2009Camera Stage/Donkey Box forum
XCS camera plates alignment and design tradeoffs compared to traditional hole-based plates
17 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- XCS plates use slots instead of fixed holes for camera screw mounting, which allows sideways adjustment to center the camera on its center of gravity but makes initial alignment more difficult than traditional plates with recessed holes.
- XCS plates feature an I-beam construction that provides superior rigidity compared to traditional camera plates, particularly when mounting iris rods directly to the plate.
- The design of XCS plates with slots accommodates multiple camera hole patterns on a single plate, reducing the need for many different plate types.
- XCS plates should be used with camera screws that have a recessed neck to provide additional thread engagement depth in camera bodies.
- The flat camera body can serve as a straight edge reference for aligning XCS plates.
- XCS plates include features like multiple iris rod mounting points, top-mounted threaded holes for accessories, and a dovetail slot on the back for transmitter brackets.
- Using a thicker plate with recessed holes while maintaining side-to-side slots could potentially improve alignment without sacrificing adjustment capability.
Depends on
- The discussion focuses primarily on Ultimate sled compatibility, though XCS plates are used with other stabilizer models.
- The suggestion for improved design with thicker plates and recess holes while maintaining slots was proposed but not confirmed as implemented or tested.
- Specific pricing and availability information may be outdated given the 2009 timestamp.
- Comparison is primarily with PRO and DeRose plates; compatibility with other modern plates not extensively discussed.