A new Kickstarter campaign from Silence Corner is seeking funds for 'Magic Plate,' a new quick-release plate that enables photographers to quickly switch between landscape and portrait shooting. Magic Plate is CNC machined from aerospace-grade aluminum, is compatible with most Arca gear and includes a 14"-20 UNC screw in addition to a quick-release button and strap slots.
This quick release plate doesn't need to be removed from the ball head, according to the team behind the product. Instead, users can toggle the camera from landscape to portrait mode by pressing the plate's quick-release button, rotating the camera and then locking the plate into its new position. The device is more compact than L-brackets and lighter at only 40g (1.4oz).
Silence Corner's Kickstarter campaign is offering the Magic Plate in Silence Black and Corner Gray color options for pledges of at least $55, a 32% discount off the anticipated retail price, assuming the product makes it to market. Magic Plate is expected to start shipping to backers in April 2020.
Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.
I had tripods 40 years ago which did exactly this. The huge advantage of the Arca Swiss system is not just that it keeps the centre of gravity over the centre of the tripod, but also, changing the camera from landscape to portrait, should leave the centre line of the lens in exactly the same place. The practical consequence of this is that any recomposition should be minimal. I was glad to get rid of the plate that flipped through 90 degrees on top of my tripod and wouldn't want to go back. This is a gizmo that completely misses the point!
The L-bracket does not change the center of gravity of the system "camera + lens" and keeps the weight centered over the tripod, This Magic plate disturbs the the center of gravity and as the result decrease stability. I would not buy it and I would not recommend it to anyone. DOA product.
I've used L-Brackets with the Arca-Swiss mount for years. The advantage is it keeps the weight of the camera and lens centered on the head and tripod. Takes seconds to flip the lever and re-position.
Because the ball head ALREADY does this. They had me intrigued until I realized that they had the camera and Magic Plate mounted on a ball head. If the ball head has a slot in it like most do, then this is a waste of money.
If you are on another type of tripod this might be useful but on most ball heads it is redundant.
The ball head has only got one slot in it, it is a constant fiddly frustration to get it lined back up. The slot also limits you to only 90% as the camera hits the tripod base or neck.
While I think an L bracket is the best hori/vert solution I like this product for the following reason. It doubles as an arca swiss compatible camera baseplate and it is also compatible with the Peak Design camera clip which I use. In the past I have to mount the Peak baseplate on my L bracket. Now I can shed some weight and still have a decent way to flip from horizontal to vertical. I don't like flipping the ballhead as that only works when you have the tripod set up for it and not so easy on uneven ground.
I might like this for my E-PM2, which is too small for a universal L-plate and for which a custom fitted one isn’t made.
It probably wouldn’t work for my Sony A3000, which is very front heavy because I use it with full frame lenses (though the thought of perhaps attaching this to the Metabones Speedbooster’s tripod foot is intriguing if uncomfortable sounding)
I would not use this with a camera for which I’ve had a custom fitted L-plate bolted on for years.
Seems like a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking below here. This may not be the best solution for everyone, I agree, but it is an innovative and compact unit, and it would be nice to have in the bag for those days when it might be handy. Sure, there are other solutions to this problem, but compact and light as this? This is a cool idea IMO. Nothing wrong with more choices in the market for us. I'm glad there are people out there working on new ideas. Keep it up.
The risk is it's a Kickstarter: people put their money down before seeing one in a shop and giving it full consideration, or reading reviews. I think it's reasonable that concerns be expressed (in comments if not in the article). If it's the right kit for you despite the concerns, go for it - and I absolutely approve of the designers trying to come up with something new. I'm not sure I'd really consider it the best way to solve this problem, though.
For nearly 20 years running I've ordered an RRS L-plate for each new camera. Besides being effective, they act like a roll cage to protect the body. For video, I have a cable clamp which attaches to the upright, to protect the USB and HDMI ports from strain.
Yup, the way we use cameras, IF it falls, it tends to hit the edge away from the shutter release. Those brackets have saved SEVERAL cameras over the years!!
I think use this device with small-ish cameras lenses is a good way It's like I went from 5D III + Sigma 85 / 1.4 to A7r3 + Batis 85 / 1.8
Weight is the biggest consideration if you have full day of travel for example I have a Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 heavier (2.1kg) but sturdy If I'm traveling or climbing, no,I will use Gitzo GT1545T (1.1kg)
You can buy any product and use it where appropriate
This would be great if it went all the way to 180 degrees, and was a bit longer so that it would recenter the camera over the tripod with the ball head flopped 90 degrees. I've been in touch with the developer abut this, he seems interested. There are some nice things about the original design- light weight, space saving, and seems like it will be sturdy.
Best? No. Lightest? Maybe. Depends on how sturdy it is. The video did not make me confident it's strong enough to prevent wobble.
To be the best solution, it would have to allow the image axis to remain the same as you turn the camera. This moves it way to the side when you change from one orientation to the other.
For most situation it's probably great. But I'll keep looking for one that preserves the optical axis (at the cost of size and weight of course).
I mean L-brackets exist today. If you're looking for a solution that basically does this but slides the camera back over in portrait mode, I suspect it'd be a lot more expensive and fiddly.
Oooh, that custom brackets thingie looks good. I'll have to consider it if my Really Right Stuff tripod doesn't have a companion device that does that.
Look for a used one, which I was able to get for under $100. You might find one advertised with a flash bracket, and it can be removed (but the screws holding them together are extremely tight, so you’d need a high quality Allen key on a ratchet wrench).
Ahhh Kickstarter.... pay 90% of what the product will retail for and wait a year for a product you may or may not get. But it’ll come with a collectable sticker.
Wouldn't be convenient to have the "sensor" rotate 90 degrees when you need to switch between portrait/landscape now that mechanism is simplified with mirrorless ?
The lens mount is a perfect circle. EVF and backpanel screen could be designed to accommodate change in aspect ratio....
But lenses often have rectangular baffles to reduce internal reflection.
A square sensor otherwise makes the best use of the lens coverage (in terms of area) IF THE OUTPUT IS SQUARE. For so long as sensor area is expensive (for big sensors) and the majority of non-instagram images have a rectangular crop for aesthetics or display reasons, rotating the sensor is usually a more acceptable trade-off (and often allows more of the image circle to be used).
M43 is the format with the cross-shaped sensors already (well, sensor active area) - see the DC-GH5S. But it's so common to display an image at least as wide as 3:2 (especially, these days, 16:9 - which was itself a compromise between old TV and CinemaScope) or a portrait image just as tall that a square sensor is inherently wasteful, and sensor area is expensive. It's possible to rotate the sensor in a camera, but even without a mirror and prism, rotating a mechanical shutter takes a lot of space. Larger formats that allow it often take the entire back off - much more hassle than using an L plate.
There's a reason for the common solution. I just don't find an L plate's weight relevant once you're carrying a tripod (or big lenses).
It sort of exists. On my Sony a7r4 i can crop landscape from portrait or vice versa and still walk away with 20+ MP. Thus, with so many ultra-sharp lenses out there, I find myself showing wider and cropping the edge and/or format more. I still dedicate to the primary use, but there are often many crops even in a well framed image.
I think the video could've made better point if they showed the ball head 90 degree tilt was bumping into the tripod leg... OR once you turn the ball head you have to re-level... the video doesn't show why someone might want to use it over their ball head...
The top plate on my 1990 Bausch + Lomb tripod does exactly that. There are countless other plates out there to do this job. The Chinese version of this will be $5.99 with free shipping!!!
Both a tilting head (Dutch tilt) and this device place the center of gravity well off to one side, and change the point of view by a similar amount. An L-bracket keeps the lens and CG centered in both orientations. A solution looking for a problem.
This solution keeps the camera still attached to the tripod. Some heads I've found are a bit fiddly to remove the camera from, and even fiddlier to put back. So for $60, you reduce the risk of dropping it?
I mean, if I'm rapidly flipping between the 2 orientations, I'm keeping the strap around my neck anyway.
Why is this photographer shooting in blazing broad sunlight with a tripod, and with a fast glass F1.4 lens opening (with no obvious light decreasing filter) at anything close to a slow shutter speed?
Doesn't matter how solid you think you are, you're not as solid as a tripod, (at least a good tripod). The other thing is, when you shoot on a tripod you tend to look at what you're shooting a bit closer & probably compose better.
This is more appropriate for Ball heads. Personally I stopped using ball heads years ago ever since I bought a Manfrotto 405, I have been using geared heads. The Arca cube as expensive as it is all about control and precision..combine it with an L bracket, and it is perfection.
I don't need that nonsense because I use real cameras (LF) where I can rotate the back. Using a rock solid 24 year old heavy tripod, I can even use the gear head to move the LF camera to the left into vertical mode without any stability issues due to the »off center« weight. Just invest into the best gear you can get and you don't have to complain anymore. And no, this sort of gear definitely is NOT mainstream or Canon, Nikon, etc.
Ok...I'm an architectural shooter and often have to position my camera over a balcony using a sidearm and put the camera in odd positions. In those situations I put a ball head on top of my geared head and the camera has a right angle bracket too. Any position can be quickly met and fine tuned with the gears. But that's me.
hehe, good one. It's all just tools to get a job done.
Still, this tool is nice but inferior to a whole bunch of existing solutions.
Sometimes I miss my studio assistent days with the photographer holding his hand somewhere in mid-air, saying "the camera goes here". The sheer amount of parts in the studio I could draw from was just insane. It didnt hurt that I liked playing with Lego as a kid.
Maybe the right way to use it is the key, such as what kind of camera and user's requirement , if just focus on what different from L bracket then this small and light stuff will be non attractive even no any concern to keep it on your camera body always also prevent forget your plate at home to a full time street Photographer
I quickly switch from shooting portraits to landscapes by focusing from people to the natural setting. Nothing to do with the vertical or horizontal orientation of the sensor.
It's simple to attach the camera to the ballhead and rotate the camera down for portrait model. So what's the advantage? The fact that the device flips 90 degrees with no fuss? My ballhead already allows for that. (Acratech, but lots of others have the same feature.)
Apart from the offset issue, it seems to have an inconvenient two-stage clamp (fumble under the body to release the horizontal position, turn the lever to lock vertical). Does that second lock work on friction, giving you a vague clamp at any angle around 90 degrees of you can get your hand in, or just vertical? Either way looks like a flimsy hinge is going to be a critical part of the stability solution, even with some secondary support when horizontal.
I'll stick to a big lump of metal. I know portable is the new hotness, but a reputable camera-specific L bracket doesn't make much of a dent in the weight once you have a decent body and lens attached -and it won't unscrew.
Still better than having to completely un-clamp your camera when using an L-plate, in theory, this eliminates the risk of dropping your camera on the ground during the switch from horizontal to vertical, haha. Might be a pretty useful tool for anybody who is a real butterfinger. (Raises hand embarrassedly)
Well a bit, but the thing about quick release plates is that they're quick to use. Getting a finger between the head and body to unlock this and then getting a finger into the gap to lock it vertically needs dexterity. It seems to lack anti-drop pins and isn't shaped to the body so it can unscrew. So it doesn't feel easier to use, doesn't feel like it'll make it less likely to drop the body accidentally (both off the tripod and just to horizontal), and both stability and security seem to depend on a very small cantilevered hinge. It also assumes the plate is wide enough that the body won't foul on anything when you try to lift it, and that your clamp lets you get at the release.
It's different (although I have a very cheap tripod with integrated pan/tilt head with a similar vertical flip option - it's bigger than this, but still tends to drop flat). I support inventiveness, but there are certainly some trade-offs here that I suspect most would regret.
No different from a ball head, it changes the viewpoint of the camera, which is the whole reason for using an L bracket, So a waste of money in my view. I'll stick to my usual L bracket thanks!!
The issue is that tripod heads are limited in their movement. I rarely manage to perfectly level the tripod with the legs, so I have to fine-tune it using right/left tilt of the head. Of course I now can't fully tilt the camera 90° to switch to portrait mode. So this IS different as it a possibility to switch from landscape to portrait orientation independent from the head.
That is, if you are in such a hurry to be able to switch from landscape to portrait in an instant.
For loss of a better word, just overlevel the leg opposite to the direction you might want to tilt for portrait mode.
Anyway, those are all no problems. Because if you care about your pictures there are two things:
a) you know what you want to achieve, you went through the hassle of setting up a tripod. well, you better know what orientation you want your picture to be.
b) you NEVER turn the camera if you are in a hurry, you just zoom out and crop the other orientation later.
If you use a heavy camera / lens combo, the weight will shift dangerously off center, putting your rig in serious danger of falling over when tipped for portrait mode! Better to invest in an "L" bracket from almost any of the choices from Amazon to RRS. Also it looks like you can't lock it in between the 2 modes. No thanks, it's a step backward!
I guess I didn't understand your initial post. This device, as I understand it, is to quickly switch a camera on tripod from horizontal to vertical. Anything in-between could be handled by the tripod head.
Erm, why not just use the drop slot in most ballheads? This plate looks like it'd compromise stability (not to mention the nodal point if you're doing precise pano/rotation work) even more than just using the drop slot, and it's not that much more compact or much cheaper than some of the smallest L plates (3 Legged Thing's universal ones come to mind).
You could achieve the exact same thing by rolling the tripod head, with guaranteed more stability. But still, I prefer a regular L-bracket. Being able to keep the center of gravity right in the center is much more important for those that are actually shooting with tripods.
You can roll the tripod head but there are small issues I experience. First of all, you can't just roll whatever position you are in as you have to have the slot lined up. Second, if you haven't levelled the legs you might find you can't get 90º. Also sometimes I find a knob on the tripod interferes with the action.
Not of these are serious but inconvenient, especially when you plunk your tripod down in a hurry to catch some action before it moves off.
Most heads do have pano panning on the bottom so lining up the slot isn't a big deal, having to need the legs leveled is a good point but if you're going for that much precision you probably wanna keep the camera above the head for rotation too (or if you don't Yu can just not drop it the whole way into the slot).
I've got nothing against Kickstarters, shoot I've been looking for more compact L plates and portrait solutions, but this one seems to target a narrow scope of users (that care enough about portrait use to buy something extra but don't need the most precision or stability)
Regarding having the legs (or tripod) level, if the legs are leaning to the wrong side you won't get a level image because most tripod heads that let you roll into a vertical position only go to 90º and that might not be enough.
Other than the rubber pad, I don't see any anti-twist mechanism. I guess use this device with small-ish cameras and small-ish lenses. Still I might get one for my E-M1 Mk II when using the 7-14mm for architecture shots. Hmmm...
And what does it better than turning the bullhead for 90°? I mean, "really" better? By the time of unlocking, tilt and lock the fiddly screw, I think I'm also done with a bullhead or an L-plate.
Unlike an L-Plate, this hinge design throws the center of mass of the camera-lens combo off to the side of the tripod as well as changing the center line of the lens and image.
Not a bad device but doesn't seem to be much of an improvement over just tilting the ball head 90 degrees.
It is an improvement though. Many times I have hurriedly set up the tripod on uneven ground and it is easy to level horizontally but tilting to vertical doesn't work without repositioning the legs.
The X-T4 brings image stabilization and a larger battery to the X-T series, but dig a bit deeper and you'll find a host of improvements and tweaks. See what we've discovered in the X-T3's sister model.
Nikon's combined the best of its DSLR and mirrorless cameras into one tough-built body, equally well-suited for stills as it is for video. For effectively modernizing one of the brand's all-star camera lines, it receives our silver award.
It's not cheap and the initial setup is time-consuming, but the Loupedeck+ improves on its predecessor in some important ways and makes a lot of sense for those with demanding photo editing needs.
With a slew of significant updates, the Fujifilm X100V's formula remains the same as the previous models; it's stylish, engaging to use, and takes great pictures. Find out what Fujifilm's added to (and taken away from) its fifth X100-series camera in our initial review.
If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that might be a bit older but still offer a lot of bang for the buck.
What’s the best camera for less than $1000? The best cameras for under $1000 should have good ergonomics and controls, great image quality and be capture high-quality video. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing under $1000 and recommended the best.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel, and recommended the best.
If you want a camera that you can pick up and use without having to page through the manual first, then this guide is for you. We've selected seven cameras ranging from compacts to full-frame, all of which are easy to operate.
What's the best camera for under $500? These entry-level cameras should be easy to use, offer good image quality and easily connect with a smartphone for sharing. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing less than $500 and recommended the best.
The X-T4 brings image stabilization and a larger battery to the X-T series, but dig a bit deeper and you'll find a host of improvements and tweaks. See what we've discovered in the X-T3's sister model.
The Fujifilm X-T4 makes some big promises, but can it deliver? Chris and Jordan put it to the test and tell us if this is the Fujifilm camera we've all been waiting for.
The sensor inside the new Fujifilm X-T4 is a known quantity – as it's straight from the X-T3 – and that's a good thing, since it's excellent. Check out our pre-production sample gallery to see how the image quality looks on the X-T4.
Fujifilm has announced its latest stills/video hybrid camera, the X-T4. The biggest change is undoubtedly its in-body image stabilization system, but its improved AF system, redesigned shutter and video-related updates are also notable.
The project provides an unprecedented look at New York as it existed more than 100 years ago by upscaling, increasing the frame-rate and colorizing century-old video footage.
Mathieu Stern recently discovered a time capsule in his family's home that had a number of 120-year-old glass negatives inside. To bring the images to life, Mathieu developed positive prints from the negatives using the cyanotype process.
In honor of National Peanut Butter Lover's Day (yes, it's a thing—we checked), peanut butter manufacturer Jif has teamed up with GIF-hosting platform Giphy to release a limited-edition jar of peanut butter that's meant to settle the hard/soft 'G' debate once and for all.
Sony just launched its newest fast aperture wide-angle prime for its full-frame Alpha lineup, and we've been shooting planes, people and felines with it over the past few days. Read our initial impressions and check out our sample gallery. Spoiler alert: it's a near perfect optic.
Sony is adding a new wide prime to its full-frame E-mount series: the 20mm F1.8 G. It's slightly smaller and lighter than the existing FE 24mm F1.4 GM and will go on sale in March for $900.
The Kolude KD-K1 features four USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, an HDMI port, an SD card slot and a microSD card slot, all inside a slim, but full-size keyboard.
The 1.26x magnification ratio means Nikon F-mount lenses mounted to Fujifilm GFX camera systems using the adapters will keep their native diagonal field of view, albeit at the cost of 2/3 stops of light.
We did a lot of shooting with our pre-production Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, and now that the camera has official support, we've provided out-of-camera Raw files and some Raw-to-JPEG conversions for your perusal.
Sony is updating its flagship Xperia 1 smartphone with faster burst shooting, a bigger sensor in its standard camera and a time-of-flight sensor. And thanks to popular demand, the 3.5mm headphone jack is back.
Vox's seven-minute video shows how the work of photographer Lewis Hine brought attention to the brutal reality of child labor when it was at its peak in the United States at the turn of the 20th century.
We attended the recent launch of the Fujifilm X100V in London, where we had the opportunity to sit down with two senior figures within the company: Chief Designer Masazumi Imai and Senior Manager Shinichiro Udono.
The Nikon D780 is a two-trick pony: it combines the great DSLR experience of Nikon's D750 with some of the great mirrorless features found on the Z6. Does it manage to do both well? Chris and Jordan seem to think so.
Our new Nikon D780 gallery takes you to the Canadian Rockies for photos mountains, people and, of course, a couple of ducks. Because who doesn't love ducks?
UK-based company Your Perfect Wedding Photographer recently released the results from its fourth annual industry survey. They published some key takeaways.
Forgoing Silicon Valley technologists, the Pentagon's Department of Defense is actively working on measures to identify and take down small drones that are a threat.
Flowers. Snow. Trees. Beer. Birds. Dogs. Humans. Printing presses. A giant ferris wheel. We've been using Fujifilm's XF 16-80mm F4 lens to photograph a big gallery with a little bit of everything in it – check it out to see how this versatile, water-resistant zoom lens performs.
Comments