I know the tilt head is for big lenses with collars where the lens is attached to the head - not the camera so you can go up and down with the tilt head.
But I'm using my 50r attached to the monopods tilt head by the L brackett, so the tilt head does me no good as it only adjusts sideways, which is of no use at all.
I brought my RRS travel tripod (with the BH-30 RRS ball head) and my Manfrotto monopod (with the Siriu L-10 Tilt Head).
Yesterday I switched heads and used the RRS ball head on the monopod and really like it. A tilt head will do me no good until I buy the 250. I don't use the collar on the 100-200.
Anyway, does anyone else like using ball heads on their monopod instead of a tilt head?
Greg Johnson, San Antonio, Texas
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139148982@N02/albums
I'm still surprised there's so much use of Arca plates these-days, to me they seem like awkward dinosaurs, and would only be used by old photo guys for nostalgia or reasons of non-adventure or using giant dinosaur film cameras (which are in decline). BTW I'm an 'old photo guy', but I'm not nostalgic - hence why I was an early adopter of the GFX 50S.
Rethinking a QR plate from scratch and I the Manfrotto system hits the nail on the head.
I use a Peak Design Dual Plate v2 (dual - as it's both Arca and Manfrotto). Though I never use the Arca 'side of it' it might be useful to those who do wish to mix head QR systems - getting best of both worlds (though personally I see no 'best' of the Arca system). It grips like no other plate I've used.
With the Manfrotto 234RC tilt head on a monopod there's no faffing around with sliding a camera on a Arca plate then tightening up a screw - man that's ancient tech! You just hold your camera normally with your right hand, hold the monopod with you left hand, then mate them, push the camera down onto the monopod and SNAP the Manfrotto lever automatically shuts, and there's no sliding or wiggle, no nothing. SNAP, 1 second, bang, on you go shooting with no faffing, no risks of dropping your camera, or placing the monopod between your legs to hold it etc.
Please, everyone who has never tried a Manfrotto QR, try it, go into a store and try it. I doubt you'll ever use ridiculous Arca again (...some will), but give Manfrotto a chance - it's a revolution.
NB never buy 'cheap' Manfrotto QR plates of heads, they never attach or grip as well. The only exception here is the Peak Design Dual Plate v2 - which is actually as good as if not better than the standard Manfrotto QR plate.
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BTW I do think a simple tilt head like the 234RC is better than a ball head, as we instinctively tend to know when a monopod is vertical (just about!), and having the tilt head means it's always matching the verticality of the monopod. With a ball head it's often over to the side a bit, again more faffing to correct - and it's
never correct. My rule is, as light-weight as possible, as high quality as possible, and as simple as possible - less faff (is actually number 1).
That is a shocker. I love the Arca plate and clamp and it is so fast and easy, especially with the RRS quick release lever. I had the Mafrotto system for years and just hated it. Do they have something better now - an updated Manfrotto clamp release system?
As the plates are still compatible the system is basically the same as it's always been. The plates used to be covered with natural smooth cork, not it's 'toothed' rubber - which grip much better. The receiving heads not also incorporate a safety lock if you wish to use it - the spring loading on the lever has always been enough for me, but the new safety is now there to quell any worries.
If it wasn't the smoothness(lack of grip) of the cork or the lack of safety lock that caused you to hate the system, you'll still hate it, unless enough water has passed under the bridge since your bad experience to openly try again.
I'm shocked to hear you say that Arca is a dinosaur. I thought everyone loved it.
...well the RSS heads inc lever are dinosaurs disguised as young women (or men depending on your inclination). Or maybe the dinosaur is long gone and it really has evolved, ...but not enough for me.
In many ways the Arca 'lever' is the fulfilment of a request to adopt some of the connivence of the Manfrotto QR plate system, it's a half-way house (though some will say it's the best of both, I disagree).
The Arca 'lever' doesn't automatically snap shut (as does the Manfrotto system), so a spare hand is required to close the lever. One hand holding your camera, the other holding your monopod, so no spare hand, therefore it's monopod between legs - which frees up a hand for the Arca lever, not ideal - but doable.
Then there's still the issue of the sliding plate, centralising it. Why oh why should we need to faff about with that, like it's some kind of game - to slide a plate and carefully adjust it to a central position, yes yes I've done it!! 50 points!! - ok you don't need to get it absolutely balanced central, but that seems shoddy (and is actually more difficult to do with a lever vs a knob). Also in the dim light of a cold evening the last thing I want to be doing is centralising my camera on my tripod head - especially when I'm frequently removing the camera for intermittent hand-held shots - or frequency bagging my camera. The Acra is somewhat of a
slow-release system compared to the Manfrotto.
Sliding plates are really only useful when orientated front to back (in-line with the lens) and when mounting huge 4ft long cinema/film cameras - as their ungainly weight needs to be balanced front to back on the tripod, for smooth balanced panning and tilting. Adjusting these sliding plates is not done often, and is not part of a QR system. The Arca adopts this old-school sliding approach to mounting cinema cameras, but has no need for it - to balance a stills camera
left to right, it's pointless.
Anyway just my opinion, as I think many people choose Arca just because others say get Arca, then they become committed for life. I'm here in a forum - open to healthy debate, just saying take a look at Manfrotto as well (not you Greg, as I'm sure Arca is working well for you - and familiarity has it's own rewards).
The Manfrotto is all about speed, no hands required when mounting your camera, and repeatable centrality on the head every time with zero faff. That's exactly what I want.
In terms of a monopod - which cannot stand up without being held, the auto-closing lever of the Manfrotto system (and 'auto' centralisation) is even more ideal, and with the PD dual QR plate (I mentioned in previous post higher up), you can use the
same plate for a
Manfrotto head on your monopod and an
Arca head on your tripod - without changing plates. Though as you'll have guessed, I now only use Manfrotto heads and ditched Arca years ago.
There is one advantage to Arca, the very large heads coupled with long plates, these do provide extra solidity in the studio, where large heavy tripods live, as does lavish set-up time.
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