I've recently come across the ARCA-stlye QR plates and various brands that manufacture them as well as accessories like ballheads, gimbal heads, l-plates and the like. I always thought the Manfrotto was the brand in terms of 'pods, heads, and the camera mounts. Just sharing these other brands. I'm not sure if any of these are available locally though.

Really Right Stuff (http://reallyrightstuff.com/)
Kirk Enterprises (http://www.kirkphoto.com/)
Jobu Design (http://www.jobu-design.com/index.html)
Novoflex (http://www.novoflex.de/html_d/produkte.htm)
Markins (http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/index.php)
Acratech (http://acratech.net/)

@TJ

I came across these when I was deciding what tripod to get. I dediced to get an Arca-Style head since I like the advantages it had over the Manfrotto. Mainly, with an "L-bracket" the camera can be placed on the tripod vertically without it hanging unto one side so no need to adjust shooting position since height of tripod remains the same whether shooting horizontal or vertical. :)

@Rosalie

That's one of the great things about the L-brackets. I just wonder why all the stuff (heads, brackets, plates) seems so pricey!

Woah! Some of these accessories cost as much as a good tripod itself! :Shock:

@Rosalie

That's one of the great things about the L-brackets. I just wonder why all the stuff (heads, brackets, plates) seems so pricey!

Yup, the RRS ballhead is at least $400!

The one I got is the Kirk BH-3. The price has since gone up since I bought mine. :) The RRS are generally more expensive across the board. :Grin:

The L-brackets aren't cheap either. Usually around $140. It's a conspiracy!