Is the Markins quick plate system compatable?

I am contemplting getting a Markins head to put on a set of manfrotto legs. I know, i know, but i can't afford the gitzo. I am going to do what I can afford, and that does not really include the head. I have read that the head is more important than legs, to a degree.

Ok my question. I also want to buy a monopod, but don't want to spend another 3-400 on a head for a monopod. My questoin is, what other makers can i use the monopod quick connect plate on. I don't want to have to change plates when I switch from Tripod to Monopod.

I'd beg to differ...the legs are more important than the head. If the basic structure is not sturdy enough to support the load and reduce vibrations, then it doesn't really matter what type of head you have.

As far as the monopod goes, I use a Manfrotto 3232 swivel head. It has both 1/4" and 3/8" studs (single reversible stud) that will accommodate a variety of clamps. They're very inexpensive (about $25 or so I think). The only way to have compatibility with plates and clamps is to have an Arca-Swiss compatible system. Matter of fact, the standard clamp that comes with a Markins head is A-S compatible, and will accept plates or brackets from RRS or Kirk. If your system is not A-S compatible, then using plates from different manufacturers won't work...each manufacturer has proprietary designs.

One option: Click
Or mount the QR clamp straight to the monopod.
I did: Click.

There is a reason that great ball heads are so expensive, they are much more important than the legs they are attached to (assuming that you aren't buying junk). Buy a tripod with a large enough capacity to support your gear and you won't have much to worry about, but with a cheap ball head it won't matter much how good your legs are. Remember, the camera/lens is the most valuable piece of equipment and if it falls out of some cheap ball head it isn't going to matter that the legs it is attached to cost $130.00, or $800.00. The greatest risk for damage that you are going to encounter is the connection between the camera and the head. If you can't buy top-of-the-line in everything, get a good tripod and a great head. The Markins is a great head and will not fail you because it isn't strong enough. The Markins will safely handle 50-60 lbs. of weight, far more than anyone is going to have mounted on it. The Markins also uses standard Arca/Swiss plates, so you have no worries there.

It all starts with a proper legset. Its like anything else...start with a proper foundation, then build on top of that. A top-of-line ballhead won't do me any good if the legset transmits vibrations to the camera. My camera/lens may not come loose, but the image quality will suffer. Which is pretty much why Gitzo bases their tripod models on focal length, as opposed to weight capacity. My GT2540 and Markins M10 will easily support the weight of my 5D and let's say a 500L without a problem. However, at that focal length (per Gitzo's standards), my tripod will seriously underperform, the premium ballhead notwithstanding. I go with the legset first, then and only then do I match up the proper ballhead.

Returning to your question about which clamps your Markins camera/lens plate will fit.

As far as I can tell, as long as it claims to be Arca Swiss compatible, then it "should" fit Arca Swiss type clamps.

I said "should" because there is at least one exception. RRS lever quick release clamps have different tolerances and a Markins lens plate will not clamp down in my lever clamp at all. So if possible, try out any strange combination before buying, or agree a "money back if not happy" deal.

Richard