Re: Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins
EB-1 wrote: 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.
EBH
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 imaging 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.)
Nov 04, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Previous versions of gdanmitchell's message #16922316 « Reminder: Don’t use Arca plates without safety pins »
