Manfrotto 577 Rapid Connect Adapter Assembly with Sliding Mounting Plate

There are a number of reviews and Q&A as to whether or not this is compatible with Manfrotto's 504P LONG plate? Good news: IT IS! IT WORKS! I JUST TESTED IT! So; while it does not APPEAR compatible (due to the massive size-difference...), it most definitely is! In fact, not only is this adapter compatible with the 504P LONG PLATE... but the small plate, ON this adapter, is also in fact compatible with the 504P LONG HEAD; which definitely DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE CASE...but "IT WORKS"! No, it's not a "perfect LOOKING fit"...but it definitely works, and it's secure. SMALL NOTE / NO BIGGIE: Depending on the design of your camera, you may have to mount the plate, whereby it slides onto the adapter, in the opposite direction of where the plate arrow say's "lens". And you, therefore, may have to play with the position of the "pin" on the plate. Bottom Line: If you take your time...and you're not the knee-jerk/hot-tempered type...you'll LOVE this thing! Otherwise; you might be one of those, on here, bashing the hell outta this thing, like some of what you may have read. NEWS FLASH: IT'S UNDER 50 BUCKS, PEOPLE! SO; TAKE THE TIME TO 'MAKE IT WORK'...

I purchased this QR plate system to replace the one that came with my shoulder rig and could not be happier. What some people in other reviews seem to fail to realize is that the tightening lever that secures the plate can be pulled outward to free it from the tightening mechanism. This allows you to adjust its angle without tightening or loosening the bolt. If the lever starts to come in contact with your camera body or anything else, simply pull the lever outwards, readjust its angle, allow it to pull itself back into place, and continue tightening. Read your instructions, folks.As always with Manfrotto, it has solid build quality. There are female threaded holes on the bottom of the unit for mounting it as well as two on the sides for keeping spare bolts. The QR plate is identical to the one that came with my Manfrotto 501HDV,546BK Video Kit with 501HDV Head and 546B Tripod (Black), so it's a snap to switch my camera from my tripod to the shoulder rig during production (which is why I purchased this item in the first place). My Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens feels very secure in the adapter and has certainly improved my handheld DSLR video setup.

This thing.....I am giving Manfrotto's quick release adapter 4 out of 5 stars, but I'm not very proud of it.This thing is basically solid metal. No reason it should ever break. Ever. It serves a VERY important function, being able to mount onto tripods, steadicams, shoulder rigs, you name it...But I have had some distasteful experiences with these things. First of all, I purchased one of these guys not too long ago only to return it the following day, and it's for a reason most people are giving it negative reviews for.The locking knob on the side (which tightens the quick release plate into the base itself) can pull out, twist without effecting the inner screw, and then lock down again. This is important when certain objects like the bottom of the camera or the cheese plate of a steadicam are getting in the way. But the first time I received this item, I couldn't pull the knob out far enough no matter how hard I tried to pull. The inner screw just kept turning with the knob. The most important element of this device was defective.Since then, I've braved it out and gotten another one, hoping to receive a nicer model. I did... for the most part...The knob works, though still not nearly as nicely as some other ratcheting knobs I've seen on Ikan's products. But this time, one of the 1/4" threads on the bottom of the baseplate has been poorly molded! I can't fit a 1/4" screw in there more than maybe a couple of centimeters! There appears to be damaged threading on the inside. No chance of fixing it myself. Luckily there are 2 more threads (a 3/8" and another 1/4"). However, I am mounting it to an Ikan DSLR baseplate, so the 3/8" thread is out of the question anyway. I'm left to use only one 1/4" thread, and use the other as just enough to make sure it doesn't shift.So ultimately... Yes, the thing works fine. Should stay working fine for a long time, hopefully... But buyer beware the 4 stars! Manfrotto seems to keep dropping the ball with these quick release adapters. If you plan on getting this thing, don't be surprised if you have to send it back for a new one.Robbie Skadal

I have used Manfrotto (Bogan) products to support my camera equipment for almost 40 years. They have never let me down and I even still use a couple tripods/heads from that long ago.I know it is a temptation to fall for the clever hype of cheap no-name brands to save a few dollars in the moment. RESIST!The dependable, smooth, easy operation of this adapter and plate combination has served me well for years and now that I have ventured into video, it is once again great to have totally interchangeable, professional parts that will play their supporting roles perfectly for years to come - in the studio and in the field.Adding this adapter to my camera stabilizer and the plate to the bottom of my video camera means I can combine the two with precision each and every time where millimeters make all the difference in balance. Then I can quickly and effortlessly remove the camera from the stabilizer and put it on the 3046 tripod with 501 head and once again shoot away with no worries.A quality product that supports my gear dependably, securely, and effortlessly so I can remain focused on the creative project at hand.