The Gitzo G-1387 quick release adapter is designed for use upon any ballhead or pan/tilt head which has no built-in quick release provision. The G-1387 opens particularly wide, making it capable of accepting Gitzo's older quick release plates(including the G-1173-14B, G-1173-38B, G-1174-14B, G-1174-38B, G-1373-14B, G-1373-38B, G-1374-14B & G-1374-38B plates) as well as the familiar Arca-style quick release plates, which have become somewhat of an industry standard.
The G-1387 includes a universal quick release plate-but there are many companies such as Acratech, Arca-Swiss, FLM, Foba, Novoflex, NPC, Studioball and Wimberley manufacturing custom plates for individual camera and tripod collar applications. Custom plates have metal lips exactly where they should be to logically trace the edges of a camera or lens collar, making unwanted movement between the camera/tripod collar and quick release plate an obsolete concept.
