Manfrotto Snelwisselplaat 394

I started with a cheap carbon fiber tripod and head. OK but not as stable as I had hoped and the locking mechanism didn't fill me with confidence. I then went for a Manfrotto tripod; geared head and subsequently an additional adapter so I could quickly attach my macro rail. The legs, though heavy to carry about the countryside are very solid. The geared head is just the job for framing macro pictures and can be quickly adjusted for landscape photography. The locking mechanism is a gem; clearly obvious when locked in place and gives full confidence that the camera will not move unless I require it to. Only downside is the weight - but if you want stability and the features (short of buying the carbon fiber Manfrotto) it's an excellent and quality purchase.

I bought some of these to sit on top of existing (tri/mono pod) heads so that I could just swap over without removing the plate. Used with a 701HDV and a 460 and it helps me to keep things simple when changing heads or tripods etc. A plus for them is they give a wider area for a EOS 5D3 than say the regular plate on the 701. May well get some more for the other 'pods.

If the RC2 series isn't sufficient this will do the job. Unless you're using very heavy kit it's really about the head (3-way, ball etc) because the RC2 is pretty good in it's own right. I leave the plate permanently attached to my various Canon bodies, and I find the front left corner a little uncomfortable unless you gently round it off with some emery paper. You can't beat using a file on photographic kit...

Used this on the Manfrotto tilting monopod head so I had matching mounts on bouth tripod and monopod. Easy to attach using 1screw and does it's job perfectly.