Is Really Right Stuff AcraTech/Arca-Swiss compatible?

[asimrazakhan]

<p>so for example, can I use an RRS camera plate on a Kirk quick release clamp? Kirk uses the Arca-Swiss system.</p>

[scott_ferris]

<p>Generally yes, the dovetail design is very similar. Some head clamp jaws are reported to not close quite enough to clamp some plates, but I haven't encountered that issue. My most used combination is RRS plates in AcraTech clamps, never had an issue.</p>

[waltflanagan]

<p>My ball head and all my clamps are RRS. I have one custom lens foot from Kirk and everything works fine together for me.</p>

[User_276104]

<p>I think compatability issues arose when RRS came out with their quick release flip-handle clamp. Since it has a pre-set tension, it may not clamp down hard enough on different brand plate profiles. Even if the tension is variable, a person may have to keep adjusting it between plates/brackets.</p>

<p>If you have a clamp that you manually tighten, I believe hand-tightening will work across various brands.</p>

[david_henderson]

<p>IIRC the same issue exists with Markins lever clamps and they fit a screw device to adjust the clamp size a little. The problem comes when someone uses a Markins lever clamp with non Markins plates of more than one origin. Then there's a chance that the differing plates may need the clamp to be adjusted differently and doing that repetitively is likely to be at least a major pain and potentially just unmanageable in the field. The answer is clearly either to use screw clamps, or to stick to one brand of plates and if necessary set your clamp to cope with those. <br>

I decided, as a committed lever clamp person, to just go with RRS for ballhead, lever clamp and plates. Works really well.</p>

<p>I should say also that the people responding to telephone and email queries at places like RRS etc answer this sort of question a dozen times a day and I found all the people I communicated with ressuringly helpful.</p>

<p> </p>

[david_henderson]

<p>IIRC the same issue exists with Markins lever clamps and they fit a screw device to adjust the clamp size a little. The problem comes when someone uses a Markins lever clamp with non Markins plates of more than one origin. Then there's a chance that the differing plates may need the clamp to be adjusted differently and doing that repetitively is likely to be at least a major pain and potentially just unmanageable in the field. The answer is clearly either to use screw clamps, or to stick to one brand of plates and if necessary set your clamp to cope with those. <br>

I decided, as a committed lever clamp person, to just go with RRS for ballhead, lever clamp and plates. Works really well.</p>

<p>I should say also that the people responding to telephone and email queries at places like RRS etc answer this sort of question a dozen times a day and I found all the people I communicated with ressuringly helpful.</p>

<p> </p>

[rod_klukas]

<p>RRS plates are 1mm larger than classic Arca-Swiss plates specification.<br>

Therefore if you have mixed manufacturers plates, a Knob lock clamp may be the best type to get.<br>

Rod Klukas</p>

[peter_n1664876959]

<p>I use Markins screw knob clamps on all my ballheads because they utilize a spring-loaded safety detent pin. I'll use plates from any manufacturer <em>except</em> Markins, currently I have seven different brands of plate and they all work perfectly with the Markins screw clamps.</p>