Question about my 300/2.8IS....lens plate

If I'm not using a Arca Swiss or Wimberly tripod head yet, do I need the lens plate. Will it fit on my Manfrotto head? So do these keep the wear off the original plate....balance better, what are the pros?
I know the benefits of the heads to which these are to be mounted and plan on taking advantage of those benefits in the future, but funds are limited now and I'd like to keep the lens as clean and un-marred as possible. But I also don't want to buy the plate if wear on the original lens plate is the only advantage (without a head to match).
[SIZE=2]Thanks

no, you need a lens plate to attach the lens to your ball head. everything that attaches to a ballhead needs a lens plate, everything.

mackidbrendan wrote in post #6020116
no, you need a lens plate to attach the lens to your ball head. everything that attaches to a ballhead needs a lens plate, everything.

Completely incorrect information.

You dont need a plate for your 300. It will attach just fine to your monopod.

The point of using a plate is that the lens is held to the mount through the large area of the plate instead of the screw. I, and innumerable others, use a 300 or 400 on monopods without plates all day long. Its not something you need right now.

angela6571 wrote in post #6020268
Completely incorrect information.

You dont need a plate for your 300. It will attach just fine to your monopod.

The point of using a plate is that the lens is held to the mount through the large area of the plate instead of the screw. I, and innumerable others, use a 300 or 400 on monopods without plates all day long. Its not something you need right now.

no...your incorrect
were talking about mounting a lens to a ballhead. no one mentioned a monopod.

I appologize....I did not state in my original post the fact that I was considering the Wimberly plate (which was the point of me posting this thread and would have been nice so you could dicern what the he!! I was talking about)
But I did get two good responses, I can mount my 300 directly to a monopod. and of course I need a plate to attach to a ballhead, but what is the advantage of a wimberly plate? (other than using it on a particular style of head?)

the main benefit for lens plate is balance. It will distribute the weight of your lens evenly. In addition, you can just slide it off from you ballhead/tripod.

Excellent, thank you

thatkatmat wrote in post #6019975
If I'm not using a Arca Swiss or Wimberly tripod head yet, do I need the lens plate. Will it fit on my Manfrotto head?

Which Manfrotto head do you have? What kind of mount is it? Does it have a 1/4"-20 stud?, Manfrotto quick release?, or is it an Arca style clamp? Without know what you have its hard to say what you need.

thatkatmat wrote in post #6019975
So do these keep the wear off the original plate....balance better, what are the pros?

thatkatmat wrote in post #6019975
I know the benefits of the heads to which these are to be mounted and plan on taking advantage of those benefits in the future, but funds are limited now and I'd like to keep the lens as clean and un-marred as possible. But I also don't want to buy the plate if wear on the original lens plate is the only advantage (without a head to match).
[SIZE=2]Thanks

Lens plates are generally used because one wants a quick release system to quickly mount and dismount the lens. Not to prevent wear on the tripod collar.

Depending on the ball head you have, why not get an Arca style clamp from Kirk or RRS and a plate for you lens. You can always use the plate later and the clamp can be sold later.

thatkatmat wrote in post #6020437
I appologize....I did not state in my original post the fact that I was considering the Wimberly plate (which was the point of me posting this thread and would have been nice so you could dicern what the he!! I was talking about)
But I did get two good responses, I can mount my 300 directly to a monopod. and of course I need a plate to attach to a ballhead, but what is the advantage of a wimberly plate? (other than using it on a particular style of head?)

Sorry, I was composing my note when you wrote this. But what is the mount on the ballhead you have now? Is it a screw or quick release?

Edit: Never mind, I looked at your gear list. You really aught to invest in a good ball head now and blow that grip action head. You've spent a lot on gear, it would be a shame to wimp out on the support system.

Kirk lens plate for 300IS is not that expensive. Around $40-50. Get it.

dbdors wrote in post #6020497
Which Manfrotto head do you have? What kind of mount is it? Does it have a 1/4"-20 stud?, Manfrotto quick release?, or is it an Arca style clamp? Without know what you have its hard to say what you need.
Certainly they will keep the original tripod collar from wearing, but this is not the reason most purchase quick release plates.Lens plates are generally used because one wants a quick release system to quickly mount and dismount the lens. Not to prevent wear on the tripod collar.

Depending on the ball head you have, why not get an Arca style clamp from Kirk or RRS and a plate for you lens. You can always use the plate later and the clamp can be sold later.

I have a 488RC4 Midi Ball Head (Rapid Connect 4 System) with a 1/4"-20

dbdors wrote in post #6020512
Sorry, I was composing my note when you wrote this. But what is the mount on the ballhead you have now? Is it a screw or quick release?

Edit: Never mind, I looked at your gear list. You really aught to invest in a good ball head now and blow that grip action head. You've spent a lot on gear, it would be a shame to wimp out on the support system.

yeah, I did, I wasn't using a tripod much before, but have since begun using it more often and it quickly became obvious that the grip wasn't working out for me. I like the 488RC4 much better but with the 300 I'm looking to get into a better system.

i would recommend:

Acratech V2 Conventional Ballhead with Arca-Style Quick Release

around $300. It is a SOLID product. It can handle lens from 300IS up to 600IS. I used it on all of my big lens on my Monopod.

sample:

http://www.aphanphoto.​com …userpics/10001/​12~3~0.jpg
http://www.aphanphoto.​com …yimage.php?albu​m=16&pos=6

Invest it RIGHT one time.

with this lens I use a larger lensplate for my gimbal head but for my monopod I use a regular ball head & acra QR plate.

You do not need a lens plate unless you have compatible QR clamps.

To attach the 300 (or any super tele) to a monopod/tripod, just screw the 1/4-20 stud into the lens foot.