p.4 #1 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Roland W wrote:
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.
An excellent point, I hadn't considered that. Hmmm...
p.4 #2 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Roland W wrote:
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.
Perhaps if the channel for the screw head was milled a bit wider it would be easier to fit common-diameter washers. I filed down some washers (into ovals) to make them fit one of my rails. But it's possible oval-shaped washers already exist, I just never looked for them.
p.4 #4 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
If you are considering a washer, it is not just the diameter of the washer that matters. The extra thickness of the washer can raise the head of the button head cap screw far enough that it may stick out above the surface of the plate, where it will potentially hit the A/S clamp, and not allow movement or proper clamping.
p.4 #5 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Roland
Most rails has slot depth 0.16. Screw head does not exceed 0.14
I should have no problem find 0.02 washer. If we conclude that stronger thicker washer will be needed i can make a set of rails with 0.2 depth if needed.
Prototype for D300/300s/D700 with and without battery grip should be done any day ( actually should be done 2 weeks ago)
It is made from 3 components and assembled instead from one big block. This will keep cost down.Some components ( mainly side connector) can be use for multiple cameras.
If you need to make camera plate from L bracket and save some weight when traveling all you need is standard Philips screwdriver and 30 seconds of your time to remove mounting screw.
p.4 #11 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
John
I just purchase CNC machine. It should shorten my turn around time from concept to final product i hope to 2 months maximum.
What canon camera do you have.
Currently i have to measure all needed dimension for L bracket on camera. Canon or Nikon or in that matter any other manufacture will not send me 3d model of camera body. It would shorten process for another couple of weeks and i would be able to bypass prototype part.
p.4 #14 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Nice Chris! I'd use your integrated clamp, but I need a rail that has a dovetail the full length and the knob on the clamp needs to face the opposite direction. So I have the smallest RRS clamp bolted to a long lens plate. (Not suggesting you make one like this, my application is pretty unusual.)
How well do your clamps work using pins to locate the moving jaw, as opposed to a tongue-in-grove like most clamps? I would think full-length tongue-in-grove would be stronger, but then it looks like you're using stainless pins, so those are pretty beefy.
p.4 #15 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
I have the L-bracket for my D40, used it for the first time in anger yesterday in a dark church. Beautifully made, easy to use on my Markins Q3 head. Wonderful! Since I will probably go to a D90 or its successor (I'm waiting for Photokina, which takes place in Cologne, just 80 km from me), the ability to use it as a normal plate is helpful, at least till I get a custom bracket for the new camera.
p.4 #17 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Hmmm, does the knob on that clamp protrude below the bottom of the clamp? (In other words, could it be mounted with the knob over the rail, instead of off the end?) Do you use pins to lock the clamp at 90 degrees, or set screws?
p.4 #18 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Chris, your work looks great. If you were to develop some Arca slidefix plates and clamps, you could help popularize the new mount, and have the market virtually all to yourself....
p.4 #19 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Drew
Knob is below clamp but above bottom of the rail. Clamp is mounted on rail and you can mount this combination on any flat surface without warring that knob will not clear that surface
In other words. Clamp can not be mounted on rail with knob facing longer side of rail...
To make knob above bottom of the clamp would create very small knob...
I use pin and center 1/4-20 screw to set location. I thing i will create second aligning hole in next revision. Slot on clamp is little bigger (0.210) than pins (0.196). It does work if you use clamp slot on the bottom to align with pins and rail but it is not perfect. I did this so people who own RRS clamp can combine clamp with my rail.
p.4 #20 · Hejnar Photo lens plates (ebay) any good?
Funny, I found this thread after receiving one of Chris' 3.25" clamps and a 3.5" plate for the foot of my 70-200. I have to parrot the opinions of others here in saying how impressed I am with the quality of the clamp, especially at the price. I have been really wanting to switch over to A/S system for a long time, but the thought of what it would cost to equip everything I needed was daunting (not to mention a new ball head). Now my Manfrotto NatGeo ball head (which I love were it not for the damn non-standard RC5) is sporting a nice shiny A/S clamp from Chris and I've placed another order with Chris to equip my monopod.
