If you'll permit me another follow-up, I have now found the clamp I'm going to purchase: The Sunwayfoto DLC-60 - 60mm Duo-Lever Clamp (Arca Compatible) It is brilliant, because it gives you the best of both worlds: The ease-of-use of the lever clamp and the adjustability of the conventional screw type release. The adjustability is useful two ways: 1) you can use ANYBODY's Arca-type plate. I've seen some that wouldn't fit due to the powder coating being a bit too thick, for example. No problem with the DLC-60, just open it up a bit on the screw side. 2) Lever Types by themselves don't provide as much pressure as the conventional screw does. It's physics, as Mr. Monotone, the Acratech president explains in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzTqxqD6XPY So by having a conventional screw side AND a lever side you can effectively adjust the "firmness" of the lever side (not possible with a lever alone). Here is a short video of the DLC-60 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jENbecEtKQg
Here is the review page on Amazon (9 out of 10 5-star reviews) http://www.amazon.com/SUNWAYFOTO-Duo-Lever-Compatible-DLC-60-Sunway/product-reviews/ and the review/product page at B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/827708-REG/Sunwayfoto_DLC_60_DLC_60_Duo_Lever_Clamp.html Six 5-star reviews (out of 6) I like that the lever can't open by getting caught on something (like while walking through trees). It is a two-stage lever. It also has a tapped hole (3/8") which means it will go right on my lowest-cost Arca-Swiss p0 with 1/4" and 3/8" threaded disk. Perhaps the best part about this clamp is that it will allow me to use more inexpensive QR plates (which was the main point of this whole exercise). I just cannot stomach paying $49 (or more) for the "big brand" Quick Release plates when I can get a perfectly good one like the Sunwayfoto DPG-39 Universal Quick Release Plate for $22 or the wider DPG-50 for $28. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/837741-REG/Sunwayfoto_DPG_50_DPG_50_Universal_Quick_Release_Plate.html I will give you my impressions once these items are actually purchased and in my possession (which might be a few weeks - between the p0 ball head and the M* 300mm my Paypal card needs to stop smoking first). Hope others find some of this useful. On Wed, Oct 2, 2013 at 12:12 PM, steve harley <p...@paper-ape.com> wrote: > on 2013-10-01 11:23 Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote > >> Thanks, that's interesting. >> >> The ability to level the head for panorama work independent of the tripod >> looks great. > > > on that subtopic, has anyone here used a Berlabach tripod with its built-in > leveler? they have an appealing simplicity, and the Mini appeals to me for > macro use, and is quite light if you consider it effective enough without a > head: > > <http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=98&sprache=english> > > Berlebach has a variety of pano accessories and (back on topic), they have a > quick-release system which works their own plates as well as Arca-Swiss: > > <http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=408&sprache=english> > > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > follow the directions. -- Nothing is sure but death and Pentaxes. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
