New Markins Ballheads with lever clamps

Good timing! I was planning on getting the RRS level release quickshoe, but I think I will try the Markins

damn, this comes a week after I buy them with the original screw mount Sucks!

smashing.poot wrote in post #9731634
damn, this comes a week after I buy them with the original screw mount Sucks!

Return it for an exchange.

last summer, a member posted about a lever clamp from benro. surprisingly, not one reply...
new products from benro!

Rigby470 wrote in post #9706562
I'm assuming that since Markins now has their own lever-lock plate they will no longer install the RRS plate for free?

I just sent in my RRS lever release today after speaking to Markins on the phone. They are going to swap it out for free, only cost of shipping to and from. (Which wasn't that cheap from FL ground by UPS). I didn't even notice these new clamps until I went to the site to see how much I originally paid for shipping.

The Markins lever action ballhead and plate for my 40D arrived yesterday, and I'm impressed so far. The convertible lever action makes it easy to experiment with various schemes for position, and the screwdriver adjustment for various sizes of plates is easy to change.

The Markins plate has the slot for handstrap, so I put the old Canon strap on without any trouble, added the little Op/Tech lug adapters to it and to the left camera lug (hot water works fine). With an Op/Tech #1 swivel clip adapter set the neck strap goes off and on easily, so it looks like I'm good to go. I did have to shorten the two swivel straps, since the camera ended up somewhat south of my navel at first.

As you can see, the ballhead nests quite nicely into the Gitzo 1541T. Together they are just what this old body needs.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

perwa wrote in post #9837298
The Markins lever action ballhead and plate for my 40D arrived yesterday, and I'm impressed so far. The convertible lever action makes it easy to experiment with various schemes for position, and the screwdriver adjustment for various sizes of plates is easy to change.

The Markins plate has the slot for handstrap, so I put the old Canon strap on without any trouble, added the little Op/Tech lug adapters to it and to the left camera lug (hot water works fine). With an Op/Tech #1 swivel clip adapter set the neck strap goes off and on easily, so it looks like I'm good to go. I did have to shorten the two swivel straps, since the camera ended up somewhat south of my navel at first.

As you can see, the ballhead nests quite nicely into the Gitzo 1541T. Together they are just what this old body needs.

It would be nice to see the camera mounted on the ballhead to see the clearance between the camera and the plate.

Julian:
I'll assume you mean "between the camera and the tips of the Gitzo." The picture pretends to show this (my wife's P&S. It is much too complicated for me, so I just fired it off hoping for the best). I have never carried the camera and tripod slung over the shoulder in this position, so maybe I'll try it hoping nothing breaks.

If that is not what you meant then the clearance between the plate and the camera is as close to zero as I can get it by applying undue force to the screw on the plate. Probably within molecular range, I guess.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Thank for posting that! You did good. I bought a M20 back in January and I wanted to replace it with the the RRS lever. Once I get back from my trip to St. Lucia, I'm going to have it sent out to replace it with this lever. The clearance looks good and the LR is tucked in nicely. Very nice!

perwa wrote in post #9838672
Julian:
I'll assume you mean "between the camera and the tips of the Gitzo." The picture pretends to show this (my wife's P&S. It is much too complicated for me, so I just fired it off hoping for the best). I have never carried the camera and tripod slung over the shoulder in this position, so maybe I'll try it hoping nothing breaks.

If that is not what you meant then the clearance between the plate and the camera is as close to zero as I can get it by applying undue force to the screw on the plate. Probably within molecular range, I guess.

I kinda like the screw clamp. Just feel like I have to make a deliberate effort to release the camera. Looks like the lever clamp could easily get bumped but maybe that's fear-mongering for nothing?

Not to hijack the thread, but Perwa, is that a Camdapter strap? How do you like it? I'd like to get away from my neck strap and go to the handstrap on my 40D and have been looking at the Camdapter.

grewbek wrote in post #9841195
I kinda like the screw clamp. Just feel like I have to make a deliberate effort to release the camera.

Your certainly not alone. I too prefer the screw type clamp.

Tsmith wrote in post #9841646
Your certainly not alone. I too prefer the screw type clamp.

Most of the time, yes I just changed the QR plate on my RRS Monopod head to a lever release - having the two screw knobs one right over the other I was too likely to unscrew the wrong one, and reversing the head so I wouldn't undo the wrong screw made the whole assembly bulkier than I liked.

Grewbek: No, that is a regular Canon handstrap left over from my XT+battery grip days. As I discovered through another thread, this thing has a lug slot built into it on top, so a neck strap can be attached. Easy to overlook. By using the little plastic OpTech lug adapters and swivel snap connectors I can have the option of using the neckstrap or not. Different setups for different applications, and the switchover is a matter of seconds.

The only disadvantage, though slight, is that the lower attachment point for the strap is not at the corner but a ways towards the center of the camera base. But, for the few times I have used it so far that has not been a real issue.

As far as the lever release is concerned, my instinct is that it would take a very unique set of circumstances to accidentally release it, since it does not stick out very far. Also, the force needed to release it can be adjusted easily enough by means of the screw adjustment for the plate. I'm thinking this is unlikely to be a problem.

grewbek wrote in post #9841195
I kinda like the screw clamp. Just feel like I have to make a deliberate effort to release the camera. Looks like the lever clamp could easily get bumped but maybe that's fear-mongering for nothing?

Not to hijack the thread, but Perwa, is that a Camdapter strap? How do you like it? I'd like to get away from my neck strap and go to the handstrap on my 40D and have been looking at the Camdapter.

When I had my RRS QRL on my BH-55, I never ran into any issues with the lever getting accidetally bumped. I prefer the QRL for convenience over the screw clamp. Just my opinon.

Using a screw clamp I would be in the habit of always doing a quick check (tighten it). With the RRS lever, it takes some pressure to shut and open it. I never feel the urge to check it. The lever shape seems to be have been well thought out, imo, to prevent accidental opening.