Are these camera / lens plates any good?

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Hejnar-Photo__W0QQ_armrsZ1

(If anyone bids on the 4.5" with ridge after I post this I'll be irritated, lol.)

I have purchased a couple of his mounting plates on eBay and am very impressed with the workmanship.

-howard

I just ordered the Hejnar 12", compared to the RRS 10" camera bar I like that the Hejnar has both 1/4" slots AND threaded holes. At 1/2" thick it's not as stiff I suppose, but I'm sure it will be stiff enough.

With the RRS bar you're limited to just a few threaded holes and the dovetails, which won't work for my setup.

Thanks for the info on the workmanship Howard, I might not have given these plates a close look without your testimonial.

Add a 7.5" plate to the pile too...

The seller sent me this link, but I'm not a Nikon Cafe member so I can't see the thread:
http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=223638&highlight=Krosno65

Let us know how you like your selections.

I have my eye on a couple of other items from Hejnar for future purchases.

I see he is making clamps now too!

-howard

Just a heads up to say that the Hejnar plate I recieved is slightly undersized for the width of the dovetail, and thus slips with moderate force in an RSS lever clamp. Obviously if I was using a screw clamp it would be no problem. I don't know if it is a slight variation in manufacturing for the one I got, or if it is a cronic design issue, but I don't think I will be getting any more Hejnar plates to find out. I really like my RSS lever clamps, and none of my many RSS plates can be made to slip.

Just a heads up to say that the Hejnar plate I recieved is slightly undersized for the width of the dovetail, and thus slips with moderate force in an RSS lever clamp. Obviously if I was using a screw clamp it would be no problem. I don't know if it is a slight variation in manufacturing for the one I got, or if it is a cronic design issue, but I don't think I will be getting any more Hejnar plates to find out. I really like my RSS lever clamps, and none of my many RSS plates can be made to slip.

RRs specifically states that only plates made by RRS and Wimberley will fit their lever clamps. As you stated, these plates should be fine with screw clamps though. From the RRs site:

NOTE ABOUT LEVER-RELEASE CLAMPS: Due to wide variations in other brands of Arca-Swiss compatible plates, we recommend using our lever-release clamps only with Really Right Stuff or Wimberley brand quick-release plates.

I have several Hejnar plates. They work fine with my screw-tightening clamps, but are a little bit tight with my RRS lever clamp. For the right use, they're a nice price break. Finishes aren't perfect--some polishing marks are sometimes evident. But for practical use with my screw-in clamps, they're fine. I just wouldn't use them with my RRS lever clamp.

I'd always seen RRS's warning as a way of protecting their brand. For example, my Kirk and Wimberly items work just fine with RRS lever release. For Hejnar plates, however, the warning may apply. Still, for my DIY projects using clamps, these Hejnar plates have been a godsend.

--Chris

I did test all my plates with RRS level clamp and have no problem with it. I did found out however that RRS level clamps very little after closing and I decide to make some adjustment to my design. Curently my plates are little tight on some clamps and on other they are just right. It may be the case with Chris S
Question for Ronald …what plat did you purchase from me?
As for finish it is possible to make them as nice as RRS have no problem with it but It will be extra $$$$ and the same goes for nice logo etc….As a photographer this small issue do not make my plates les usable but they are definitely les expensive.
If you have any questions/concerns about my plates let me know

Chris Hejnar

Chris, thanks for joining, here's my wish list:

- Add a metric scale to the side/top similar to RRS, at least on the longer plates.

- Make 10" and 12" plates 5/8" or 3/4" thick. 1/2" seems a bit thin for such a long beam, though I realize you don't hollow out the underside of the plate as much as a RRS MPR. I'll be using your 12" plate as a monorail for a home-made view camera, and may bolt a section of 1/2" thin-wall C-channel (or tack on a rib with a TIG welder) to the top between the standards to add rigidity. I'd use the 10" RRS camera bar for this application, but it only has a few threaded holes and no slots for 1/4" screws from underneath, which I need. Those 1/4" slots are what attracted me to your plate.

Drew
5/8 and ¾ rails is not a problem. As a matter of fact I did 1.25 rails for some people in Hawaii…..20 inch long.
Some pdf

http://hejnarphoto.com/temp/rail/2.pdf
http://hejnarphoto.com/temp/rail/1.pdf
Rail will support 800mm lens with teleconverter. I did couple of different design for different camera/lens combination.
As for scale it can be done also….will look into that. I already look into making some name/logo engraving with laser but cost was much more than I anticipated.
If somebody can point mi into a place where I can buy small round spirit level in USA I would really appreciate. I would like to include that also on long rails or clamps.

Adding a bit to my earlier observations about Chris Hejnar's products:

I like them and am glad he's out there providing much lower prices than other vendors. In some cases his products aren't just cheaper than RRS or Kirk versions, but are better thought out in small but important ways. He always includes appropriate fasteners, which I appreciate. Not sure how many Hejnar products I have, but it's at least half a dozen.

I couldn't care less that I see some finishing marks on these parts--it's of no importance, and I'm happy to see the cost kept down. When I mentioned these marks earlier, I did so as an observation, but did not mean it as a criticism. Dovetail rails are tools, not jewelry. I've been building some pretty involved macro stuff lately, and Hejnar's inexpensive dovetail plates have been a big help.

I have only one RRS lever clamp, and six or eight screw-type clamps from RRS and Kirk. These plates work perfectly with all the screw clamps. And to be fair, I haven't tried my newer Hejnar plates in the RRS lever clamp--only did so with a couple of the earlier ones. If I understood his post, he's adjusted his plates a bit since the early days--so my initial impression may no longer be accurate.

Best,

--Chris S.

Chris S
Do you have any wish list for me ?

I just purchased one, we'll see how it works out.

E

CNC engraving should be cheaper than farming it out to a laser shop, and you already have a CNC mill. I would think a scale would go pretty fast.

http://www.2linc.com/engraving.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYLtL1R440E

Spirit level vials:

http://www.wamoyer.com/circular_vials.html

http://www.geier-bluhm.com/products_tubular_acrylic.html

And if you want to go cheap:

http://www.mp-spirit.com/
http://www.level-tool.com/plastic-level-vials-e.htm

Drew
I will look into engraving on CNC. On long rails every 10mm should be fine. If you prefer 1 mm scale it may be little tricky.

I will order some level vials and add them to some products (clamps and long rails)
Thank you for links

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me every 10mm wouldn't help. Every 2mm would be fine though, and it would be easy to split the difference for odd number positions. At 10mm I'd end up making scratches or marks myself where I need to regularly locate the parts.

I will look into cost of laser marks on current already machined rails.
In the future i will try to follow your sugestions. 2mm mars and 5/8 and 3/4 thickness.

Chris I received your 12" bar and it is quite stiff, and may be okay for my use. Yes I would prefer it to be 5/8 or 3/4" thick, but I don't know if the extra material and machine time cost would be worth it to your customers, who like your plates because of the attractive price. To keep the weight down you'd have to mill more material from the back of the plate, and that would increase machine time per plate.