Locking Lever Clamp

I love that this is offered as an option for both Acratech's stellar GX/GXP heads and for use with third party heads. I don't think that you can find a better-designed, better-built,, more versatile, or more secure arca-type locking clamp anywhere. It's easy to operate by touch and can be adjusted for arca plates that can vary in size from one another.

Acratech uses red loctite on screw that attaches the clamp to the head. The screw cannot be removed unless it's heated to 550 deg which can ruin parts on the head. Acratech doesn't make it clear what's needed to replace the clamp, but they did offer to replace it for me for just the cost of shipping. It would be ideal if Acratech would either just sell this as a factory replaceable part. As sold now, they send it to the end user who is then surprised to discover replacing the clamp is nearly impossible without ruining the head.

Superior design, machining and finish. This lever lock clamp has an additional securing "double-lock", which competing lever lock clamps either completely lack, or which aren't as secure. Priced in between the cheap (get what you pay for), and the over-hyped/over-priced. I have 2 Acratech lever lock clamps & in my future purchase wishlist, another Acratech GP ballhead with lever lock clamp.

I was in need of a gender changer for a specialized tripod head. I already own the Acratech quick release products. This locking lever clamp was a life saver. Perfomed to its specifications and very quickly was permanently and securely attached to the specialized tripod head and as its name implies it fulfilled its purpose. Now, is as if I have another Acratech tripod head in my inventory.

I've now used the locking lever clamp for a couple of weeks now and it works even better than I anticipated. I spend a great deal of time out in the mountains of Colorado and during the short time of sweet light at sunrise or sunset I often have to cover a large area, carrying my camera and tripod from place to place, often climbing rocks, up the side of waterfalls, or across tricky terrain. In the past I would put my gear away each time I moved. Now, I feel comfortable leaving my camera on the tripod as I move from place to place, knowing that it won't fall off. It is totally secure on the ballhead. It has been a great change to my work routine and as always the quality is top notch. Achratech never does anything half way.

I have three of plates and they work very well. Once you adjust the closing and locking lever you should almost never have to mess with again. With just a squeeze of the locking lever your camera is now release or just pull it to the locked position and it will not move. The brass pin is a great safety feature, it keeps you camera from sliding off. It has saved me some very expensive repairs. The price seems a little spendy but what is your camera worth. Everything on it is made to last a life time and works well. I've had one of them for over two years and it has gotten banged a few times.

I had a monopod and tripod I needed to adapt these to. My mono pod required me to counter sink the screw hole to fit screw from the mono pod. That worked very well just like it was designed to do. I actually did not have to do anything to this unite. I made a small shim plate for underneath and then ground a curved slot in my tripod so the tightness adjustment housing fit right into the tripod. Everything works great. I love Acratech products because they are strong, well designed to last forever.