p.1 #1 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Most people know this, but I want to bring it up again.
You feel safe because nothing has happened for years until one day the clamp loosens just a bit.
It happened to me with the Peak Design Standard Plate (Arca compatible but no safety pins). While moving the tripod in cold, light rain, the camera loosened and almost slipped out. Luckily nothing happened (knock on wood) because I still had the neck strap on.
Do not use Arca plates without safety pins. There are usually two small pins, one at each end of the plate, that stop the camera from sliding out even if the clamp loosens slightly.
Arca compatible does not mean standardized, and small tolerances can make a big difference.
My gear would have been insured, but I would rather be out taking pictures than dealing with an insurance claim.
p.1 #2 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
I mostly use Kirk or Wimberley plates, though a few are from RRS. They have small socket head screws you can install for stops. On replacement tele lens feet I might only install the rear stop.
p.1 #3 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
One more thing for safety. If you leave a strap on your camera you can look it around the tripod head — or even, in some cases, through the legs. With a longer strap you can even put your hand through it while carrying the setup on the tripod. If things do come loose, at least you have a fighting chance of keeping it from hitting the ground.
p.1 #4 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
All my tripods have short tether cords (thin) that always get connected to a small loop of the same attached to every camera. Been doing this for decades. I always check my QR clamps for integrity on every outing. I often carry my extended tripod over my shoulder with the camera/lens attached. Fortunately I've never had a camera fall out of the clamp. When the 600 f4 is on the body, I hand carry the whole mess by the foot. Always use quality components that will last and be reliable.
p.1 #5 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
You carry the whole rig by the lens foot even with the tripod attached and legs sticking up in the air? I can carry over the shoulder with the padded legs, but with a 600/4 that's at least 15 lbs. (7 kg) if not more. I have all A-S clamps including the A-S QR head leveler and nothing will unscrew, but I always tighten the A-S on the foot before changing position. The biggest risk I find is when first clamping an A-S. Some of my rigs are for 3D movement so a bit complicated, but tighten habitually. Some components can use a lever lock, but that's no good for some others. Sometimes I use a silicone cap on tightening knobs to maximize grip e.g., in cold conditions.
p.1 #6 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
To each their own, if I get a plate with the screw-stops in place the first thing i do is remove them...I find them very annoying. I've been using Acra Swiss-style plates for roughly fifteen years or so on countless cameras, lenses etc and haven't had an issue...
I also use QD attachments for most cameras and lenses now with no safety-strap!
"My gear would have been insured, but I would rather be out taking pictures than dealing with an insurance claim." - You can often get insurance online, it doesn't take long...
p.1 #7 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Never leave the neck strap mounted when on a tripod. It might get caught in your lever clamp, and drop your camera. 🙃
Never use a lever clamp if you're not using plates from the same manufacturer exclusively. Check the adjustment monthly, and whenever working in a different temperature.
Screw clamps adapt to whatever plate you're using. They might be slower to operate, but at least you know the camera is mounted tightly. They won't unscrew on their own either.
The design of safety pins and clamp slots varies between manufacturers, and causes anything from reduced range of movement to total incompatibility when trying to mix brands.
I always remove the safety screws because I like to slide my camera into place. Never had anything drop either.
p.1 #8 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Some people say they remove the safety screws because “nothing ever happened.”
That’s kind of like:
taking a nap while your car drives on autopilot,
going skydiving without a reserve parachute,
selling your climbing rope to feel “more free,”
using your phone without a case because it’s “never dropped,”
or uninstalling your smoke detectors because “there’s never been a fire.”
Most of the time, everything’s fine until the one time it isn’t.
Why do we still do it? Our brains look for patterns. if nothing goes wrong for years, we feel safe, overestimate our control, and underestimate risk. Being cautious often feels unnecessary until it suddenly saves your life or your gear.
p.1 #10 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
RT-- wrote:
Never leave the neck strap mounted when on a tripod. It might get caught in your lever clamp, and drop your camera. 🙃
Never say never. I almost always leave the neck strap on the camer that I use almost exclusively on the tripod. (Ironically, my camera for handheld photography usually just has a wrist strap attached.)
While I suppose you might carelessly get a strap caught in a level clamp,I’ve never had that issue. Beyond that, the straps are useful for several reasons even with a tripod. I do a sort of “loop and twist” of the strap around the ball head, so if I were to lose control of the camera while attaching or removing it (it happens) the strap would catch the camera before it hit the ground. The neck strap is also useful for “holding” the camera while juggling it and a couple of lenses during some lens changes — especially when one lens has a good and the other doesn’t.
Never use a lever clamp if you're not using plates from the same manufacturer exclusively. Check the adjustment monthly, and whenever working in a different temperature.
Again with the “never” thing! ;-)
Most plates from reputable manufactures are made to the same spec and can be used with other brands. I regularly use a Kirk plate/bracket on tripods with RRS BH-55 and Acratech Ultimate ball heads. Yes, do check that they all fit well, but then don’t worry.
Screw clamps adapt to whatever plate you're using. They might be slower to operate, but at least you know the camera is mounted tightly. They won't unscrew on their own either.
Levers can attach with more force than you are likely to be able to produce by turning that little knob on the manual clamp. I’ve sued both That being said, with levers you do have to develop good practices to ensure that nothing impedes the full range of motion on the lever and that it is adjusted correctly.
The design of safety pins and clamp slots varies between manufacturers, and causes anything from reduced range of movement to total incompatibility when trying to mix brands.
I always remove the safety screws because I like to slide my camera into place. Never had anything drop either.
I don’t use the safety screws either, since they can make it a bit more awkward to attach and remove gear. I have had one or two close calls, always due to my momentary inattention. With that in mind, I can understand why some like the extra security fo the pins, but I prefer to just be careful… and wrap that strap around the ball head!
p.1 #11 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
RoamingScott wrote:
What kind of nonsensical logic is this?
Honestly, anyone calling this ‘nonsensical logic’ should think about the context first. I would rather go out and take pictures than return home without my gear, especially in areas where replacements are not available for days or even weeks. Insurance is primarily for theft, and damages caused by my own mistakes are often covered anyway. So before just shouting ‘nonsensical logic,’ do you actually have anything constructive to contribute or are you just here to poke at people?
p.1 #12 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Stefan Official wrote:
Some people say they remove the safety screws because “nothing ever happened.”
That’s kind of like:
taking a nap while your car drives on autopilot,
going skydiving without a reserve parachute,
selling your climbing rope to feel “more free,”
using your phone without a case because it’s “never dropped,”
or uninstalling your smoke detectors because “there’s never been a fire.”
Most of the time, everything’s fine until the one time it isn’t.
Why do we still do it? Our brains look for patterns. if nothing goes wrong for years, we feel safe, overestimate our control, and underestimate risk. Being cautious often feels unnecessary until it suddenly saves your life or your gear....Show more →
You make a lot of assumptions. I'll leave it there...
p.1 #13 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
gdanmitchell wrote:
I don’t use the safety screws either, since they can make it a bit more awkward to attach and remove gear. I have had one or two close calls, always due to my momentary inattention. With that in mind, I can understand why some like the extra security fo the pins, but I prefer to just be careful… and wrap that strap around the ball head!
YMMV.
;-)
Are you using the 400/2.8, 500/4, 600/4 or smaller lenses? Having the safety stop at the rear of the foot prevents it from sliding forward and falling, but still allows sliding it on from the rear. It could still slide backwards but your hands would be there during setup. When carrying the lens/camera/tripod over the shoulder the lens would be pointed down so likewise the setup would not slide off with that rear screw.
If you use a dinky lens with the camera mounted on the L bracket, then I agree there is not much need for the screws. Once the head is reasonably level the camera is not sliding left or right. I suppose there might be some use for stops if one has only a camera bottom plate and turns the ball head 90° for a vertical image, but that is a terrible support practice anyway.
p.1 #14 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Just because you wear a seatbelt doesn’t mean you don’t carry insurance on your car. The Arca pegs are a seatbelt. Equating carrying insurance to not shooting your camera is at best a logical fallacy and at worst bad advice.
Stefan Official wrote:
Honestly, anyone calling this ‘nonsensical logic’ should think about the context first. I would rather go out and take pictures than return home without my gear, especially in areas where replacements are not available for days or even weeks. Insurance is primarily for theft, and damages caused by my own mistakes are often covered anyway. So before just shouting ‘nonsensical logic,’ do you actually have anything constructive to contribute or are you just here to poke at people?
p.1 #15 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
RoamingScott wrote:
Just because you wear a seatbelt doesn’t mean you don’t carry insurance on your car. The Arca pegs are a seatbelt. Equating carrying insurance to not shooting your camera is at best a logical fallacy and at worst bad advice.
Please take a moment to read my original post fully. Everything I wrote about insurance and safety pins is already clearly explained.
p.1 #16 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Note: English is not my native language, so my previous sentence about insurance might have been misunderstood.
My original sentence (might be misunderstood):
My gear would have been insured, but I would rather be out taking pictures than dealing with an insurance claim.
Correct version (what I actually mean):
My gear is insured, but I’d rather be out taking photos than dealing with an insurance claim.
p.1 #17 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Understood. A saying we have is an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which I think gets to your point.
Stefan Official wrote:
Note: English is not my native language, so my previous sentence about insurance might have been misunderstood.
My original sentence (might be misunderstood):
My gear would have been insured, but I would rather be out taking pictures than dealing with an insurance claim.
Correct version (what I actually mean):
My gear is insured, but I’d rather be out taking photos than dealing with an insurance claim.
p.1 #18 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
EB-1 wrote:
Are you using the 400/2.8, 500/4, 600/4 or smaller lenses? Having the safety stop at the rear of the foot prevents it from sliding forward and falling, but still allows sliding it on from the rear. It could still slide backwards but your hands would be there during setup. When carrying the lens/camera/tripod over the shoulder the lens would be pointed down so likewise the setup would not slide off with that rear screw.
If you use a dinky lens with the camera mounted on the L bracket, then I agree there is not much need for the screws. Once the head is reasonably level the camera is not sliding left or right. I suppose there might be some use for stops if one has only a camera bottom plate and turns the ball head 90° for a vertical image, but that is a terrible support practice anyway.
I’m not necessarily against using those pins, it is just that in many cases the advantage may not be big enough to outweigh the downsides. But I can understand holding a different opinion.
And, no, I do not use the large aperture 400mm and longer primes. the largest lens I’m using is a EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6. I would not call that a “dinky lens,” though it is not quite as big and heavy as those primes you mention. (Note also that I was responding to a universal call for using pin-equipped brackets, not one limited to just 400mm f2.8 and longer, large aperture primes.)
I am on the same page as you regarding relying on flipping the camera 90 degrees on the ball rather than using an L-bracket, unless one shoots very rarely from the tripod. I use a tripod all the time for my landscape work, and I can’t imagine not using the L-bracket. (No, I don’t use a tripod for my street photography… ;-)
- - -
Apropos of nothing, “logical fallacy” and “poor logic” are not synonymous. (Certainly not related to Stefan or EB-1’s posts.)
p.1 #20 · Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
Generally, I only use the pins on camera plates which might be clamped vertically. I don't use pins on lens plates. If the pin isn't cleanly seated in the recessed area of the clamp, it can prevent the clamp from closing. This can damage both the plate and clamp leading to the problem you're trying to avoid. My heavy lenses are either mounted plate down on gimbals or 90 degrees with clamp jaws parallel to the ground in a monopod gimbal. In either case, the plate is not going to slide vertically when loosened unless the whole load is entirely unbalanced.
"Arca" is not a standard. It's a design style that lots of manufacturers imitate. True Arca-Swiss plate can only be clamped from the bottom. Some "Arca like" dovetails allow clamping from the top. Those plates may not lock securely in other brands of clamps. You need to thoroughly test every plate and clamp combination you plan to mix brands. That is one reason why sticking with the same brand for all hardware is safer.
