I Was Wrong About Arca-Swiss Type QR Mounting for Camera Gear...

[@mtbboy1993]

Good Arca-Swiss is so common now. Seems to be standard now. 5:53 I have this one it came with the Micro Clutch hand strap. Have one without the holes that came with the Travel Tripod. Build quality seems to be great.

[@LeanNSteerKayaks]

I came across this curious video while looking for some links to send to a friend on some Arca Swiss type QR parts I am recommending to him. I find it a bit interesting that someone would not have noticed that the Arca Swiss type dovetail has been used for over a decade by other companies for a variety of plates and bases. I have been using them for about a dozen years. I got tired of the plethora of Manfrotto QR plates over the years. Good universal camera brackets are available for well under $20 with this dovetail. There are index heads, and most any other type of plate, base combination available from under $5 to as the author of this video first noticed, in the $$$ of $. I have even adapted the plates to my view camera and have an index head using the Arca style dovetail on my 70 plus year old very sturdy wood tripod, in addition to my Manfrotto tripods. If you use Arca type bases with a screw fitting to tighten the dovetail, these mounts are as rigid as a sturdy tripod head using the 1/4-20 screw, but much more convenient. I will say the author made a good mea culpa. I just hope he didn't mislead too many people 4 years ago. As to patents on this dovetail, first, if there ever were any, they would have long ago expired. Some articles talking about the dovetail refer to the company developing it in the 1990's. Some even refer to the company starting in the 1990's. This is all totally incorrect. Arca Swiss company dates back to the 1920's. They made and make professional cameras. I recall first seeing these dovetail mounts back in the late 1970's or 1980's. They were too expensive for me to consider, as were the cameras. As a designer who has been involved in the patent, trademark, and copyright process and has written and received patents, I believe it would have been possible to get a patent for a dovetail mount but it would have been expensive and frivolous to attempt to protect it. In any case, the patent would have expired by the 1990's if there ever was one. Be forewarned, the dovetail offered by Manfrotto and some other major companies is not interchangeable ith the Arca Swiss dovetail. Almost all the Arca Swiss type bases, brackets and mounts sold through vendors on ebay are compatible and all I have bought were as well made as far more expensive ones sold elsewhere. I suspect many of the discount and expensive brackets and bases are made by the same firms.

[@ScottJWaldron]

I read comments on my videos. So far I've seen with cheap plates and adapters that there isn't a lot of consistency, but the stuff generally fits together well enough to work. I'd suggest going with one brand of 3rd party, if possible.

[@kentxx12]

A little tips,check out "Sirui" Arca-Swiss plate holder,they have a littel red safe button :)

[@ScottJWaldron]

I looked it up, nice!

[@kentxx12]

I bought this today, I need it for my macro photography and the security of the camera is not slipping out of the holder is important to me : kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXrYqIOoq7OAeMU

[@devtank]

Sirui, SunwayFoto & Smallrig were all 'knock-off' brands that have matured into highly innovative producers with great product portfolios unique and crossover lines.

[@ScottJWaldron]

Yeah, it is interesting how that works. I have a few Smallrig things and saw Surui at a photographer convention last year.

[@ZafodB3]

I don’t I don’t know if the Swiss Patent system is similar to the U.S. but my guess is that the patent has run out hence the generic Chinese copycats have taken advantage of this, legally!

[@ScottJWaldron]

Yeah, I'm not sure. There are definitely a lot of compatible alternatives out there. The camera cages with arca style rails are especially nice.

[@ZafodB3]

I’m waiting to purchase an MB-N11 for my Nikon Z6 II before I get the rail system. Found out today the the Arca-style plate mount system that I purchased to upgrade an older Bogen/Manfrotto ball head to use across several ball mounts, another story, plates fit nicely on my camera with the 24-70mm Z Kit lens but not with the FTZ adapter as the older Bogen/Manfrotto Arca plate (does not fit the newer wider Arca-Style mounts) did. The MB-N11 battery grip and Arca rails should remedy this. Now if only B&H would get them back in stock since they’ve be back ordered for a month and a half or more, COVID-19, Japanese chip manufacturer fire, who knows?

[@ScottJWaldron]

Not sure on the MB-N11, but you are probably right about component shortages being the cause. My local camera shop is really struggling to get equipment to sell. B&H is huge so when they don't have something then it's probably nearly impossible to get. I have a video on a grip extension for Z cameras that has an add-on adapter to link up the grip extension to the FTZ adapter, but in your case with the MB-N11 it wouldn't be needed or usable at all.

[@warrenlauzon5315]

If you want precision Arca Swiss adaptors and other gear, check out www.hejnarphotostore.com/default.asp

[@Reedith]

Manfrotto rc2 is better. Switch to that on everything never looked back

[@BernardoFuller]

Yeah! (Said in a deep intimidating voice.)

[@JoshKaufmanstuff]

Glad it’s “better” for you, everyone has their own “better” In fact, someday you may look back and find that other peoples better are better than your better. Better not though