Giotto MH-1301 tripod head but I also use an Arca type bracket

[russellsnr]

Hi, I have a Giotto MH-1301 tripod head but I also use an Arca type bracket on my 1Ds MK II but the Giotto that I purchased "used" has the quick release type plate, so is it possible to change the head part of the Giotto to the Arca type bracket holder?
Hope question is understood.
Thanks
Russ

[rpcrowe]

The Giottos MH-130X (series) heads use the Giottos 655, 656, 657 (series) quick release clamps.

These Giottos clamps are pretty well compatible with most Arca Plates with one caveat; the security stud on the Giottos clamps will not permit some non-Giottos plates from sliding into the clamp. The security stud doesn't recess when the button is pushed, instead, it moves over to coincide with the channel that is cut into Giottos plates. Plates from other manufacturers do not have the channel. At first, I found this to be a big PITA when mounting my RRS "L" Plates.

You can get around this problem in three ways:

1. By opening the clamp all the way and inserting the plate from the top...

2. By routing a channel in the Arca plate with a Dremel or some such tool...

3. By removing the safety stud entirely...

At the present, I have opted for the first solution, although it is a bit slower. I am afraid that I would not do a neat enough job routing a channel through my plates and I don't like the idea of removing the safety stud entirely because of the reduced safety that method entails.

Other than that strange problem with the 655-656-657 clamps, I have found my Giottos ball head to be a very good ball head.

[russellsnr]

Hi, Thankyou for thge reply but maybe I did not explain correctly.
The head is as shown here along with the RRS bracket.

[rpcrowe]

Here is the Giottos web site... If you navigate to "Professional Ball Heads" it will show you in the illustration of the head, how the clamp is attached to the ball head. You can get a Giottos clamp or you can get some other clamp such as a Kirk Universal Clamp

http://www.giottos.com/
Professional Ball Heads

http://www.kirkphoto.com/Universal-Q...se-Clamps.html
Quick Release Clamps
Universal

Here is one of the least expensive clamps I have seen. However, I cannot vouch for the quality...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Fotopro-...item5643f1d98e

[russellsnr]

Here is the Giottos web site... If you navigate to "Professional Ball Heads" it will show you in the illustration of the head, how the clamp is attached to the ball head. You can get a Giottos clamp or you can get some other clamp such as a Kirk Universal Clamp

http://www.giottos.com/
Professional Ball Heads

http://www.kirkphoto.com/Universal-Q...se-Clamps.html
Quick Release Clamps
Universal

Here is one of the least expensive clamps I have seen. However, I cannot vouch for the quality...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Fotopro-...item5643f1d98e

Hi, Just to thank you again and advise I found a plate from Morris Photo MH 658.
Russ