replaced by a RRS clamp:
> > >
> > >
> > And here, better late than never(?), a Cullmann QR adapter mounted
> > non-destructively on a 410 QR plate on a 410 head
> > <http://www.moosemystic.net/Gallery/tech/410cullman.htm>. Fortuitously,
> > the adapter hangs over one side a bit, so it clamps down on a solid part
> > of the 410 plate, thus obviating the problem with slithery cork on this
> > older plate. Solid as a rock.
> >
> > As Walt pointed out, the Cullmann plates are small and don't usually
> > interfere at all with use of the camera off the tirpod. They are
> > certainly less imposing/impressive than the AS style metal plates, but
> > work very well. I don't have MF or larger gear, but have used them with
> > monster lenses like the Tokina 150-500/5.6 without any problem. Although
> > the plates generally grab the camera reeally well, they also make QR
> > plates with anti rotation that work well for verticals.
> >
> > Moose
>
> So is the purpose of the modification to use smaller QR plates mainly
> to standardize on one set of plates, or to avoid getting into yet
> another style of Bogen plates, or because these Bogen plates are
> especially problematic in shifting between plates attached to cameras,
> MDs, and tripod mounts? All the above?
>
> If I am successfully living with the hex QR plates (the enormous ones)
> that work in a 3047 head, am I likely to be anxious to pursue the
> Cullman or AS mod? I don't think so, right?
>
> I recently purchased the 3047 head (I actually like tilt-pan heads)
> more or less exclusively to deal with the thin footprint of the DZ
> 50-200 tripod mount. The big plates help. Nevertheless, I still move
> the lens noticably when I try to squeeze off shots, especially when
> the 1.4 TC is involved. The best methodology in this case is to use a
> remote, or better yet, remote plus MLU on the E-1.
>
> If I thought the 410 with native plates were going to improve things,
> especially for hands-on-camera shots, I might be quite interested in
> it. But I certainly wouldn't go there with the notion of having to
> modify it to take a different set of plates.
>
> I don't mean these questions to sound critical of the discussion. I
> hope they don't come across that way. I've just sort of lost the
> sense in the thread about why the 410 is liked while its QR plates
> pose problems.
>
> Joel W.
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
|