p.1 #1 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
A neat new spiffy lever release. about time too. it also has some relative advantages over the RRS design. while still advising single manufacture plates for dimensional repeatability there is a level of width adjustment (requires screwdriver). in addition the lever can be easily flipped over for either direction locking. i don't know if all parts are captive but with their design history i'd say to a certain extent they are within the limits of possibly the screw adjuster. does not seem to have an intermediate (for plate positional adjustment) position detent like RRS though http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/images/M10LK_V4.jpg http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/images/M10LK_V5.jpg
p.1 #4 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
From the pictures of the Markins lever clamp, it doesn't look like the lever sticks out any further than the RRS version. In fact, looking at my own setup with a M10 and RRS lever clamp, it looks shorter than the RRS.
p.1 #5 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
jhom wrote:
Good some competition and some interesting features.
Steve...when are you going to get one to let us know how it works as compared to the RRS version?
Jim
debated it but probably not. great news for "the holier then thou i won't buy RRS stuff" crowd though. i'm pretty much geared up and have no need to jump on this one. i've got my 3 tripods and 3 heads. i'll let somone else take point on this. might make a nice gift for a friend i know but not just now.
RRS TVC-33/BH-55
Gitzo GT2540ex/BH-40
Bogen/Manfrotto really old 3021/M10
p.1 #6 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
jhom wrote:
From the pictures of the Markins lever clamp, it doesn't look like the lever sticks out any further than the RRS version. In fact, looking at my own setup with a M10 and RRS lever clamp, it looks shorter than the RRS.
in reality the markins is out on the side where the RRS after it curves in the finger flip point is more centered in the scheme of things. that is quite a bit of difference there.
p.1 #7 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
I'm not sure if it makes a big difference once your camera body is mounted on the clamp. For something to catch the lever, it needs to be able to work itself around and under the perimeter of your mounted gear, ballhead and tripod. Obviously, anything is possible. But, is it probable?
My concern with the new Markins lever clamp would be the screw adjustment feature. I would think with use the adjustment would change and cause problems with the limited tolerances needed with a lever mechanism.
p.1 #8 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
i kind of doubt it but then again anything is probable around here as has been demonstrated more times then not. the issue never came up on the AS version. it just came apart if you went too far and you found out when too far was too late. i have confidence in the design. this one (Markins) tends to innovate more then just emmulate.
i'd be more concerned with the kind of individual that believes that good enough isn't good enough and tightens it more and lays into it with the lever. that can damage the mechanism as that lever can impart just a bit of force.
its not just camera body mounting. when a lens plate (big lens) is on the markins the end is more exposed and thats when people tend to wander around with tripods over their shoulders. with the big glass on the body becomes just a teeny little part then
p.1 #9 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
also i can see photoclam coming out with one soon enough now that markins has supplied the design template for them. as i sad before the devil is in the details
p.1 #10 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
sjms wrote:
also i can see photoclam coming out with one soon enough now that markins has supplied the design template for them. as i sad before the devil is in the details
p.1 #11 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
you know your right i saw it and forgot about it completely because there was no info on it at the time. still isn't. thanks for jogging my memory. seems soon enough is just about now
needs to be available across the entire lineup.
a better lever end design then markins. looks to be a xross over between RRS AS Markins. nice shotgun approach. this one i have to look into.
p.1 #12 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
sjms, no need to take unprovoked pot shots -- unless you really want to have that conversation again.
I agree with you about the curve of the lever -- the Markins looks like the old Manfrotto clamps, though obviously more finely engineered. I'll be sticking with my existing RRS lever clamp, but I'm really glad to see more options. Choice is a good thing.
The ballhead looks a lot like Photo Clam but the clamp appears to be a different design. It's great to see some competition out there in the ballhead/clamp arena.
p.1 #15 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
Its about friggin time Markins came out with a lever release. When I bought the markins, I didn't think I would care about it not having a lever release. But every time I mount my camera now, I really wish I had one!!
p.1 #16 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
What is the world coming to? ...Lever clamps by more than one company ... anti-rotation legs now on Feisol ... RRS tripods ... PhotoClam ballheads ... don't you love competition?
p.1 #17 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
Maybe one of the reasons there aren't a bunch of different lever releases available in the US is because of the RRS patent on theirs.
I'm all for competition, but not if it steps on someone's patent.
It's a big feather in your cap to get a patent on something you came up with. Defending it in court may cost more than the money you make producing the parts protected by it.
p.1 #19 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
I don't like the fact that you can patent such simple things like a lever release mechanism. It isn't like any lever for a head clamp has already been used for some other application for about a century now.
p.1 #20 · Markins is playing with a lever release now
jaehoppa wrote:
another korean ballhead company uses a totally different mechanism, also with different plates which are really thin.
interesting but totally incompatible. so in this case irrelevent unless you want to go to another system. the point is interopability between components.
