My Giottos Clamp Is A PITA

[rpcrowe]

I have a Giottos MH1300 Tripod Head with an Arca (somewhat) Compatible Clamp. When I mention, "somewhat", that qualification results from the safety stud which would prevent a mounting plate from slipping out of the clamp if the clamp is not correctly and securely tightened. A Giottos clamp will slide straight in from the rear because there is a channel cut into the bottom of the Giottos Arca Plate that facilitates the plate sliding into place. Pressing the red release button at the rear of the clamp will allow the plate to be removed. The release button, when pressed pushes the button over to the channel cut into the plate.



I had a problem when I tried using other than Giottos Plates on the Giottos clamp because the safety stud would not allow the plate to slip into the groove. This happens with both standard plates as well as with L Brackets. However, I got around that by opening the clamp fully and dropping the plate in from the top. A bit slow but, it works fine both with standard Arca clamps and with RRS L Brackets.

Now I have a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens on which I installed a Kirk Foot. The Kirk foot (which is Arca Compatible) is far more secure than using the OEM foot and attaching an Arca Compatible Plate to the foot. That is just one more piece of gear to fail.

The problem with the Kirk Foot and the Giotto Clamp is that these are not compatible and I can't seem to fasten the foot onto the clamp at all, due to the above mentioned safety stud. I had one of two choices: Removing the stud or purchasing a new clamp to fit on my Giottos head. I have not had that problem using the Kirk Monopod Swivel Clamp.

Since the only plate that the safety stud works with is the original Giottos plate that came with the clamp. I have removed the safety stud. Luckily, this is done easily with a small Allen wrench. Looking down at the stud, it didn't look like it was slotted for an Allen wrench. However, I noticed that it was when I viewed the illustration posted above. The Foot fits just fine now and I don't have to open the clamp entirely to mount or remove other plates. Loosening the clamp a bit and sliding in the plate from the rear works just fine.

I just need to keep any plate securely tightened into the clamp.

Actually, the Giottos ball head is quite nice. Like many expensive ball heads, it has three control knobs. One knob controls rotation, one releases pressure on the ball and the third adjusts the play of the ball when the pressure knob is released. The head is quite secure when finger tightened.

Additionally, using an L Bracket is a great way to work with a tripod and ball head. The camera doesn't need to be cantilevered over on its side for a vertical shot so the head doesn't need to be secured quite as tightly.

[Polar01]

Why not put a different clamp, I switched out the original clamp that came with my ballhead for a Really Right Stuff clamp, no thingies to get in way.

Cheers: Allan

[rpcrowe]

"Why not put a different clamp"

Allan, that was really my plan before I tried the Allen wrench to remove the safety stud. It will be plan "B" if I don't like using the clamp minus the safety stud.

[Manfred M]

I haven't run into a problem like yours (yet?) with any of my Arca-Swiss mount gear which comes from a variety of sources - RRS, Kirk, Benro, Feisol and Sunwayfoto. I have heard from others that while the profile of the mount is usually close, some of the manufacturer's own modifications can sometimes cause the problem you are having.

The safety studs in my gear is on the centre line of the mounts and I have nothing that resembles you Giottos clamp.

I suspect you are going to have to be creative and make the modifications to the gear to make it work,

[NorthernFocus]

I've had similar problems, Richard, with other than Giottos clamps. But in my case the Kirk foot could simply be pressed down to depress the safety pin while tightening the clamp. Though one definitely needs to pay attention while doing so. IMO the safety pin/button is a good idea whose time will never come. Now you've given me the idea to simply remove the darn thing.

[rpcrowe]

Dan, you wrote, "But in my case the Kirk foot could simply be pressed down to depress the safety pin while tightening the clamp."

I the case of the Giottos clamp, the safety pin does not depress but, rather moves to the right (as you are looking at the end with the red button).

Most plates can fit between the safety pin and the side of the lamp but, the Kirk foot is too wide to be able to fit.

I was a bit worried about not having a safety pin until I realized that the clamp on my Kirk Monopod Head doesn't have a safety stud.



I just had an idea while I was composing this... If I don't like working with the Giottos Clamp minus the safety stud, I could always use the clamp from the Kirk monopod head. That clamp works great with every Arca compatible piece of gear that I own, including the Kirk Foot from my 100-400L II. Switching the clamp should propose no problems...

[NorthernFocus]

...the Giottos clamp, the safety pin does not depress but, rather moves to the right...

That is problematic. I've replaced the feet on my large telephoto lenses with RRS which have their own safety pins(actually allen head cap screws) on both ends. I use the long glass almost exclusively on a gimbal head which has no such device. Having a bolt in both ends requires loosening the clamp all the way to mount the lens which I don't like to do. So I only put the safety bolt in the back end so the foot can slide into the clamp from the rear. This still provides security when carrying the pod with lens mounted and pointed down. IMO that is the highest risk opportunity for the clamp to loosen by being bumped etc.

[rpcrowe]

I feel rather stupid... My Kirk foot also has screws on both ends. I didn't make the mental jump in equating the screws to safety devices. I will use them in that manner from now on though.

I can't get over how much I have learned from this discussion It has made me look at the gear in a new manner! Thanks all!