Manfrotto 405 head and manfrotto L plate users

Hi there, I'd like to know if the L plate can be positioned to allow the camera to be placed dead centre above the pivot point so as to counter the offset of the top plate position?

Hope that makes sense, I'm trying to eliminate the parallax from the top plate being off center.

In order to eliminate parallax effects when the camera is rotated, it's necessary to rotate around the nodal axis of the lens. This is rarely co-incident with the tripod mounting point of the camera or lens.

So just getting the tripod rotation axis aligned with the tripod socket of the camera doesn't help that much.

In order to eliminate parallax effects when the camera is rotated, it's necessary to rotate around the nodal axis of the lens. This is rarely co-incident with the tripod mounting point of the camera or lens.

 

So just getting the tripod rotation axis aligned with the tripod socket of the camera doesn't help that much.

Sure thanks, I was just getting to the bit of the problem that affects the offset. A nodal rail would be implemented if I can solve the offset issue.

It seems to me that you'd end up with a pretty unwieldy and unstable system if you had an L-bracket on top of a QR slide on top of a nodal slide, or any other combination of the three.

Can you not get a straightforward 1/4" studded plate for the tripod head, and mount a nodal slide and the camera on top of that? It would eliminate at least one interface and potential cause of wobble.

The Manfrotto LC-4 L-Bracket is slotted on both legs, so the camera can be mounted exactly centered on lens in both the horizontal and vertical orientation. That serves to eliminate lateral offset when the head is panned. Rigging a nodal slide presents a more difficult problem.

The QR clamp for a 405 head holds the plate in only one position. It cannot slide to effect nodal alignment. That can be resolved by using an attachment designed to slide, such as an Oben macro focusing slide, which has a range of about 4" and can be adjusted so that the slide is centered on the axis of the tripod. You would not need the L-bracket for alignment. You would use the Oben camera plate instead.

Oben MFR4-5 Macro Focusing Rail

Finding the nodal point (front node) is by trial and error. Looking through the viewfinder, swing the camera from side to side while observing the relative position of a near (e.g., 15') and far (e.g., 75') object. Slide the camera fore and aft until the relative motion (parallax) is minimized. Each lens is different, and a zoom lens changes with the focal length setting.

A better solution is to use Arca-type clamps and plates. You would start by mounting an Arca clamp on a Manfrotto QR plate. That clamp would secure the camera or nodal plate, which can slide freely along the clamp axis until locked down. You can get Arca type nodal plates with a compact Arca clamp built into one end. The whole setup is compact, easily adjusted, and very secure. It's best to use the same brand of Arca QR throughout. The plates are not always compatible between manufactures. I prefer to use RRS (Really Right Stuff) components.

The Manfrotto LC-4 L-Bracket is slotted on both legs, so the camera can be mounted exactly centered on lens in both the horizontal and vertical orientation. That serves to eliminate lateral offset when the head is panned. Rigging a nodal slide presents a more difficult problem.

 

The QR clamp for a 405 head holds the plate in only one position. It cannot slide to effect nodal alignment. That can be resolved by using an attachment designed to slide, such as an Oben macro focusing slide, which has a range of about 4" and can be adjusted so that the slide is centered on the axis of the tripod. You would not need the L-bracket for alignment. You would use the Oben camera plate instead.

 

Oben MFR4-5 Macro Focusing Rail

 

Finding the nodal point (front node) is by trial and error. Looking through the viewfinder, swing the camera from side to side while observing the relative position of a near (e.g., 15') and far (e.g., 75') object. Slide the camera fore and aft until the relative motion (parallax) is minimized. Each lens is different, and a zoom lens changes with the focal length setting.

 

A better solution is to use Arca-type clamps and plates. You would start by mounting an Arca clamp on a Manfrotto QR plate. That clamp would secure the camera or nodal plate, which can slide freely along the clamp axis until locked down. You can get Arca type nodal plates with a compact Arca clamp built into one end. The whole setup is compact, easily adjusted, and very secure. It's best to use the same brand of Arca QR throughout. The plates are not always compatible between manufactures. I prefer to use RRS (Really Right Stuff) components.

Thanks for the info.