Is it Chinese porcelain? A crystal bowl? No, it's an adapter plate!

A TYPICAL CASE OF 'OVER-BOXING'

I have received packages in all sizes and shapes but I have never seen a package that was so utterly over-packed as this sliding adapter plate that was delivered to me this morning! A cardboard box nearly 30 cm wide, 24 cm high en 22 cm deep (yes, I measured it, for good measure...) to deliver an adapter plate?! Aside from the fact that you could have easily fitted 100 adapter plates in this box, it was wrapped like antique glass... I'm all for good packaging but this is way beyond any reasoning and a waste at that... (interesting sidenote: this Manfrotto-compatibel adapter plate (Calumet's own brand, half the price of the official Manfrotto version) is shipped in a Manfrotto box...)

SVAROFFSKI EGG PROTECTION... FOR A STEEL PLATE?!

Improving the budget fluidhead

WEIFENG/FANCIER HEAD WITH MANFROTTO 577 ADAPTER PLATE

I have been using the cheap Weifeng aka Fancier 717 fluid tripod head and I really appreciate the relatively small form factor and its fluid qualities but... there's one big drawback with this head and that's the quick-release plate. It is really fiddly to slide your camera with plate onto the tripod head: my Manfrotto head, for instance, has wedged edges that make sliding your camera onto the head a breeze. With the Weifeng/Fancier, this is bad design and a big drawback; particularly noticeable and aggrevating when you're working with a heavier setup like a DSLR rig or bigger/heavier camera than a DSLR. I simply could not mount my 15 pound DSLR rig with that quick-release plate...

But you can give your budget fluid head the same ease and convenience of a more expensive system. I mounted my Manfrotto 577 adapter plate on my Fancier quick-release plate and you will never have to deal with the Weifeng/Fancier quickrelase plate again! Another benefit is that -if you already use Manfrotto- you only have to use one type of quick-release plate. Calumet sells their own brand which is compatible with Manfrotto but much cheaper. (they have European stores as well: free delivery action running now!))

IMPOSSIBLE WEIFENG/FANCIER SLIDER PLATE

WEIFENG QUICK-RELEASE PLATE WITH SHARP EDGES

SMOOTH SLIDING MANFROTTO 577 PLATE

WEDGED EDGES MAKE FOR EASY ENTRY INTO ADAPTER PLATE