p.3 #5 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
I'm real happy with my Hejnar rails, glad to see he added scales.
As for the 90-degree rail connector, I'd make it bigger than the one RRS sells, theirs seems like the weak point (might flex a bit) when two MPR-192 plates are connected. I'm making my own, which are twice as long as the RRS angle connectors and wrap around the edge of the plates to further stiffen the connection.
p.3 #6 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
I picked up a clamp form Chris today. It's great. 2.375" for my monopod head. Finish is very nice and works very well. I think he'll start listing them on eBay if he hasn't already.
p.3 #11 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Your 90 degree connection only has one screw per plate, which means that it can rotate on that screw if forced. I would not want to trust it the way it is designed now. It would be much better if there were two screws per plate, but I know that makes it larger and more expensive to make.
I did test and also did Luca (http://www.360cities.net/profile/luca-vascon)
I agree 2 screws are better and I did design 2 models but Luca decided that one screw work just fine for him. This connector is as cheap as possible.
I have 2 more ideas. I will post sketch here later today. They are going to be more expensive
p.3 #13 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Sorry for delay. I was researching idea but it is not possible.
I was hoping to find dowel pins and press into additional hole parallel to taped hole.
It would not increase cost dramatically. Center slot on my rails and competitors are 7/32 (.218) and pins of this size is not existing. I found only plastic pins but tolerances are to open and will not work.
Final solution http://www.hejnarphoto.com/ebay/pictures/G101/G101a.jpg
p.3 #14 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Hi Chris, just saw your post, emailed you a sketch of a connector that would work with any AS standard rail, regardless of slot width. A lot easier and cheaper to make too.
p.3 #17 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Personally I'm not a big fan of captured screws in lens plates and rails, which prohibits you from using 1/4"-20 screws from the local hardware store. Captured screws are fine in camera body plates, but it always seems like I want the screws in my rails a little shorter or a little longer depending on what I'm doing with them, and I'm stuck with the screws that came with the rail. Or I have to buy expensive screws from RRS or whoever that have the threads under the heads machined off, or file off the threads myself (which is no fun at all).
Once I have my little mill wired up, I'll be milling the slots in all my rails and lens plates to 1/4" wide and be done with it once and for all.
p.3 #19 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
One big advantage of the captive slots and the reduced neck screws is that it gives a lot more bearing area for the screw head to rest aganist. Even with the standard captive screws and bigger bearing area I get screws digging in some in the aluminum of the plate. It will be much worse of a problem if you cut the bearing area to less than half as much by putting in full 1/4 inch slots. I would much rather pay for a few "expensive" screws for the few occasions I need them. RRS now offers several longer length screws, and yes, they are expensive, but worth it to me.
You might be able to solve the bearing area problem with the right washer that was sized just right, but there is not room for the extra thickness of a washer in the standard design of most plates. Also, if you put a washer in, the screw would tend to come loose easier while in use.
p.3 #20 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
http://www.hejnarphoto.com/temp/pano.jpg
It is setup create by somebody else using my 90 degree block one my clamp and 3 my rails.
L bracket on camera, ballhead and rotator in mot my design
