Arca Swiss Clamps: Lever or Knob?

[DavidNJ100]

Arca Swiss mounts are now de facto required. Lens collars are coming with them built in. Most tripod heads have them. Most rigs for multi-row panoramas use them. And they are convenient.



But the come two ways: lever and clamp. The lever is one movement, has a clearly defined retained but sliding position, and a quick visual confirmation of the lock. The lever can also fit in some tighter spaces. However, it needs an allen key adjustment if the plates vary. And virtually all tripods come with the knobs, so it mixes the two types.

The knob can require a couple of turns to lock. Their is no visual confirmation of a lock. However, it is much more common reducing confusion (for instance, when getting a spouse or friend to use it) and handles variations in plates without any other adjustment. The occasional user is more likely to miss when the adjustment is wrong potentially leading to camera movement and possibly dropping the camera (ouch!).

What do you recommend?

 

[NancyP]

This is entirely a matter of personal preference.

I have both types. I prefer the screw type for the most-carried tripod because I have L plates of slightly different sizes, and the lever clamp I have is difficult to adjust in the field for different size L plates. No question that the lever is faster to use and doesn't leave you wondering if your clamp is tight enough. I have the screw type on a compact ball head that goes on a compact tripod where the legs wrap around the head (60mm diameter head housing). I use this "travel" tripod with both compact camera and with DSLR and lenses to 200mm. I can check on the firmness of the screw clamp by picking up the camera - if the 3# tripod comes up with it, it's good. The lever clamp is on my Big Tripod for supertelephoto use (400mm), and the lever is adjusted to fit lens feet and L bracket of the DSLR - I never use the compact on this tripod.

 

[overniteman]

I have different size plates on my lenses. Two from RRS when they first started making plates.

I have a screw clamp on my A/S B1. Thought about going to the lever , but since I'm uber careful and the only one using my gear, I figured I'd leave well enough alone.

Speed wise for changing out lenses off the head, I'd imagine the lever would be quicker.

 

[Austinian]

The screw clamp can accommodate the variation between the different plates I've seen pretty well; I don't know how wide a range the lever clamps could handle.

All my clamps are screw-type.

 

[Cliff Fujii]

Actually the lever clamps come in three configurations, adjustable (Arca Swiss), automatically adjustable (RRS), fixed but can be adjusted by changing parts (Gitzo).

I like lever clamps because they are easier to work with if you can't see the clamp. It always opens a finite amount and I find I have less issues with alignment and when I do, I know right away. Currently my favorite clamp is the RRS B2 series because they are adjustable (automatically) as long is one made after 2012. Lever clamps are also very fast to use when you are in a hurry. Most lever clamps have three positions: Open, half open, and locked. My tripod and head has no knobs. The lock on my Arca Swiss P0 uses a ring and the legs are twist lock. All of my heads have Arca Swiss FlipLock lever clamps on them. I can get away with this because I only use RRS plates. I'm considering having my heads retrofitted for the RRS B2 style of clamp as I can see that I might have to use a Kirk plate in the future. My other heads (Arca Swiss B1 and D4) use knobs but I don't find them any more confusing even the D4 with it's round and teardrop shaped knobs.

 

[jeetsukumaran]

I've used both: the RRS lever for a long time, and now a Markins screw.

If absolutely pressed, I might say that I prefer using the lever, but in practice, after a minimal adjustment period, it really makes no difference. Especially with the larger threading on the Markins screw clamp that takes minimal amount of rotation before unlocking/locking.

People argue for the security for one over the other, but I think it is a wash: either way, giving the camera a slight tug to make sure it is tight is good practice and becomes second nature.

What does make a difference, though, is plate compatibility. My RRS (second generation) level would not close down on my new Markins BV22. A screw knob will likely work with every plate in existence from now till we have gone beyond Arca-Swiss plates and maybe even tripods (maybe a future where cameras are magneto-levitated into position ... and even then, I suspect that screw-knob clamps will happily secure the magnetic plates!!!).

 

[leicaman]

My biggest problem with the quick release lever clamps is the quick. If you snag or knock the lever accidentally it's game over. I have seen it happen.

 

[Cliff Fujii]

The Arca Swiss FlipLock clamp, while not as convenient as the RRS B2, it requires you to pull a button to unlock the clamp and pull up a serrated rod to unlock the head. This might sound like overkill but in practice, it's easy to do and muscle memory will take over. The only issue I have with the Arca Swiss FlipLock (and I have three of them on my Arca Swiss heads) is that if you don't use one brand of L-Plate, you run the risk of having to adjust the clamping jaws every time you change the brand of plate you use. I only use RRS plates so that's no issue for me but it might be for you. That's the reason why I like the RRS B2 lever clamp. It will adjust to the width of the L-plate. I even have an RRS plate on my Super Graphic.

 

[ata3001]

The Arca Swiss FlipLock clamp, while not as convenient as the RRS B2, it requires you to pull a button to unlock the clamp and pull up a serrated rod to unlock the head. This might sound like overkill but in practice, it's easy to do and muscle memory will take over. The only issue I have with the Arca Swiss FlipLock (and I have three of them on my Arca Swiss heads) is that if you don't use one brand of L-Plate, you run the risk of having to adjust the clamping jaws every time you change the brand of plate you use. I only use RRS plates so that's no issue for me but it might be for you. That's the reason why I like the RRS B2 lever clamp. It will adjust to the width of the L-plate. I even have an RRS plate on my Super Graphic.

 

[Cliff Fujii]

I have used the Arca Swiss clamp with gloves (light ski gloves commonly used as inner liners) and have had no issue. I've never used a full blown set of ski gloves which would make operation of the camera difficult. I would expect you can use the liners to setup the camera and tripod and then put on the shells for more cold protection. Don't forget, that cameras have specific operating temperatures also. To make things easier in the cold, I would operate the camera using a CamRanger and an iPad. That way you have large buttons to work with and the sensor is kept heated by being in live view.

Probably the easiest lever clamp to use in cold weather with gloves would be the one that comes with the Gitzo GH1781TQD head which unfortunately is only available on Gitzo heads.

--

Cliff

 

[Osvaldo Cristo]

My biggest problem with the quick release lever clamps is the quick. If you snag or knock the lever accidentally it's game over. I have seen it happen.

Acratech has a great solution for lever clamp allowing both additional security against accidental release as well fine adjustment to support bases from different manufacturers (that are slightly different in size).

I found this video very instructive.

It is another stuff in my wish list...

All the best,

--
O.Cristo - An Amateur Photographer
Opinions of men are almost as various as their faces - so many men so many minds. B. Franklin

 

[DavidNJ100]

That was a good video

 

[Trout479]

+1 on the arcatech lever clamp. I have used one for about one year and really like the quick action as well as the secure locking lever. Would recommend highly.

 

[Cliff Fujii]

I saw the video and it showed some interesting developments in clamping technology. I noticed that the lever type didn't have a middle position to keep the plate in the clamp but movable. The Arca Swiss FlipLock clamp has both full lock and 1/2 lock. it also has a thumb wheel to adjust the clamping jaws to accommodate the wider RRS plate or the narrower Arca Swiss plate.

I just received a monopod head from RRS with the B2-AS-II H clamp and it too does have a middle position for adjusting the plate without releasing it. Unfortunately it doesn't have any type of lock, like the Arca Swiss FlipLock does. The RRS B2 has automatically adjusting jaws so no thumb screw is needed. I've used RRS B2 clamp on my macro gear and have never had an issue with any of them opening unexpectedly.

 

[DavidNJ100]

Are you sure about that? The Arca Tech Clamp seems to have a decreasing radius on the lever's cam so that the mid position wouldn't be fully released.

 

[Cliff Fujii]

You might be right on that but there is no "flat" spot to hold the 1/2 lock position. The Arca Swiss FlipLock had a completely separate release for the 1/2 lock position as well as the full lock position. The only reason why I prefer the RRS B2 is that it automatically adjusts for camera plate width otherwise I would go for the Arca Swiss FlipLock. My macro gear have RRS components on it as well as my monopod head. My ball heads all have Arca Swiss FlipLock clamps and they work wonderfully. Even though I prefer the RRS clamp, I never bothered to change out the Arca Swiss clamps because I only use RRS clamps (even on my Super Graphic). My clamps are the newer style that accepts both the new style and the old style Arca Swiss plates.

Here is the old style Arca Swiss FlipLock clamp: http://rodklukas.com/resources/Arca-Swiss_Fliplock-Adjustment.pdf

Locking Lever Clamp

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