Help needed - Manfrotto quick release problem

I have multiple tripods and cameras which all use the Manfrotto quick release plate.

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …200PL_Mounting_​Plate.html

The plates stay on the cameras at all times.

I just purchased a new camera and the tripod mount hole on the bottom is too close to the battery / memory card door.

If a plate is attached, to change a battery or memory card, the plate will need to be removed.

I have researched this and can find no solution.

The thread is a common 1/4 - 20 and I can probably go to the hardware store and create a solution.

But before doing that, I'm wondering if anybody else has a solution for this.

What camera (make & model) are you trying to mount it to?

John from PA wrote in post #18428219
What camera (make & model) are you trying to mount it to?

Canon SX60 HS.

As I said, the plates are on other cameras - full frames and crops. And yes, the FF bodies are bigger but the SX60 body ain't that small. Canon placed the 1/4-20 hole literally right on the edge of the door. There ain't no way I can get a plate permanently attached. Looking for solutions. Thanks for asking.

Yep, I see your issue and I think you'll likely have to live with removal of the quick release plate when needed.

You could also make up an "extender" of sorts. Something similar to what I've shown below. The extender would best be made of material about 3/8 inch thick. You might want to try this with a piece of wood initially to check fit and function.

John,

First and foremost, thanks for taking the time to help and post.

Interesting idea. At first I was thinking about some sort of riser - hardware or assembled hardware items (easily found at the hardware store) that would result in a male 1/4-20 on one end, and a female on the other. About 2 inches in height would be enough to open the door. But of course that would compromise the the stability of the tripod mounting.

Good idea. Yes, the plate would need to be somewhat thick because the native tripod mount is counter sunk into the camera body and I would need at least a 1/4" thread bite on the end where the plate mounts. Very good. Best solution so far.

As a point of interest, I have emailed Manfrotto and others who specialize in tripods and such. Nobody has emailed back which I assume means they have no ready-made solutions. This is just one camera. I assume other cameras have the same design hurdle. You think they would have a solution ready to go.

If it's all right with you, I would like to grab the pics from your post and email to Manfrotto. Perhaps they did not understand the problem.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #18429070
If it's all right with you, I would like to grab the pics from your post and email to Manfrotto. Perhaps they did not understand the problem.

Feel free to use the pictures. IMHO Manfrotto is not likely to have a solution for a small marketplace problem that has really been created by Canon.

I wonder is one of the Manfrotto mounting accesories might work. Something like the image below (see https://www.manfrotto.​us …ctangular-plate-1-4-screw) could be modified in length and perhaps fit. Its made of polymer so a hacksaw could be used to customize the one end to allow clearance with the battery compartment. A file could be used to round off any edges. Sorry, I don't have the camera so best I can do is work from pictures

I switched all my Manfrotto qr setups to the area Swiss systems so I didn't have to worry about having the right plate for this tripod head or a different one for that setup. Only one required using a adapter using a qr plate to the base one I only use rarely the rest were simple swap out bases using generic bases one required a special base that was easily purchased now I can use l brackets on my bodies if I need or just a flat one if I'm not shooting portrait format on one or two I will need the l bracket but the rest can do portrait on the body without the l brackets.

John from PA wrote in post #18429121
Feel free to use the pictures. IMHO Manfrotto is not likely to have a solution for a small marketplace problem that has really been created by Canon.

I wonder is one of the Manfrotto mounting accesories might work. Something like the image below (see https://www.manfrotto.​us …ctangular-plate-1-4-screw) could be modified in length and perhaps fit. Its made of polymer so a hacksaw could be used to customize the one end to allow clearance with the battery compartment. A file could be used to round off any edges. Sorry, I don't have the camera so best I can do is work from pictures

Hmmm. Another idea. And I'm thinking I would not need to hacksaw it, either. I'm thinking that drilling a hole on the end and mounting their (or my own) 1/4-20 would work. It would be offset on the plate, but once cinched down on the camera, should suffice. Thanks.

Blackey - worth looking into. Thanks.

John from PA wrote in post #18429043
You could also make up an "extender" of sorts. Something similar to what I've shown below. The extender would best be made of material about 3/8 inch thick. You might want to try this with a piece of wood initially to check fit and function.

Hosted photo: posted by John from PA in
./showthread.php?p=184​29043&i=i43507533
forum: DIY & Customizing

funny, I was thinking something very similar...
would suggest making something with small "legs" that extend either side of the battery door though, otherwise all the twisting force is on the screw only...

Can't understand how the SX60 design passed the "common sense" phase in the manufacturing process though! what were they thinking?

joeseph wrote in post #18429843
Can't understand how the SX60 design passed the "common sense" phase in the manufacturing process though! what were they thinking?

My thinking, too. It's not just the QR plate, but ANYTHING mounted in the tripod hole is going to interfere with the door. Flash bracket, doo-dad holder, whatever... anything.

Very unintuitive design. I intend to email canon support - not as a complaint or a criticism, but rather as a "I have a problem, can you help me solve it?" query.

But I have no hopes. Canon is a giant. Trying to turn them is like trying to turn a huge oil tanker at sea.

Maybe a warning YouTube video will get attention. But alas, probably not a good idea. Google might censor it as "hate speech."

My best thing to compare is the wife's Elph 300 which has a similar layout. On that camera, since the memory card/battery door slides to release and open. In the released position there is 3/8 inch measured from the center of the tripod mount to the door when perpendicular to the camera body. There actually is plenty of room for the 1/4-20 fastener with some "meat" to provide strength.

Again, this is an Elph so the SX60HS may be totally different.

I have shot Canon since rocks were lava - 20D, 30D, SLi's, Txi's, 5D's, 5D2's, and so forth. I have never had this problem.

Until the SX60. Canon designers really dropped the ball on this one. I'm wondering if the soon-to-be-released SX60 replacement - the SX70 - will have the same design.

Never over estimate the common sense factor for engineers. I have a printer that holds all but about 20 sheets in a full ream of normal office paper. Again, what were they thinking? A tiny bit more depth and you could just drop in a ream.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #18428195
I have multiple tripods and cameras which all use the Manfrotto quick release plate.

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …200PL_Mounting_​Plate.html

The plates stay on the cameras at all times.

I just purchased a new camera and the tripod mount hole on the bottom is too close to the battery / memory card door.
If a plate is attached, to change a battery or memory card, the plate will need to be removed.
I have researched this and can find no solution.

The thread is a common 1/4 - 20 and I can probably go to the hardware store and create a solution.
But before doing that, I'm wondering if anybody else has a solution for this.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #18429927
I have shot Canon since rocks were lava - 20D, 30D, SLi's, Txi's, 5D's, 5D2's, and so forth. I have never had this problem.

Until the SX60. Canon designers really dropped the ball on this one. I'm wondering if the soon-to-be-released SX60 replacement - the SX70 - will have the same design.

[Tongue somewhat in cheek] Canon engineers, at the request of Canon Marketing, are designing in some reasons for buyers to upgrade to more expensive body designs