jeetsukumaran
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
|
jeetsukumaran wrote:
Most of the RRS alternatives discussed here do not seem to have support for a gripped body (which the RRS offering does accommodate), except for the Arca-Swiss "universal" which I posted about earlier. As I noted in the post, there are several major "con's" that make it not entirely satisfying.
I just came across this, which seems very promising and relatively economical:
https://www.promediagear.com/PLSVGC3EM-L-Bracket-for-Sony-Alpha-a9-and-A7rIII-VG-C3EM-Grip-Arca-Swiss-Type-L-Plate_p_353.html
https://www.promediagear.com/assets/images/LBrackets/Sony/PLSVGC3EM/PLSVGC3EMSlide1.jpg
The anti-twist flanges are big plus over the Arca-Swiss, though it uses a hex key to lock/unlock the vertical post adjustment rather than a sweet lever. The hex key is stored in the plate itself, which makes things somewhat more palatable. Also has support for attachments like the SmallRig, which is a bonus. In addition to the strap boss, it also sports an integrated QD connector (I think?)....Show more →
Just tried this.
It's going back, and I am sticking with the Arca-Swiss universal.
Pros (over the Arca-Swiss universal in particular):
(1) Anti-twist flanges.
Cons:
(1) The vertical post flexes. Especially when extended. Not necessarily on the weight of the camera alone, but it does not take much force (when, e.g. gripping the post and squeezing) to do so. Perhaps not an issue for many folks, but I would be concerned about swaying/vibrations with a heavy rig in wind, or just a deformation off-axis. The reason for the flex, I think, is that there is only a thin single arm extension going up from the base plate to the vertical plate.
(2) Using a hex key to extend/shorten the vertical post. Now, this is how I've always done it with my previous plates (old-style RRS), except instead of a dedicated post extension mechanism, I would just loosen the plate from the bottom of the camera and slide it out and back again. But here's the thing --- I did not realize it, but I've been spoiled rotten even after just a few hours of using AS's level-lock mechanism to extend the post! In fact, as a side note, the approach with this ProMedia plate is not just worse than the slick AS solution, but worse than even the old-style RRS one (with a fixed vertical post that does not extend; requiring sliding the base plate left of right to get clearance). What's worse than the RRS one is that with the screw approach of the pro media plate, I have to loosen two screws (as opposed to just one on the old-style RRS), and then it takes a lot of force to yank or shove the vertical post out (whereas it takes nothing at all toe slide the base plate once the single screw is loosened).
(3) The quick release port is not a QD standard.
Frankly, (1) alone was the deal-breaker for me. (2) is annoying, but I can live with it, especially if I have a wireless IR remote. (3) is really a non-issue, because the AS does not have it either, and I have a micro-clamp that has a QD receiver. The only reason I mention it is because I expected it based on the website.
|
