After the very successful Manfrotto 405/410 Geared Head Arca conversion set, Hejnar PHOTO has recently released a conversion adapter with Arca compatible clamp for the all mighty (in volume and weight) Manfrotto 400 Precision Geared Head.
This is the seventh adapter in the Hejnar PHOTO line of Manfrotto converters.
A few words about Manfrotto 400
Manfrotto 400 Precision Geared head was the first head with a 3-way geared mechanism introduced. The heaviest-duty and most expensive in the Manfrotto line of geared heads. It is designed primarily to mount on studio column stands or on the large Manfrotto studio geared tripods as the 161Mk2B, 058B and 475B. With a self weight of 2,6kg (5.72 lb) and bearing weight of 10kg (22 lb) is intended to hold medium to large format studio cameras. It offers ultimate stability and precision framing with its 3-way geared adjustment and control.
Two self-locking foldaway handles allow 360° panning and +30° and -90° tilt, while a separate handle allows +/- 7.5° side to side leveling aided by a bubble level.
The Manfrotto 400 original quick release system includes three sizes (low-mid-high) round quick release plates with a 3/8"-16 mounting stud.
The Conversion Set
The new Hejnar PHOTO conversion set is comprised by an adapter plate that lets you mount securely an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp on top of the head and by a 3.25" (82.5mm) Quick Release Clamp.
The Conversion Plate
Manufacturer Specification
Thickness 5/8 inch.
One hole taped 1/4-20
Eight holes taped 10-32 and placed aroud 1/4-20 hole in 90 degree increament.
Hole to hole distance between 10-32 holes is 30mm or 45mm
Precision C.N.C. machined from 6061-T6 Aluminium
Black hard coat anodized surface
Made in USA
The F63b Quick Release Clamp
Manufacturer Specification
Length : 3.25 inch (82,5 mm)
Weight : 4.7oz (135g)
Center hole is countersunk on top for 1/4-20 or M6 screw, but also threaded 3⁄8”-16.
Two outside holes are taped 1/4-20 and 45 mm apart from each other.
2.6 mm deep relief grooves guarantee compatibility with most plates/rails.
Relief groove prevents free fall when the clamp is not fully closed and your plate has safety stops
Clamp knob is captive. Knob stops at maximum opening - cannot be lost in the field. Clamp knob is made from one piece. No spacers or bushing between knob and clamp itself. No room for dust, sand etc to enter inside.
Clamps have a tongue-in-pocket design that protects internal parts from dust and grit. It does prevent the tendency of the moving jaw to hinge backward during clamping, It keeps the jaws aligned with the geometry of the plate and eliminate unwanted bending forces on the threaded stud.
Precision C.N.C. machined from 6061-T6 Aluminium
Compatible with Kirk, R.R.S., Arca-Swiss, and many other Arca-Swiss style Quick release plates.
Black hard coat anodized surface.
Made in USA
The Conversion
Mounting the conversion plate on top of the M400 geared head is easy. The procedure is fully reversible at any time and can be done in a few simple steps.
- Remove the two bridges on each side of the original mounting platform by loosening two hex socket screws holding each bridge, with the provided Allen hex wrench.
- Remove the original QR plate mounting platform from the head.
- Remove the original QR plate lock-down mechanism which exists on the platform back (opposite side of the bubble level ) This small section can be removed by unscrewing two flat head screws held by two nuts at the bottom. None of these parts are required for mounting the conversion plate, but should be saved in case the user would ever decide to bring back the head to its original state.
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| Insert M400 adapter plate in the opening. The Round section should slide under the front V grove the same way the original Manfrotto plate did. |
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| While holding and pressing against the front V groove, secure the M400 adapter plate onto the mounting platform with two provided hex socket screws from underneath. Insert the screws in the sockets where were located the two nuts holding the lock-down plate. |
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| Adapter plate fixed. |
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| Reattach the platform onto the gear head by mounting back the two side bridges removed in step one. |
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| Tighten the hex socket screws well with the provided Allen hex wrench. |
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| The M400 adapter plate is designed to accept QR clamps at any orientation either parallel or perpendicular to the tilting axis. Further the user may choose the mounting position according to the desired direction of the clamp screw-knob. |
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| The F63b clamp included in the set attaches with one 1/4"-20 flat head screw in the center hole and two 10-32 flat head screws on the outer side holes. Tighten well the flat head screws with the provided Allen hex wrenches. |
I hope you found the article useful, thank you for viewing.
All Photos used by permission: © 2012 Chris Hejnar / Hejnar PHOTO
Price and Availability:
Current price for the M400 - Manfrotto 400 plate is US$ 65.00 and another US$ 65.00 for the F63B QR Clamp (+Shipping where applicable) and is available from Hejnar Photo online store.
If you are interested in the product, do check the Recommended Sellers page for the current valid Hejnar Photo discount coupon before placing your order.
Relevant Articles:
New & Unique Hejnar PHOTO Arca Compatible QR Clamp for Manfrotto 496 / 498 and 054 Ball Heads
Updated Hejnar PHOTO Quick Release Clamps Preview
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