I'm getting ready to order a Bogen Proball head (the 3413QR) and am wondering which is the correct quick release mounting plate for the Leica M6? The two options are 3/8" and I think 1/4"-20 according to B&H'w website. Thanks in advance for any assistance!

-- tristan tom (tristan@tristantom.com), June 18, 2001

Answers

Tristan:

The Leica M base plates have a 1/4 x 20 tripod mounting thread hole. You ususally only find 3/8 tripod mounting threads on medium and large format cameras.

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 18, 2001.

The M6 camera has the 1/4" tripod socket but some of the earlier cameras could also come with the 3/8" tripod socket. Another issue is how well the M camera will fit the QR plate as the tripod socket is offset so much. You may want to use it with the handgrip which centes the tripod socket under the lens. I believe other companies offer centring plates for the M cameras (Kirk) but I do not know how well they will work with the Bogen heads.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 18, 2001.

Arca swiss B1 is a great head which may slso be used for your heavier cameras. RRS (Really Right Stuff) makes a wonderful off-set plate for the M6 which places M6 camera balance over the center of the head. Expensive sure but if I had bought this setup years ago, I would not have a closet full of the "others".

-- Don M (maldos@home.com), June 18, 2001.