Manfrotto 577 Quick Release Adapter with Sliding Plate, with Quick Safety Lock, Compatible with Most Professional Cameras, Black

Really useful and handy.A little pricey for what it is, but well engineered and feels solid enough. As a working videographer I've a few of these in my kit and they do get used. Great for quick changes between my monopod, tripod, Glidecam and jib arm, meaning that they all can have Manfrotto plates that are comparable with other brands as well, so that makes this a versatile little adapter.

Originally, I tried to save a few quid' and go for the Giottos system which is very very similar to this one. Upon inspecting the item, I found it was pretty much a copy of the design and layout of the 577QR, only the Giottos has a slightly wider plate system, making you unable to use both systems together unless willing to switch out QR plates. (Which defeats the point of having a quick release system).Luckily, I was able to send the Giottos back, and bite the bullet and go for the 577QR, and I'm so glad I did! I will be buying more of them for sure.The build is great, feels much more solid than the Giottos. Has a much MUCH nicer texture to it. The Giottos feels like sandpaper, not an exaggeration*!Fit's Manfrotto 701 Head QR plate perfectly. The tension knob is adjustable by a simple pull and rotation action. This is to accommodate for camera's that have an overhang such as DSLR's. And still allows you to be able to fasten the plate down snugly.Save yourself the hassle, and buy the 577QR. Go on, you know you want to! Otherwise you wouldn't be reading this.Take care, and happy shooting!Charlie

It seemed a good bit of kit from the brief look I had of it, but it wasn't what I wanted and I had to send it back. Manfrotto make two sliding plate adapters. This one is the 577 and the other is the 357. They look similar from the photos and it's not clear from the descriptions that they aren't compatible. If you try to put the 577 sliding plate into the 357 cradle, it will fall out. This is a bit of a drawback in something that's supposed to clamp you camera securely to your tripod. If you try to put the 357 sliding plate into the 577 cradle, it won't fit. This is scarcely better from a holding-things-together point of view. I had to scour the Internet before I found a discussion forum that contained misleading information, but which had a comment with a link that was dead but redirected to a page that actually told me which one I needed.

Bought it for my glidecam to sit on top of their so called QR plate. This definitely makes things a lot easier. It balance perfectly on the glidecam.Unfortunately I recently came across another that does not require a penny, or a screw driver to unscrew the bottom and from that point onwards I wish EVERY QR plates are like that.Nevertheless this plate is still amazing and does a fantastic job

Having Gitzo and MeFoto tripods and accessories I found the adapter agricultural and rough. What I regard as really poor is the centreline of the base is different from the centreline of the plate. Therefore if you are using it on a DSLR rig for example your lens will not be on the centreline of other equipment, e.g. matte box. I had to re-machine it to fit my rig.

Well built, attaches to my Glidecam cheese plate with ease, one gripe, only came with a 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch f/male flathead screw, allowing only one screw to attach to cheese plate, not totally secure and prone to move off centre. Not sure if I lossed a screw in the rush to attach it, but I think not. But all in all, great, makes attaching camera to Glidecam very quick.

Typical high quality product from Manfrotto, and an extremely useful accessory (mounted on an Autocue for quick camera attachment).

Bit expensive but you do pay for the quality. Very solid and easy to use. No fear of the camera sliding off.