Quick release Arca Swiss recommendation

I have switched my tripod heads from the Manfrotto to use Arca Swiss since purchasing an L Bracket for my camera.

However I don't appear to be getting on too well with the Arca Swiss. I bought a couple of cheap quick release arca swiss clamp and plates but find they are not holding the camera securely and unless I use an allen key to really tighten the screw the camera can easily fall out of the clamp. With the Manfroto clamps it was really simple and held the camera rock solid.

I know Arca Swiss is very popular so I am assuming it is just the hardware I have bought at fault.

Can anyone recommend a quick release arca swiss clamp I can add to my ball heads (Manfrotto 496RC2)?

Thanks

I got a Really Right Stuff quick release plate for mine. Works great.

The issue with 'Arca Swiss compatible' world is that there is NOT a single dimensional standard for the plate widths of the QR system...and different manufacturers make different plate widths. Then, there are different QR-level openings when in the 'locked' position...so there are some combinations of plate + QR-lever clamps that work, and others that do not work sufficiently.

General wisdom is to get an adjustable closed-position QR lever clamp, or use screw lock clamps; or buy clamps and plates from a single company (brand).

Thanks for the replies. I will check out the Really Right Stuff options -I have heard they make very good gear.

I have moved from the Manfrotto RC2 system to Sirui heads, which use the Arca-type interface.

I can say with confidence that the cheap eBay-sold knockoffs from China
or Japan or other sources work well, as the plates I've installed
to my cameras and lenses fit very well. This may be due to
the screw-clamp scenario of the Sirui ballheads, as opposed to
some sort of proprietary quick-lock/release.
I've purchased for pennies on the dollar, from two Asian countries,
and they all fit well and securely.
Fit and finish also appears of high quality.

I hated how the Manfrotto RC2 system caused a large shift of angle
at the time of locking down, and I love how precise and positive
the Arca-style clamps are. The system beats the RC2 system hands-down,
in my own not-terribly-experienced opinion.

RRS(Really Right Stuff) is incredibly expensive for a guy like me.
You can find alternatives such as Sirui, which are more moderately-priced,
yet offer an exceptional alternative in terms of quality and weight-capacity.

For a lower-priced option you might try the Induro PIU100 Arca-Swiss Style Universal Quick Release Plate. MSRP is $35.95 USD. I got mine brand-new in an unopened package on Ebay for $13.73 USD.


https://indurogear.com …rsal-quick-release-plate/

I certainly agree with the Ebay specials. I bought an L bracket and a couple of clamps, I think I paid no more than $15 for any of those items. I used to be a CNC programmer (machinist) and used to make my own QR macro stages and clamps as well as other accessories, and I can tell you that there is no way I could compete with the pricing on the items I bought! The quality, fit, and finish have been great after several years of use and abuse.

It seems like the problem you’re experiencing is the lever lock.

I have a variety of A-S clamps; of chinese inexpensive, US design / china manufacture, US design / US manufacture, etc.

ALL of the knob lock clamps work well with all of my varied collection of plates.

The ONLY challenge was a very inexpensive Desmond (chinese brand) LEVER lock clamp that came on a quite nice inexpensive ballhead. It needs to be precisely adjusted to the plate in use, using a screwdriver. Then it’s reliable... until I hit it with the next plate of slightly different size. I replaced it with a knob-lock plate, and all is good with that head.

RRS (and other premium brands?) have a self-adjusting lever lock system. Not wanting to pay the RRS price or financially support the politics of the RRS owners (that’s just me - do your own research), I’m totally happy with all US and chinese knob locks. They “self-adjust” just fine, and they do so across all my US and chinese-made plates.

PS. A knob lock is really just as quick a quick release as a lever lock.

Another person here who has many brands of plates and clamps and never had an issue mixing.

Are you sure you have the lever in the correct position?

The only time I need to apply any more thinking than screw the knob to tighten is a Sunwayfoto lever clamp I have which is not self adjusting.
There is an adjustment wheel to compensate for various plate dimensions.
All other clamps are screw (knob) only and are extremely simple and reliable.

I have around 10 clamps, only 1 is RRS. The only advantage I see with the RRS is that the threads are finer for the screw lock and that means it feels extra secure, it 'cinches' up and locks the load but I can easily get it to tighten a bit more and feel completely confident it's secure. The other clamps just hit a point where they are tight and don't allow that extra partial turn.

My 3 high quality, expensive clamps are RRS, Arca Swiss and Pro Media Gear. The RRS and Arca Swiss have the threads I like, the Pro Media Gear doesn't. None of the cheapies do.
I never use the 'safety stop' screws, even with the cheapy clamps with heavy gear, I have never had a load slip.

Thanks for all the replies. I had a look at the RRS price and it is crazy expensive!

I will go for a few cheaper options and see how I fare. Perhaps I am just unlucky and have a faulty one.

The clamp is a very simple design. There is a place where there needs to be at least a small gap. Do you know where that gap should be?

To answer my own question:

These 3 photos show differences in plate width of RRS, Sirui and Joby plates.
The RRS is clearly wider than the other two.
If a plate was much narrower than the plate in bottom photo, the clamp would no function as designed.
Once the gap in the clamp, where I have arrowed, no longer exists, the clamp would not be able to keep closing.

That would then be a case of incompatibility. I have never encountered that but I have found cases where the gap is so small, I was not sure there was actually a gap so I gave the load a stress test to make sure I could not force the load to slide within the clamp.

This is fully tightened with the twisty knob and the quick release clamp pushed in. You can see something is not quite right. The plate is not very secure.

That looks horrible.
Just buy a knob only (screw) clamp.
Sunwayfoto, Leofoto, Desmond, Sirui are all cheap and worth buying. I'm sure some others are good too.

I like a long knob (oh no, hope title fairy does not see that) as sometimes short ones leave no room to get a grip with some equipment.