Universal QR Plate: Is This Anything?

[Rob-F]

I read in a ballhead ad that it takes a Manfrotto Universal quick release plate. But it seems to me, after some looking around, that they all take their own proprietary plate. And my dealer doesn't know anything about a"universal" plate. He says each brand takes its own plate.

So: is this anything? (You know--the old David Letterman question) Or is there no such thing as a universal plate?

[FrozenInTime]

The Arca system is used by Novoflex,Kirk,RRS and others.
I also use a Gitzo GS5160CDT plate which adapts their QR heads to Arca style.

The Kirk plate for the M6 etc is really nice - contoured to the base plate outline.

However there are minor tolerance issues - e.g my Novoflex plates won't lock on RRS bases but are fine in all other systems I've tried.

[Roger Hicks]

There is no universal plate. All Manfrotto means is that it fits all Manfrottos.

My favourite QR is Linhof, but I also like the NPC Pro Head which (like many others) uses Arca. I don't much care for the hexagonal Manfrotto type.

Cheers,

R.

[venchka]

Manfrotto has several different plates. Nothing is universal.

[sevo]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

There is no universal plate. All Manfrotto means is that it fits all Manfrottos.

If it only were that - I have owned three different "Universal QR" systems on Manfrotto heads (arguably two only on fluid-damped film/video heads), and at least another different one has already been described in this thread. I strongly suspect that "Universal" merely was a internal designation for "fits every camera", as opposed to plates with a fixed 1/4" or 3/8" screw.

[peter_n]

If you're interested in a QR system get an Arca-Swiss type. There are several manufacturers and good competition among them. Many of the products are excellent and most of them work together.