I am wanting to use the smaller Manfrotto 323 adapter with the 200Pl plates for my spotting scope on a 500 fluid head using the 500pl long plate. My reasoning for this is 1 the 200 pl plate is much shorter and i can use more easily on my camera and 2, i have a scope stand that clamps to a bench for my bench rest rifle shooting, and again is the 323 system is more compact.
The 323 simply will not fit directly on a 500 plate, as the safety lock prohibits it from fitting flat. I saw a you tube video of an adapter, that used a piece of 1/2x1 1/2 aluminum to make an adapter . with some careful measuring i determined that a 1/2 inch rise is totally unnecessary and decided on 3/16 " although i think 1/8 would work fine. That said I picked up a piece of 3/16x2" as 2" will fit the width of the 323 adapter and look neater. I will cut to match the other dimension on the 323 bottom, drill a hole larger enough for a 1/4x20 captive screw to freely pass through, then another hole tapped for 1/4x20 to use existing screw in the 500 plate to secure the adapter plate from twisting. I found some 1/4x20 - 3/4" socket head captive screws at McMaster-Carr, a US supplier. I had actually order some 1" and they are simply too long. The socket head is a little tall under the 500 plate so may have to file a little off so it passes over the 500 fluid head freely, but it will not be much. It sounds a little involved, but really a hacksaw, drill with a couple of the right size bits, a tap if you desire the anti twist screw, and a file are all that are needed, just a little measuring, drilling and cutting.
This way with a little work I shall have a neat looking set ups where i can use the same QD plates across all my systems.
The 323 simply will not fit directly on a 500 plate, as the safety lock prohibits it from fitting flat. I saw a you tube video of an adapter, that used a piece of 1/2x1 1/2 aluminum to make an adapter . with some careful measuring i determined that a 1/2 inch rise is totally unnecessary and decided on 3/16 " although i think 1/8 would work fine. That said I picked up a piece of 3/16x2" as 2" will fit the width of the 323 adapter and look neater. I will cut to match the other dimension on the 323 bottom, drill a hole larger enough for a 1/4x20 captive screw to freely pass through, then another hole tapped for 1/4x20 to use existing screw in the 500 plate to secure the adapter plate from twisting. I found some 1/4x20 - 3/4" socket head captive screws at McMaster-Carr, a US supplier. I had actually order some 1" and they are simply too long. The socket head is a little tall under the 500 plate so may have to file a little off so it passes over the 500 fluid head freely, but it will not be much. It sounds a little involved, but really a hacksaw, drill with a couple of the right size bits, a tap if you desire the anti twist screw, and a file are all that are needed, just a little measuring, drilling and cutting.
This way with a little work I shall have a neat looking set ups where i can use the same QD plates across all my systems.