Ever had that moment when you try to pan left and look down only to realize you've just panned your DSLR independent of the tripod base plate? Hey, this shouldn't be happening, your tripod's a Manfrotto, after all, and you basically stripped the darn thing getting the screw in that tight. This vexing shortcoming of a DSLR's small size can now be remedied with a quick solution - a small plate with a lip from Photography & Cinema that stops your camera from twisting about.
If you're in a run-and-gun setting, or if you have other stuff like a slider or audio also set up on the tripod, having your camera swivel off the plate can obviously mess with your mood. The Anti-Twist Plate for Manfrotto Quick Release puts short work of the problem with a pretty simple concept: a small piece of molded plastic that fits in between your camera and the tripod plate with a lock for the alignment pin and a lip. Check out the ATP in this Cheesycam demonstration video:
The Anti-twist plate is made to function with the video fluid head line of Manfrotto tripods that use a 501pl quick release plate for all-sized DSLRs as well as for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras. While it may work with other models of tripod base plates, it seems like you won't be getting the full functionality unless your plate has an alignment pin in the same place as the Manfrotto 501pl.
From the makers of the ATP kit, which includes two plates and some extra screws:
The Manfrotto 501PL Quick Release plate is compatible across several of Manfrotto's Video Fluid Heads making it highly popular among DSLR Video Shooters. The 501PL (or compatible) quick release plate offers an anti-twist register pin, but the design of DSLR camera bodies are unable to take advantage of this. For this widely common problem, PhotographyandCinema.com has exclusively designed this special ATP adapter kit that will transform ordinary 501PL plates into an anti-twist plate specifically for popular DSLR cameras or smaller Interchangeable Lens (ILC) Camera bodies. The ATP is designed to 'LOCK' in place above the 501PL plate and adds an anti-twist lip across the camera body.
Sure, you could probably fashion something like this yourself, and some of you doubtless already have, but at $25 (or less if you can get the 20% off coupon here), I might just save myself the contact cement and give it a try.
If you have already found a DIY solution to this problem, do share!
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