Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

[Ian]

Shows how much I use a tripod but for the first time ever I fitted my Manfrotto Arca-style plate to my E-M1 II today and to my dismay it overlaps the battery door so the plate has to be removed to change batteries. This wasn't the case with the Mk1 which has an off-set tripod bush.

It's only a few mm of overlap so I was wondering if anyone can recommend a decent (and inexpensive!) slightly narrower plate that should work on my Manfrotto Arca-style QR fitting so the battery door is free to open.

Thanks,

Ian

[CJJE]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

I'm not too sure what the ARCA-style head is that you are using... but I use the Manfrotto 200PL plate (which just clears the battery door on my E-M1 MKII). This fits the normal Manfrotto heads, but also a Desmond DBA-1 head which takes both ARCA-style shoes/plates (such as the tripod foot on my Oly 300mm f4) and the 200PL.

[Ian]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Sorry - I should have dug the specs out; it's an 057 ball head with the Q6 Top Lock QR plate system - this is the one:

https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/057-magnesium-ball-head-with-top-lock-quick-release

Is this the one you have?:

https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/200pl-plate-aluminium-rc2-and-arca-swiss-compatible

That might just be what I was looking for.

Ian

PS I have an RC2 head as well so this could good for that too.

[CJJE]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

No the 2ooPL I have is this one: https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/quick-re...nd-rubber-grip

And the Desmond DBA-1 adapter screws on to my Manfrotto heads to take the 200PL or an ARCA-type bevelled plate. It is shown here: https://www.amazon.com/Desmond-Compa.../dp/B008G394U0 - I can't remember if I found a UK supplier now. It was reviewed here: https://www.scvphotoideas.com/2012/0...rca-clamp.html

[Ian]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Haha - it's so confusing!

It looks like what you have is the reverse of what I'm looking for. You have standard PL200 plates for the RC2 system but you also have a replacement clamp that can take both RC2 200PL and Arca plates.

But I don't really want to replace my excellent Q6 Top Lock clamp. But thanks to you I inadvertently stumbled across the 200PL-PRO plate that is designed to fit both RC2 and Arca clamps and from the photos it looks small enough not to foul the E-M1 II battery door

Ian

[CJJE]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Checking their specs, my (old-type 200PL is 4.2 x 5.2 cm, while the new 200PL-PRO is quoted as 4.2 x 5.3 cm. So fitted lengthways on the camera base it will just foul the battery door I think... it should be OK though turned at 90 degrees if your head can accept that?

[Ian]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

You're right, ideally the plate should be no wider than 50mm - 52mm looks to be right on the limit. I underestimated how wide the Q6 Top Lock plate I currently use is - 70mm. It's really for much larger cameras.

Back to the drawing board I think!

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Looking at the position of the tripod bush on the E-M1 II, it's very close to the front of the baseplate that I'd be concerned if the surface of the plate wasn't uniform. This looks like it might do the job:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peak-Design-Standard-Arca-Swiss-compatible/dp/B00L4R49AA/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1521673333&sr=8-14&keywords=arca+swiss+plate

Ian

[drmarkf]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

This locks very securely to the base of the camera and I believe it doesn’t foul the battery door (I’ll check for sure tomorrow).

https://www.bobrigby.com/acratech/plates/acratech_camera_quick_release_plate_2198

[Ian]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

https://www.bobrigby.com/acratech/pl...ase_plate_2198

Nice, but the price isn't!

Ian

[blu-by-u]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Can a groove be cut to access the battery?

[Ian]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Can a groove be cut to access the battery?

I don't think that's feasible and would possibly look a bit bad. Ths Peak Design plate here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peak-Design-Standard-Arca-Swiss-compatible/dp/B00L4R49AA/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1521675990&sr=1-3&keywords=arca+plate

..looks perfect as you can off-set the screw so most of the plate remains under the baseplate and it won't block access to the battery door.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Aha! Now found this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0781T188C/ref=pd_luc_rh_sbs_02_02_t_img_lh?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

It's RC2 and Arca compatible. It's 52mm wide so right on the limit.

Does anyone here use this Peak Design Dual Plate v2 on their E-M1 Mark II and does it let the battery door open when fitted?

Ian

[drmarkf]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Nice, but the price isn't!

Ian

[Gwyver]

Re: Manfrotto compatible Arca plate for E-M1 II?

Not sure about Manfrotto compatability, but for an ARCA clamp I use a RRS B6 plate - with a piece of bike inner tube glued to the plate between it and the camera body so that the lip on the plate doesn't foul the LCD movement.

Although the plate is small (the area in contact with the body is ~25x38mm) it is as solid as a rock and supports camera + 12-100 lens + NISI filter set reliably.

I bought the plate from a firm in Germany and thereby avoided the extortionate RRS delivery charges from the USA. Don't know if these folk currently stock this item, you could check their website at: www.PhotoProShop.com

When using the 40-150 lens on a tripod I have an ARCA plate (attached to the lens tripod clamp) from a US firm called Hejnarphoto - who make a wide range of clamps & plates at reasonable prices (including shipping) - see: http://www.hejnarphotostore.com