I only use a light weight compact camera and probally always will . I don"t understand the need for A QR for it's use with a ball head rather than mounting the camera directly on a ball head which only has a 1/4 - 20 screw and go directly into the camera.
Am I missing an important virtue of a QR ?
bp044 wrote:
Nope. Typically you leave the QR plate attached to the camera body or lens. You mount the gear with the QR plate onto the QR clamp. No screwing around.
Important virtues of a good QR system include security, speed and convenience.
The first point, security, isn't a major concern if you can securely screw the camera onto the tripod head, unless you didn't get it right, or you're using something heavy enough to come unscrewed when you sling the tripod-mounted camera over your shoulder to move somewhere. All 'good' QR systems have a backup or failsafe feature that prevents unintentional release, the simple screw mount does not.
Speed and convenience are related, but vary between systems and users. I've recently switched all of my camera and lens support QR plates and bases from Manfrotto RC2 (mostly) to Arca-Swiss (mostly RRS and Hejnar). The main reason is one of convenience. In particular, it's the RRS custom-fitted camera L-brackets that make the switch from firmly-secured landscape mode to firmly-secured portrait mode so quick, sure and 'convenient' (i.e. no crouching down and leaning over sideways when you use the tripod head to rotate the camera). I've been using Arca-Swiss (mostly RRS) for long-lens shooting for a few years, and the road map to complete the transformation was quickly drawn when I put a RRS L-bracket on my 5D - it's so good!
Anyway, the real reason for using a good QR system is that you have so damn many pieces of gear to switch and swap between, that the security, speed and convenience provided by a good QR system are well-worth the expense (IMO). I usually shoot with two or three bodies, with some lenses that are secured by the tripod-mounted body, and others that are secured by the tripod-mounted lens. I also often use macro rails and bellows systems. Every one of these stinking pieces of gear has a QR plate. I also have three tripods (no wait, four), and two monopods that get used with many and most combinations of cameras and lenses. Every one of these pod systems has a QR base, and so do some of the rails and 'other heads', like a NN3 pano.
Long story - short, if you don't need a QR system, then you don't have enough gear to need one.
P.S. I've stripped a few QR-plate securing screws, but never the threads on a camera body. I assume this means that the camera manufacturers are smart enough to use harder metal for the body threads than is used for the screws used to attach stuff to the cameras (clever engineers! ).
P.P.S. I don't use a QR system with my E-P1 and table-top tripod - it just wouldn't be right.
For me, a QR plate is almost mandatory. I have dedicated Kirk plates for both my cameras as well as my two longer lenses. I can get the camera securely attached FAST! And if a quick shot comes along I can get the camera off the tripod FAST! No way I'd fool around screwing a camera down every time. I use an AcraTech ballhead, which has the standard A/S style QR.
as you said you "use a light weight compact camera and probally always will" may put you into the optional catagory.
if you do lots of compositional type work using a tripod you would like to have it
if you use multiple bodies and lenses that have their own tripod mount it would have a definite advantage
if you like ease of mount/dismount with a high level of security its pretty neat
but if your tripod spends 95% of the time consuming space in your closet it probable would be a less then needed investment.
a tripod/head system are part of your composition tools the QR system makes them much easier to use and depending on which you choose you open the door to freater versatility in use of your tools.
bp044 wrote:
I only use a light weight compact camera and probally always will . I don"t understand the need for A QR for it's use with a ball head rather than mounting the camera directly on a ball head which only has a 1/4 - 20 screw and go directly into the camera.
Am I missing an important virtue of a QR ?
Just depends on how much hassle you want to put up with. Hard to compose and re-compose quickly with a screw.
To me, there are only 2 advantages of using QR. The most obvious is for quick setup. The 2nd one is being able to use Arca Swiss style anti-twist plates (RRS started it all) for specific cameras or lenses.
bp044 wrote:
I only use a light weight compact camera and probally always will . I don"t understand the need for A QR for it's use with a ball head rather than mounting the camera directly on a ball head which only has a 1/4 - 20 screw and go directly into the camera.
Am I missing an important virtue of a QR ?
If all you use is a compact P&S of course you would see no value in a QR mounting system. You would only need to try mounting a heavy camera or lens onto the threaded stud a few times before the answer to your question would be obvious.
I suspect you also would not see the importance of a monopod or roller case.
A compact camera is pretty fast to screw on to the tripod. For this, I don't think a quick release is necessary, or even important. Even on cheap tripods, I have never seen the threads stripped; other things break first.
If you enjoy screwing around, like wasting time, don't mind thinking twice before using your tripod and don't mind missing shots, then a QR may not be necessary.
greeneggs wrote:
A compact camera is pretty fast to screw on to the tripod. For this, I don't think a quick release is necessary, or even important. Even on cheap tripods, I have never seen the threads stripped; other things break first.
It's not the tripod you worry about. It's the camera. I've stripped the threads out of a Fuji and a Kodak. Both used aluminum threads.
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