p.1 #1 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
Hi,
I have a BH-55 and the clamp doesn't seem to be completely tight. I'm using a 3rd party arca swiss style plate (CustomSLR M-Plate Pro) and it is a little loose and with the weight of a 1-series + 100-400L it slides. If I squeeze the clamp i can get it to be tight enough.
Is that amount of play normal? Can it be tightened? Should it be, or is that by design (and I should just suck it up and buy RRS plates)?
p.1 #2 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
I assume that you have a lever clamp version of quick release clamp on your BH-55, and not a screw clamp. If that is the case, then there is no way to adjust the clamp to fit a plate that does not meet Really Right Stuff's specifications. The clamps are carefully assembled to fit a narrow range of dimensions for the plate width, and are not user adjustable without major surgery. They do of course warn you about the issue when you order their lever clamps. And when used on a RRS L bracket or lens plate, the RRS lever clamps hold very securely, and there is no way you can slide one by hand.
One alternative is to sell your lever clamp and by a RRS screw clamp, which will of course fit perfectly on your BH-55, and would likely clamp fine on any Arca Swiss plate. For me the speed and joy of using a lever clamp has me not recomending going to a screw clamp, but I thought I would mention it any way.
Or, as you say, "suck it up" and get a very well made Really Right Stuff plate or L bracket. They do cost a bit, but they will give you a life time of service. I highly recomend their L plates, as well as all their products, but I admit to being biased just by the shear number of things I own from them.
p.1 #3 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
Yes, I have the B2 AS II level clamp.
Oh well, it seems to work well enough if I'm just using the plate on camera with a small lens, and in that case the plate is usually perpendicular to the way I'd be tilting the ball.
The RRS plate for the 100-400L is only $55 new approx so that is probably the solution I'll go with.
Thanks for your info. I do agree that the lever's convenience makes it the desired clamp.
p.1 #5 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
I have a screw clamp on my new Markins, and it fits every AS plate I have ever used. I got to hate levers when I used Manfrotto QC's. The lever was always hard to get to and required pulling a latch to release the lever.
p.1 #7 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
Compared to the Manfrotto lever type quick connect systems, the Really Right Stuff lever release systems are smooth and easy and very fast to use. The RRS system has no catch to release, but rather a half open position that keeps your load captured from going out the top of the clamp.
I lived with one of the Bogen/Manfrotto lever systems for a while, and they can indeed be a pain, but RRS lever release clamps are in a whole different class. The RRS is expensive, but you get full value for the money.
p.1 #8 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
I would recommend the Rrs screw clamp. I have both the lever clamp and screw clamp, and I prefer the screw clamp. Sometimes I will move around in the bush, and I don't have to worry about the lever catching on anything. As far as speed goes, I don't feel that the screw clamp takes any longer than the lever.
May 27, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #9 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
I have a lot of lens-plates, replacement-feets, camera-plates and L-brackets. From Kirk, RRS, Wimberley, Markins & Arca-Swiss. They all work very good with my BH-55 and BH-40 heads with level-clamps
p.1 #10 · Any way to tighten clamp on RRS Ball Heads?
If I remember correctly, I think RRS will give you a small credit toward your new plate if you send in the non-RRS plate to them, assuming you don't wish to sell it.
