Rob Davis

Thanks! I think this is perfect. I actually just stumbled on a great product from Sachtler for $288. It would work on a variety of matte boxes because it's height adjustable: http://www.adorama.com/SCABPL.html?gclid=COOC47Loqc8CFdgBgQodLWAMeQ However, I find smallrig to be pretty decent quality for the cost and like the small footprint of that QR. I think I'll give it a shot.

The other thing about going arca swiss is, since my Sachtler is already 502 manfrotto dovetail, I'd end up using too many plates on top of one another. I use a VCT-style plate on my large shoulder rig so it is balanced both on the shoulder and on the tripod without making adjustments each time and adding an additional arca QR would cause the camera to sit too high on the rig. The idea is I'd like to quickly go camera>tripod, camera>shoulder rig>tripod, camera>slider>tripod, camera>glidecam, etc. Only the QR plate that mounts the camera to the shoulder rig needs to be top-load (so I wont have to remove the mattebox or battery plate to mount the camera) so I just need one top-load plate and then can use cheap 502 slide-in QR plates for everything else. If I have to spead $200-$300 on a modified Sachtler, I'm willing to do that. Just don't want to drop $900 on the O'Connor.

Still looking for an affordable solution here. Not ready to jump to Arca Swiss bc the hardware just seems too small for non-dslr camera systems. One thought: anyone ever hear of someone ordering a replacement quick release for a Sachtler FSB-6 and modifying it to work as a stand-alone quick release (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/538602-REG)? I see the plates sans hardware are available here: http://www.fullcompass.com/prod/518872-Sachtler-S2010-2002 I may resort to having something fabricated but I'd love to at least start with off the shelf parts. Only other option would be to give up on dovetail and use Satchler's touch and go system but the QR plates are about 7 times as much as the basic manfrotto:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/78907-REG

Thanks for the replies--wasn't getting notifications and just seeing them now. I have searched Manfrotto's offerings but can't find one like this. If someone could give me a product number, I'd be very grateful. I know many tripods with 501-style dovetail plates do load from the top such as the one on my Sachtler FSB-series tripod (the reason I want Manfrotto in the first place). I just can't find a QR option. Actually, I did recently find one. O'connor makes a beautiful solution but at $900, it's out of my price range. I need three or four of them! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/925345-REG/oconnor_c1248_1001_sideload_quick_release_top.htm.

Can anyone recommend a Manfrotto/501 compatible quick release plate that allows the camera to be removed from the top, instead of having to slide it out from the front or back? I want to be able to remove the camera body from by rig without first having to remove the battery plate or mattebox.