Adapter for Manfrotto to Miller Solo?

[Len Rosenberg]

The geared teeth on the Manfrotto MVR901EPLA lanc controllor don't mesh with the teeth on my Miller Solo 10 head. Any way to adapt the MVR to the Solo 10?

Thanks,

Len

[Chris Soucy]

Hi, Len..............

From the looks of it, the rosette on that arm is only compatible with Manfrotto units. I can't make out from any of the photos whether the arm rosette can be removed and perhaps replaced with a Miller rosette (if one is to be had).

The only alternative would seem to be the Manfrotto MRV901APCL adapter which will allow the Lanc arm to be attached to the Miller arm, IF the Miller tube diameter is between 19mm - 25mm.

Not cheap though.

https://www.manfrotto.com/nz-en/clam...anfrotto_nz_en


CS

[Christopher Young]

Originally Posted by Len Rosenberg

The geared teeth on the Manfrotto MVR901EPLA lanc controllor don't mesh with the teeth on my Miller Solo 10 head. Any way to adapt the MVR to the Solo 10?

Thanks,

Len

Yes, I've run into this problem before and had to come up with a quick solution to save the day for one camera. On that occasion an idea popped into my head, having used this material before, and it worked. And worked for ages I heard later.

I purchased some DynaGrip Dynasteel Epoxy Putty from our local DIY store. Sliced off a slab of the epoxy, moulded into a disc of similar size as the spline rosette on the tripod head, punched a hole through it then clamped it in between the tripod head rosette and the tripod handle rosette and screwed up the clamp.

In compressing the epoxy between the head and the pan bar rosettes, the epoxy putty was pressure moulded with the two rosette patterns. I left it for about an hour. Sure enough, the epoxy had set solid. Slackening off the pan bar locking screw and giving the pan bar a jiggle freed up the pan bar assembly for removal. What we now had was a metal like epoxy disc about 7 mm in thickness which had two different rosette patterns moulded into the opposing faces of this epoxy disc. This epoxy ends up hard enough to file, drill, sand and grind.

There are numerous different metal epoxy material around. Some, like the Dynasteel I used, reinforced with steel. Check out your local DIY for something similar.

Chris Young

[Len Rosenberg]

Originally Posted by Chris Soucy

Hi, Len..............

From the looks of it, the rosette on that arm is only compatible with Manfrotto units. I can't make out from any of the photos whether the arm rosette can be removed and perhaps replaced with a Miller rosette (if one is to be had).

The only alternative would seem to be the Manfrotto MRV901APCL adapter which will allow the Lanc arm to be attached to the Miller arm, IF the Miller tube diameter is between 19mm - 25mm.

Not cheap though.

https://www.manfrotto.com/nz-en/clam...anfrotto_nz_en


CS

Thanks. It's odd, because I have an older Manfrotto lanc control arm that fits the Miller perfectly. Not made anymore. I wonder why they changed the rosette.

[Len Rosenberg]

Originally Posted by Christopher Young

Yes, I've run into this problem before and had to come up with a quick solution to save the day for one camera. On that occasion an idea popped into my head, having used this material before, and it worked. And worked for ages I heard later.

I purchased some DynaGrip Dynasteel Epoxy Putty from our local DIY store. Sliced off a slab of the epoxy, moulded into a disc of similar size as the spline rosette on the tripod head, punched a hole through it then clamped it in between the tripod head rosette and the tripod handle rosette and screwed up the clamp.

In compressing the epoxy between the head and the pan bar rosettes, the epoxy putty was pressure moulded with the two rosette patterns. I left it for about an hour. Sure enough, the epoxy had set solid. Slackening off the pan bar locking screw and giving the pan bar a jiggle freed up the pan bar assembly for removal. What we now had was a metal like epoxy disc about 7 mm in thickness which had two different rosette patterns moulded into the opposing faces of this epoxy disc. This epoxy ends up hard enough to file, drill, sand and grind.

There are numerous different metal epoxy material around. Some, like the Dynasteel I used, reinforced with steel. Check out your local DIY for something similar.

Chris Young

Ingenious! Clever! Resourceful! I am going to do that. Thank you!

[Len Rosenberg]

Looks like Dynasteel is not available in the US. I will try JB Weld Steel Stik. One other modification required: the Miller head uses a 1/4-20 threaded attachment screw, which the older Manfrotto had, but the new Manfrotto uses a different thread. Easy enough to make a new one out of a 1/4-20 hex head bolt.
Thanks again!

[Christopher Young]

It's funny, sometimes being pushed into a corner forces you to come up with a solution. I hear what you say about the Dynasteel but as you mentioned there will be a suitable alternative available. Yes, the bolt can be an issue.

In the past for some other equipment, nothing to do with video gear, I replaced the standard bolts with Allan head bolts, into which I glued, using Araldite some short Allen keys. I then used a tight fit Neoprene fuel line hose trimmed to the length of the Allen key shafts pushed onto the Allan keys as a sort of thicker, easier to grip lever. Works fine. I guess you could do something like that with the pan bar bolt?

Chris Young

[Andrew Smith]

Given the innovative use of the epoxy putty / Dynasteel, you could also custom incorporate part of your hand grip into it and call it ...

(drum roll)

Han(d) Solo

(rimshot)

Thank you, thank you. I've been commenting here since 2009. You're welcome! 😋

Andrew

[Christopher Young]

🤣😂🤣😂👍

Chris Young