CAMVATE Quick Release Mount Base QR Plate for Manfrotto 501/504/ 577/701 Tripod Standard Accessory(Black)

Love it!

I found nothing quite like this CAMVATE Quick Release Mount Base QR Plate. I don't know what makes it suitable for a Manfrotto - I don't have one. I have a plain, ordinary video tripod with a camera plate that I measured to fit the bottom on this base plate.The base plate has 1/4 threaded holes on the bottom, and I should be able to mount my tripod camera plate to it - balance this base on the tripod plate's 1/4 screw. Should be that simple.This Camvate base plate has holes that aren't threaded. They have shoulders in those holes where the shoulders are toward the top. Meaning we are to put the screws in the bottom, and screw something sitting on TOP of the plate. Disappointing - I wanted to screw something sitting below this base plate. Since I can slide the rods up and down I might be okay - I wanted to mount a rod going from left to right to attach my video screen, and other components. I might have to get a small riser for that. We'll see how it works out.The quick release camera shoe/plate looks great. I like that I have the choice of 1/4 and 3/8 inch screws to my camera. And there is a 3/8 to 1/4 sleeve screwed in there if I need it. I don't and it'll come out (or stay in as a place to keep one handy).First impressions: There's nothing wobbly, or cheap about this that I can detect. I like it. Hope I can make it work out as the heart of my rig.More to come.

I originally purchased this baseplate because of the convenience of the built-in Manfrotto QR plate. I was using the QR plate supplied with a Ronin-S and it fits very well into this baseplate. The baseplate also provides several customization options on whether it sits on the front, back, middle of the lower plate. For a lighter camera set up, this is a great baseplate. However, I also wanted this baseplate for the 15mm rod mount to help support an adapted 70-200 on my GH5s. I found that the baseplate flexed just a little bit where it would cause my 70-200 to bounce up/down off the mounted 15mm lens support. Honestly, I think my setup was inappropriate for the 70-200, but it did reveal that under enough front end weight camera weight, the base plate will flex relative to the rest for the base plate.

This is the smartest piece of gear I have purchased for my two little camera rigs. This mounts to the tripod shoe and the cameras (in cages) mount to the shoe in the top plate. I can switch the cameras back and forth between tripods and leave the rest of the rig (rods with various adapters) mounted to the tripod shoe. Good for switching between a handheld setup and a tripod only rig. This kind of rig lends itself to quick setups and tear downs too.

2 issues. The large screw on the quick release plate bottoms out on the hole in the rig so it doesn't "grab" like the 1/4 20 does. Also, the knob to lock the quick release plate hits the bottom of the cage unless you position it so it can swing through the cutout on the cage. To fit better it would need a riser plate between the camera and the quick release plate, but then you'd really be going high with the configuration. Otherwise sturdy build. Looks great.