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Context

I'm debating on getting a tripod plate for a Nikon 400mm f3.5.

Question

For a teleprime such as mine, is there such as a thing as a right "length?" Kirk lists one that looks shorter than Wimberley, see P-30. There are other "universal" ones which seem to be shorter and there are also ones that are longer.

For the longer ones with two screws, I can see that being useful if the lens itself has two screws like the Nikon 400mm f2.8. However, in general is there an optimal length of the tripod plate? I was thinking of getting a P-40 or something longer since the balance of the lens is towards the front element but if it's too long, can the plate warp or screw be damaged if I'm too far out?

I can see the problems of the longer plate if it impedes some basic functionality like holding the lens or focusing. Shorter ones might not allow for the lens to balance correctly on the tripod.

I'm aware of Nodal tripod plates and their usage but since I'm not doing panos I don't need to look into those?

unsignedzero
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Trust the designers of the lens and get a plate that matches the foot they chose to include with the lens' tripod collar. A plate should ideally be just long enough that the entire foot can rest upon the plate without any more additional overhang than is necessary. You always want to center the weight of the lens on the tripod at a point underneath the foot, not in front of or behind it.

The purpose of a longer plate is not to allow mounting the lens further forward or back than the limits of the foot on the lens' tripod collar. The purpose of a longer plate is to match up with a lens that has a longer foot and make it easier to mount/dismount the lens from the tripod or other support. Most heavy lenses have feet that are longer than the receivers on most QD tripod heads. There is room for adjustment for extenders, varying camera body weights, etc. within the range of the length of the lens' tripod collar foot. If you can't balance the camera and lens over the limits of the length of the tripod collar foot you may have too much weight hanging on the lens.

If the plate is longer than the tripod collar foot it doesn't matter on which end (or both) it sticks out. Put it where it won't get in the way of operating the lens. But any part of the plate that extends beyond the end of the tripod collar foot should not be centered over the load bearing part of the tripod head to which the plate is attached. The purpose of a plate is to make attaching/detaching quick and painless, not allow mounting too far forward or back.

The advantage of two screws is primarily with regard to preventing rotation of the lens foot on the plate. If a foot or plate only has a single screw, then an anti-rotation feature is also needed.

Here's the current version of the Nikon 400mm f/2.8 mounted on a gimbal head. The lens' tripod collar foot is place in the correct spot to balance the lens and a camera body somewhere between the front and back of the foot as seen here. Notice that the end of the foot towards the camera is lined up with the back edge of the gimbal mount, even though the QR plate extends a tad past both the front and rear of the lens' foot. If the combination is still front-heavy, you can adjust the QR plate rearward in the receiver on the head until the end of the lens' foot towards the front of the lens is above the front edge of the gimbal head's receiver.

Nikon 400mm f/2.8 VR II mounted on gimbal head

If your 400mm f/3.5 won't balance properly with the foot over the head, then your best option something like this. Note that the tripod foot is still over the gimbal head's receiver as designed. Also notice that the bracket connecting the foot and the additional support on the front of the lens is made of "u-shaped" stock which makes it considerably stiffer than the QR Plate, which is still beneath the tripod foot and above the gimbal head's receiver. None of the part of the QR plate that extends behind the back of the lens' foot is load bearing.

Nikon 400mm f/3.5

Michael C
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    You may want a little more length if you are going to use different extentions, teleconverters, flashes, etc. Adding more stuff may change the center of balance and the longer plate will make it easier to balance your lens. – Matthew Whited May 11 '16 at 20:21
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    You still need to support the lens directly beneath the lens' foot. You should not place the foot on one end of a long plate and then center the other end of the plate that is not in contact with the tripod collar foot over the tripod. – Michael C May 11 '16 at 21:18
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    Most heavy lenses have feet that are longer than the receivers on most QD tripods. There is room for adjustment for extenders, vary camera body weights, etc. within the range of the length of the lens' tripod collar foot. – Michael C May 11 '16 at 21:20
  • Optimally I want the plate itself to rest right underneath the foot where is begins and let the rest of the plate run parallel with the foot? – unsignedzero May 11 '16 at 22:28
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    You want the entire bottom of the tripod collar foot to be in contact with the plate. The plate, like the foot, should run parallel to the optical axis of the lens. If the plate is longer than the tripod collar foot it doesn't matter which end (or both equally) it sticks out on. Put it where it won't get in the way of operating the lens. But any part of the plate that extends beyond the end of the tripod collar foot should not be load bearing. This is not that difficult. The purpose of a plate is to make attaching/detaching quick and painless, not allow mounting too far forward or back. – Michael C May 11 '16 at 22:37
  • As long as the plate is secured well to the foot it won't be an issue going past the edge of the foot to get balance. Balance on the tripod (and a secure connection to the foot) is more important than make sure all of the connection is under the foot. While most plates are very strong you may want to consider an extra thick plate if you need to go much past the end of the foot. – Matthew Whited May 12 '16 at 13:56
  • If the center of gravity is outside the limits of the foot then you are likely exceeding the design specs of the lens. Do so at your own peril. If your opinion is in strong disagreement with what I've expressed please create an answer stating such so that the community can vote up or down rather than continually trying to create a different answer in the comments to this one. – Michael C May 12 '16 at 23:23
  • Thanks for the reply. Just to clarity your point "But any part of the plate that extends beyond the end of the tripod collar foot should not be load bearing", you mean to say the part that's beyond the foot should not solely support said lens for any reason? I've found out that the shorter foot does work but if I use it on the gimbal, the center of gravity is not underneath the foot (hence why they made a longer one). It is beyond the foot, due to the design of the lens being front heavy. Is this case even with the recommend foot, it is ill advised to force that area to support the lens? – unsignedzero May 13 '16 at 07:10
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    The foot should have come attached to the lens. If you don't have the correct foot, there's your problem. The part you buy to attach the lens' foot to your tripod/monopod head is called a quick release plate. – Michael C May 13 '16 at 11:33
  • From the shot pictured, it looks exactly like my lens, in that it has no "foot" but just a bare screw. It looks like it's 2 plate on top the gimbal, the second plate being long enough to reach front and the "back" connecting up to the normal foot and the first plate to connect correctly to the gimbal. I see your point and I may go that route. Last question do you know the name of the second plate or what something like that is called? – unsignedzero May 13 '16 at 17:29
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    If you examine the second "plate" it isn't a QD plate at all. It is a bracket that was fabricated by the lens' owner. It is made from stock that has strength due to the the way the edges are rolled at 90° angles. – Michael C May 13 '16 at 17:35
  • Got it. I thought something like that might be available at a store but guess I have to make it if I want to use it. Thanks – unsignedzero May 14 '16 at 03:19