Vinten Vision Blue - compatible quick release plate

F

flashbeast

Member
Hello everyone,

i recently purchased an used Vision Blue system, sadly without the mounting plate.
Since the original plates from Vinten are ridiculous expensive i came to the question if there are any plates which are compatible, may them be knock-offs or simply used ones. Contrary to the Blue series there seem to be a bunch out there, but i'm clueless which one coul possiby fit or if there's a catch (e.g. too long, won't quite fit...)

Hope you can help me
 
I have a Vision Blue head as well and I seem to remember that some people had modified the wider Manfrotto plates (i.e. not the 501PLs) to work with the Vinten heads. I think I remember that it involved a hacksaw and/or metal file, so I just bit the bullet and bought the overpriced Vinten plate. Then I put a 501PL Rapid Connect Adapter on it so that I can use all of my existing Manfrotto plates.
 
The frustrating thing is that the mechanical design of the Vinten plate is virtually identical to some of the Manfrottos (the Vision Blue is very, very close to the 357 series), but the dimensions are just slightly different. The Vinten slot is just enough wider that you can't get the Manfrotto plate to lock in securely. Ever since Vitec bought up almost the entire European tripod industry (Manfrotto, Vinten and Sachtler, at least), I've been waiting for them to announce one corporate-wide standard for these things, but I guess they think it's more profitable for each brand to sell its own overpriced metal bits. Grrr ...

- Greg
 
Thanks so far!

On *bay i've found some suppliers with knock-off plates for e.g. Vision 5/5LF/20 with no clue if they'll fit, according to the seller. On the other hand there's an offer for a knock-off plate for Vision 3/6/8/10/11/12/20/22/100/200/250, with the claim it also fits pro6/pro6HD/pro5HD/Vision Blue (but are longer than the original at the latter ones). Since the Vision 20 overlaps my guess is that they're all somewhat compatible? The only difference i could see is that the "common" Vinten plate from the bottom side
a) misses the middle bridge and
b) is asymmetrical (blocking edge on one side)

Which would mean a) is irrelevant since the taking side at the head is flat anyway, and b) the plate is only mountable [to the camera] in one direction, but no other restrictions? But that's only a wild guess :(

Another issue would be length; i'm mainly using a Blackmagic Pocket, so a too-long plate could interfer with accessoires...
 
I used to own a Vision 10 that I bough off eBay w/o a plate & got a replacement for $50-60 on eBay. OEM was slightly different in the rubber & the screw holes vs. the original Vinten Blue plate, but worked perfectly with my old 3AS & now the Vision Blue that I own.

Vinten Vision 5 is a smaller plate (I assume 5LF is the same), I think might match up with some Manfrotto plate, but will NOT work with a Vision Blue.

99.9% sure that Vinten Vision 10, 11, 8, 6, Blue, Blue 3, Blue 5, 3AS, 5AS... etc. all use the same plate, so if I needed an extra plate, I'd buy one of these (or similar):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CAMERA-...-20-100-250-/301738874277?hash=item464109d5a5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTEN-CAME...AMERA-SCREW-/371177213578?hash=item566be2ce8a

Though, since there is less "rubber," depending on how it fits on your camera I might get some quark or gasket, or plasti dip or something to put in between the plate & the camera. But that might be overkill & really not needed.
 
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