Quick Release Plate on Camera - Will this Compromise Handheld Shooting?

I'm shopping for a new tripod and head and am considering a head with a
quick release. If I'm not mistaken, this means I need to screw a
quick-release plate onto the bottom of my camera. My question is, if I
have this plate on the bottom of my camera, would it be bulky or screw
up the weighting of the camera if I'm shooting hand-held?

Peter

 

Most good QR plates are very light-weight machined aluminum. I rarely,
if ever, remove the plate (or even L-bracket) to shoot handheld. It
might be a problem only if you have a very tight-fitting case for the
camera.

 

Hi,

Mine doesn't bother me at all (the one with Bogen 3030).

Martin

 

I have had a relatively small QR plate on the bottoms of all my cameras for
many years - no problems. Big ones might be another matter.
If you have to install the QR plate on the camera every time you mount it
to the tripod - it isn't quick.

 

Different systems use different plates: some of the Manfrotto/Bogen ones are
a bit bulky. I use the Arca-Swiss system, with plates from various makers
(Kirk, RRS, Novoflex) and they are very slim, no problem at all.


Peter

 

No. For Manfrotto (Bogen) there are two types; the large one (hexagonal)
actually has two variants - one screws in with a rather protruding
double finger screw, which (ahem) screws up the camera's ability to sit
on a horizontal surface, the other has a flat base and screws on with a
slotted machine screw. The smaller plate is more convenient; it screws
on with a retractable D-ring, and is easily removed if necessary.

Some plates may interfere with the battery compartment door on some
cameras. One of my roll film cameras can't have the film changed without
removing the plate, but that's unlikely to be a problem with a 35mm
camera.

David

 

Of course, it depends on the weight of your camera, but the quick release
plate on the bottom of mine only weighs about two ounces.....In the case of
my F5, or even my R3, that's a negligible weight. It is very handy, and you
can have several cameras and several tripods, and attach any camera body to
any tripod in a second or two with them. I even have a small ball head that
clamps on the partly raised side window of my car, with a quick release
plate holder on top of it, so I can attach any camera body to it in a few
seconds........I can tilt the ball head of my tripod forward a little bit,
and open the back of my camera and change film while it's still attached to
the tripod, and that's very useful in some circumstances.....

 

Plates sometimes stick out and jab you in the chest if you're carrying with a
strap. The weight is negligible in most cases.

 

I bought a Quantray (sp?) last January that came with a pair of
plates. I have a pair of Pentax ZX-M bodies -- one for color, other
for B&W. They aren't very bulky, but I do remove them for hand holding
and just attach them when I'm heading out for a session that I know I
will use the tripod.

 

No. Weight is not an issue, though the bulk may be for some. I have an RRS
QR plate -- It is small, aluminum, unobtrusive.

Dave

 

It's mostly a matter of personal preference. I shoot a 10D + vertical
grip, with a recent model Manfrotto quick-release plate mounted most of
the time. I find that it doesn't get in the way when shooting
horizontally, but it can get annoying when shooting vertically. OTOH,
the screw is easily removed by hand, so if the plate's getting the way,
I can quickly remove it & throw it in my camera bag or pocket.

 

Just don't leave it in your pocket. D'oh!