If you’re an L-bracket user looking to use a holster as well, you know this isn’t an easy problem to solve. If you put the holster pin or plate or button onto your L-bracket it takes valuable space from your clamp. It also makes the camera unbalanced when you set it down on a flat surface. Cotton Carrier actually sell the kirk clamp linked below for their application (but charge $59 for it -vs- $40 from B&H). I’ve solved the problem by using the smallest kirk screw clamp they sell at 1″ wide. I then replaced the thumb screw with a hex head screw for a lower profile and drilled and tapped a 1/4-20 hole on the other side. You’ll only need to do the second part if you want to use a spider pin. For the cotton carrier you thread their “button” into the bottom threaded hole on the clamp. Here are the parts for this:
- one kirk QRC-1 QR clamp
- one 1/2″ 1/4-20 hex head screw (available at McMaster if you like)
- an arca compatible L-bracket for your camera
- the holster system of your choice (spider, cotton carrier, capture)
Nice solution. I’m leaning toward the Capture system for its strap clamp flexibility.
Capture is great when you’re really active and want the camera to behave. Spider is better any other time. The cotton carrier is my least favorite unless I need access to the camera on my chest (which does happen). Each have their place but it’s a pita dealing with three systems.
The Capture plate is better mounted directly to the L-bracket than with the QRC-1 in the middle. It’s cleaner, quicker, easier, and since it’s an Arca-type dovetail it can stay in place for tripod use. This may be all I need for my type of shooting. The EM-5 hangs nicely from a shoulder strap too.
I’m late to the party. But wouldn’t it work with one of those clamps and a cheese plate that is about 5cm 2in wide so the camera would hang in the position the spider is designed to carry it?
I think it would work fine for those that aren’t handy with the tools and the cheese plate can find other uses when shooting.
Nevertheless your solution is a great one and way better for the pocket than the really expensive Arca clamp from spider.
The only thing at the moment is trying to figure what length cheese plate would be the best not to get in the way for focusing and zooming. I think about 9-10cm (3 and a bit to 4in)