Tripod Heads Help

[Green Mountain Girl]

A few years ago I converted everything over to Really Right Stuff love their ball heads but they are pricey.

John, Since you use RRS heads, perhaps you can help me a question about the Lever Release plate. They sell the regular one, and they sell one with a longer lever for people who use L-brackets. But the longer lever they say it will interfere with the notch. My question is if I should get the regular plate, and then put on an L-bracket later, is the lever going to be long enough to use easily?

Actually, they sell several different types - it gets confusing! The specific one I am asking about is the BH-40 LR. It sounds like the best choice --- I hope?!

Susan

[Polar01]

Susan I will try to answer that for you. The lever that is on the LR II is longer that on the LR clamp is correct. Hover both the LR and the LR II will work with the L-bracket The reason has a longer lever is that the LR II has a bubble to help in leveling the clamp which is important if taking pan's, as the clamp head is larger the clamp lever is longer. If you purchase the L-bracket you never have to worry about tipping the camera over to put the camera into portrait orienation thus the lever will never cause any problems. Another thing good about the L-bracket and the LR II is that once you have the head level it does not matter if the camera is landscape or portrait as it is level, if you have to tip the camera over onto its side to go to portrait you now have to relevel the head and then relevel again when you got back to landscape. Never have to do that with the L-bracket.
Susan you only have to worry about the lever if you do not get an L-bracket. So BH-30 LR clamp at $275.00 use either standard camera plate or L-bracket, or the BH-30 LR II at $290.00 and only L-bracket (that bubble sure can make life easier to level head for $15.00, bubble level that you would purchase to attach to top of camera is $35.00).
Susan as to you last question, standard plate approx $60.00 (plus taxes & shipping) then you say to yourself should have gotten the L-bracket than order it approx $120.00 (plus taxes & shipping) now total cost is approx $200.00 so what do you do with the standard plate now, so save the $60.00 (taxes & shipping) and get the L-bracket and yes the lever on either one is long enough to use easily with any of their camera plates.

Cheers:

Allan

[Green Mountain Girl]

Allan, Your answer is so clear. It is hard to buy something I have never seen or held! Therefore I have been feeling nervous about it. Right now I am starting to think the BH-40 LR would be a better investment than the BH-30, even though more expensive, because of the larger ball and the extra control (drag).

The RRS L-bracket for my camera comes as an add-on part for the plate. So total cost is $120, and I can leave off the L part if I want to! They call it a "modular approach"...

As for the bubble, there is a small one on my tripod, and I hardly pay attention to it. But I use a grid view in my viewfinder, which helps me to make sure my camera is not tipped too much. I do like the idea of the dual axis level that fits in the hot-shoe! It looks like it would work better than a little bubble. Of course, my having been exposed to builder's levels might be an influence.

I appreciate all the help you and others are so willing to give. Thank you.

Susan