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I'm just full of questions now I've decided to bite the bullet and start getting stuff I really need. Next up is a support system.

I've been researching for the past few hours and have come up with the following findings. Just need to get some clarification from people before I go off and buy the wrong thing.

I'm after a RRS L Plate for the 5D with BG-E4 (which I've found). My understanding is that I'll also need to get the RRS mount plate for it as well. The mount plate will then sit on the ballhead (Arca Swiss mount compatible). It looks like I can get either the RRS ballhead, Benro (maybe not) or the Markin to name a few.

This is where I'm getting myself confused. Can the ballhead mount to any set of tripod legs? As in, if I get the RRS ballhead, will it screw onto say a set of Manfrotto legs like this? Obviously have to bear the maximum load that the legs and head can take in mind.

Also if I get a ballhead which has an Arca Swiss mount plate built in, do I need to get the mount plate for the L bracket or can I just get the L bracket.

The set will mainly just be supporting a 5D with a 24-70. If I want to use the 70-200, I can always just mount the legs directly to the tripod collar as I don't need any pan or tilt movement.

Thanks for all your advanced help.

Cheers,

Wayne

Hi Wayne,
The L plates have the arca swiss profile built in. The attachment sequence is like this: a) The L plate is attached to the camera by an allen bolt into the tripod thread. b) the L plate with freshly mounted camera are clamped by the ballhead c) alternatively instead of b the lens or body may have an arca swiss mount plate attached and this plate is clamped by the ballhead. d) the ballhead usually has a tripod thread in the base, this is usually screwed on to the legs which will have a corresponding bolt. Hope this helps


To answer your questions, yes the ballhead will fit those legs, you can see the mounting bolt on the top of the tripod. No you will not need an additional mounting plate with an L bracket. Yes you will need plenty of money to get all this.

1) RRS L-plates uses arca-swiss type mounts (integrated/built-in), no need of additional mount plates for camera, you might need one for the 70-200mm because it mounts from the lens.

2) The head will fit on the tripod, but be sure to ask them first.

3) as glen said, to get a good system, it is not cheap

If your going to be ordering gear from RRS, why not also get a quick release plate for your 70-200. It's not a whole lot more and will save you the hassle of mounting it directly onto the tripod. Just slip onto ballhead as needed.

RSS ballheads will mount to any tripod legs with 3/8th thread, like Manfrotto, Gitzo, etc and has already been mentioned get the QR plate for your 70-200mm

I just got my BH-55 and they are the ducks nuts, very happy with my purchase, now all I need is my Gitzo legs and I be complete

Thanks for the replies guys.

I was tossing up getting the plate for the 70-200 as well but probably won't need it as the 70-200 is usually mounted on a monopod or hand held. This is more for portrait work on location, so will want to travel as light as possible. Will already have a whole heap of other stuff to bring

Thanks again for all your brilliant words of wisdom - it's greatly appreciated.

While you're spending money, why not add a QR to the monopod too.
Then you can use all your gear on all your support systems.
RRS supply details of a "monopd solution" look it up on their Web site
It involves a Manfrotto tilt shift and one of their cheap (the term is relative ) QR plates and the nuts and bolts to put it together. (not really needed - see below) BTW the threads used on tripods are either 1/4 Whitworth (the small one) or 3/8 Whitworth ( the big one). Nuts and bolts of either size are readily available in any hardware store in this country. Anything in a hardware store not labelled "metric" will be Whitworth. They are an English thread system & we inherited them along with the monarchy. The Americans tossed them out when they tossed out the monarchy. On the rare times they do use them, they call them something else to disguise the fact they are an imperial hang over.

If you'd mentioned this the other day I could have demonstrated it all for you

As everyone else has said, the L bracket has AS slots built in (that's the point of having it). If you buy a pano head from RRS it'll replace the mount on top of the ball on most ball heads. But it's probably worth getting a mounting plate for the 70-200, I find I use mine more often that I thought I would (mine came "free" with the tripod and head from Poon).

I'm in the same situation - just about to get my support stuff ordered.....

I already have a 2ndhand RRS L plate for my D200, so I'm set.

The L plate goes straight into an Arca Swiss style ballhead (of which RRS range is one). Second plate not required, gives a very solid mounting.

Get a QR plate from RRS for your 70-200.... will not be heavy at all (I think the full L plate for the D200 is a bit over 100grams.... goes all along the bottom and up the side).
You don't want to be having to remove the ballhead and fiddling with the mount screw etc, when you can just click the lens on. The lens mount plate won't be too expensive (for RRS anyway)

The ballhead should mount to any normal set of legs.

The RRS BH-55 has a great reputation and I think I will buy either it or a BH-40 as I plan to pair the ballhead with a CF tripod (probably a Gitzo GT-2540, either standard or the leveling type).

The Gitzo will be ordered from HK as substantially cheaper than AU (surprised?)

Bugeyes - One Q.... which Gitzo do you like the look of?

Mr Darcy wrote:RRS supply details of a "monopd solution" look it up on their Web site
It involves a Manfrotto tilt shift and one of their cheap (the term is relative ) QR plates and the nuts and bolts to put it together.

Looks like they have tapped into another part of the monopod system that they previously couldn't supply

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/Itemdesc.asp?ic=MH-01&eq=&Tp=

who wrote:Bugeyes - One Q.... which Gitzo do you like the look of?

Haven't quite decided between the GT3540XLS and the GT3530LSV. Though I did have some buyer’s remorse when I ordered the BH-55, during the week it took to arrive I kept thinking that I should have got the BH-40 due to the weight and size. But all those silly thoughts vanished once I had it mounted on a tripod, it really is quite well proportioned and easy to handle and operate, and boy is it rock solid when you nip up the main knob. If your umming and arring between the two, get the BH-55 you won’t be sorry.