@LeeP wrote:
I had to Google "Wimberley plate" but unless I'm not seeing the right one, it seems that taking it off and putting it back on is simple and not time consuming.
Lee, I have the Wimberley II gimbal and different sized (length) plates, made by Wimberley, for each of my long lenses. The system is made so it can be balanced by the user by adjusting pivot points and by sliding the base plate, which is an Arca Swiss design. By balancing, you can move even the heaviest rig with a finger and it will stay in the last position you left it or have it return to the level position when you let go. Another advantage to a gimbal, and not just the Wimbeley system, is your rig will stay level, particularly when you are shooting video while using a suspended and hand-held device. I suspect that this is why the OP is hesitant to remove the plate. It can be a PIA to re-balance it, I mean, not awful, but it does take a few minutes of trial and error.
@mergus
Since I don't keep the plates attached to my cameras or lens feet all the time, I use a small piece of white surgical tape (it's waterproof) and mark it so that it's easy to line up the marks for each lens or camera. I can re-balance any of my rigs in a few seconds.
Take a small piece of tape, one for the camera and one for the plate, put some alignment marks on the tape, remove the plate so you can see your s/n, reattach the plate using the alignment marks.
Newton
