ET 1030 dovetail 12" question

[Mark Phelan]

Does anyone have the ET 12" dovetail for their Oconnor 1030 yet? If so, can it be easily removed from the head for placing into the case? I'd like to get the 12" rather than the 9" but wonder if it will cause a problem storing it attached to the head inside the tufcase.

[Finner]

I am pretty sure this is the set up that both ninja's Evin Grant and Blair have, Brook willard and Tonanci can also probably answer this. You may want to PM them this question for a quicker answer.

[david farland]

I've got the 1030HDS with 12" ET dovetail and you can't store the tripod/head with the dovetail plate loaded on the head, which means you need to take it off each time you want to put in back in it's case (Tuffpak). Now having to remove/install that locking pin/screw thru one of the threaded mounting holes and into one of two screw holes in the o'connor head, probably with a light because everything is black, will not be fun and just a pain in the butt, which got us off sitting on rocks in a cave I guess.

I made this suggestion to ET. On the bottom of the dovetail you have an enclosed gutter where the o'connor locking screw in recessed into and which allows the dovetail to slide back and forth but prevents the dovetail from sliding off the oconnor head cos the gutter is blocked at both ends.
On the end with the spring loaded lever I suggest extending the gutter (down the middle of the dovetail) right to the end so it is open at the end where the spring loaded lever is.. Next, at present the spring loaded lever extends out the top side of the dovetail only....my suggestion is to extend it out the bottom side of the dovetail so it can block the open ended gutter you'll just created.
Other wise you have the option of not putting in the locking pin/screw and for hire THAT's gonna be the case and the dovetail with camera if not locked down, can slide off the tripod. I wonder if some of the velcoed sdi cables will stop them meeting mother earth...ummm, not my first safety option, but you never know. The more I think about this the more I'm sure it's an accident waiting to happen. Other that this little point that I'm making such a deal out of, Element's gear IS beautiful. Love staring at it...made SOOO well...well, except for that little thing.....I can totally understand why budgie boy is such a fan....

Dave,

[Mark Phelan]

Finner, thanks I'll contact them.

David,

Thanks, that was EXACTLY what I was wondering. You answered just what I was thinking, how can I keep the dovetail from sliding off if that screw isn't in there and then how can I take the plate off if I want to store it in the tuffpak? I wonder too if that screw it tough enough to keep the entire plate/camera combination from sliding off. Is it strong enough? Since Oconnor made it, I presume it is, but it sure is small. ET, phone home!

Thanks,
Mark

[Brook Willard]

You might consider getting the 9" dovetail instead. Evin has one [screwed into his 1030S] and it fits in his case without difficulty. He still has roughly 12" of travel for the camera's CG.