Continuing the Blog on the Manfrotto RCO Hex Quick Release Plate adapter.
After finding the list price for the Manfrotto version of their Hexagonal Quick Release plate was over $55, I decided to buy one that was not only available for under $20 on line, but could be delivered for free pickup to any Walmart in under two weeks.
The order came in almost a week early. There were repeated e-mails requesting pick-up that I ignored. The plate was picked up on the day it was supposed to originally arrive.
The QR plate is nicely painted and closely resembles the Manfrotto version.
It has its problems though—
it may or may not be assembled incorrectly
the lock cam can’t close as much as it does on the Manfrotto version
the surface textured pad does not “grip” the camera base
the arrangement of thumbscrew/locking collar does not tighten positively
Problem 1—A comparison between a Manfrotto QR plate and the Chinese version the Locking knurled ring has a flat “cast” side and the other side has a tapered crown. In the Chinese version the tapered crown points down, towards the knurled thumbscrew. The result is the tightening of the locking middle ring has very little surface-to-surface friction between the painted parts. I couldn’t tighten the locking ring enough to lock the camera in its orientation on the QR plate. There is no point in having an oriented camera to tripod head mount if the camera is free to turn horizontally. I decided to take the “D” ring that holds the screw in the plate out and change the middle rings direction to match the Manfrotto version. The difference in contact area isn’t much, but it does make a difference.
Problem 2—The Chinese QR plate seems to be just a hair too large. The locking cam that is supposed to lock the plate to the receiver only closes halfway. While there is no doubt the plate is captive the cam lock has not closed enough to engage the release lock. If you were to catch the protruding lever (shown at bottom) on something enough to open it, the camera would fall off the tripod.
Problem 3—While nicely fitted, the surface padding material is smooth and doesn’t protrude much. Several cameras were tried on the QR plate and frightening amounts of tightening had to be applied to immobilize the camera from spinning. It might be enough to scuff up the pad’s surface to improve the tooth (friction) between the pad and the camera’s base plate.
Problem 4—Let’s go over the theory of how a camera is supposed to be attached to the QR plate. If you back the locking (middle painted knurled) ring all the way down until it is against the smaller thumbscrew and then run the thread up into the camera’s tripod mount until it stops you can then run the locking ring up until it tightens against the bottom of the QR plate. Now you have full engagement of the camera’s tripod mount threads. You also have the tripod screw firmly locked into the QR plate. As mentioned the painted surfaces seem not to lock enough to keep the locking ring tight.
Various things remain to be tried:
the painted surface can be scraped to a rough finish
some sand can be glued on
even a rubber faucet gasket could be added
Here is a closer view of the open receiver with the QR plate in position to be locked down when that brass post (just above the silver bolt head)is pressed down by the plate.
Here the locking cam has rotated and the plate is held. Note the cam has only partially rotated. With the Manfrotto plates the cam is fully rotated and the protruding arm (shown at bottom) barely protrudes from under the mount.
So to sum up, the $20 Chinese QR plate will work as is, but with some modifications like filing mating painted surfaces and changing part’s orientation will help “tune” the plate to work better.
Blog continues with a final chapter. See Manfrotto Hex QR Plate III
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