Custom Fancier 717 Fluid Head Quick Release – Teaser

• • 58 Comments

Very small production run of a quick release adapter compatible with the 717 Video Fluid Heads (seen here). We decided to make a few for ourselves, and there will be a few more available for sale at https://PhotographyandCinema.com later tonight. More info will come as soon as I get back from lunch...

717-qr-adapter

[Update] Just a note, that this is 'NOT' an 'Official' Fancier sponsored product. Those guys never provided a QR solution, so it was about time we made a few available. This is a custom QR adapter made from P&C and there's a limited inventory. This 'DOES NOT' include a quick release plate. This is only the adapter base itself. This base adapter will allow you to quickly mount your camera from your WF717 Fluid Head to a DSLR Cage, Crane, Slider, Shoulder Rig, Steadicam, etc.

It has a very flush base that will work perfectly on a Glidecam or Flycam and you can tighten the knob without interference. It also 'mounts' and 'dismounts' from the top instead of sliding into the base. This makes it easier to mount shoulder rigs that have hanging handles, or low mounted counterweights that often make sliding the QR plate difficult.

PhotographyandCinema.com will list this item tonight with Free Shipping for USA buyers. For USA & International, you can purchase through eBay (click here).

quick-release-adapter717-adapter
find-price-button Custom Fancier 717 WF717AH Fluid Head Quick Release Adapter (base only)

If you need a plate for this QR Adapter base, you can find some following the link (click here)
717-plate
find-price-button 717 WF717 WF717AH Base Plate

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58 thoughts on “Custom Fancier 717 Fluid Head Quick Release – Teaser”

  1. Chris Poynton

    Please consider doing another production run of these.

    There is still no other after-market solution after all these years.

  3.

    We use this system for all our cameras, rigs, jibs, hi-hats, etc.

    We started out early in the game with a Facierstudios "heavy duty" (it's not *that* heavy duty) tripod and fluid head WF717 (also called 717AH by other brands). We looked a long time at utilizing Manfrotto 501 compatible plates (that work with their excellent monopod and head, etc.), but this quick release system was just SO MUCH more affordable. The problem was you couldn't get the cradle (the holder for the quick release plate), so when P&C came up with this solution, we purchased 6.

    They are solid metal, so very sturdy, and that mount about as flush to a surface as you could possibly hope for (so they offer maximum clearance once you put the camera in).

    The only thing I don't like about this unit is the lock down mechanism. It's just a knob, and is sometimes hard to lock down satisfactorily. I think a lever (like is on a 15mm shaft holder or most other quick release plates) is a better solution (it's easier to tighten).

    As such, we have been looking for another "cradle" that will work with the 717AH/WF717 plate. There are a few links in this thread to eBay sellers and "replacement parts" for the 717AH/WF717 fluid head. We found this same "replacement part" on Amazon, and we are going to purchase one of those and see if we can drill the cradle piece to use like the product listed here.

  4. Jason

    Seems like they may have stopped selling this a couple years ago? Still a great idea. I want one. Anyone making these any more?

  5. feelgood

    @Brian Siano

    I had the same question about the 6664. I went ahead and bought one hoping the 717 quick release plates would fit.

    It doesn't fit exactly--the good news is the 717 plate isn't too big, it's that the the 6664 clamp doesn't close tight enough to secure the plate (but it's just barely too lose). The locking mechanism on the 6664 works for the 717 plate, but the plate is still too loose and slides back and forth (the ends of the 717 plate are also longer than the length of the 6664 plate, but you could probably tell that from the pictures, and it's not important as long as the plate is snug).

    So, I think I'm going to try and add some lead tape or something to the walls of the 6664 base to see if I can get a snug/tight fit on the 717. If the clamp just closed a millimeter or so more, it'd be a perfect fit. Kind of dissapointed, but I think I can add something to make it work with the 717 plates, especially since the safety lock is working. But it won't be useable out of the box.

  6. Brian Siano

    Davidn4 asked a question that I could use an answer for, too: "I have a question. Is the FT-6664H using the same plate size as the WF717AH? If so, then with the addition of this QR plate, could you use one plate and move between the fluid head, the ball head, and this adapter?"

    I'd buy the 6664 in an instant if I cna use the same plate that's in my 717.

  7. Ben

    Hey Yardley this reply is kind of a year late but maybe it will help someone else. i have the FC270a tripod which comes with the FC-02h head and the baseplate from my Weifeng 717 will fit onto the FC-02h head. however the baseplate from the FC-02h will not fit on the 717 head. i cant say for sure P&C's third party adapter wont take the new FC-02h plate but if it is built similar to the base of a 717 head then it may not take the plate that comes with the FC270a. This isn't really a big deal anyway because you can just use the old 717 plates on the FC270a tripod and it will all work.

    here is link to an image of the FC-02h plate incase your wondering what it looks like. they are the ones that wont fit a 717 head.
    https://www.protog.com.au/assets/full/FC370QR.jpg

  8. Ben

    Hi Emm, this product is such a great solution. I hear it was a short production run and judging from the lack of supply on the web i figure all the stock is gone. i live in Australia and would looove to get my hands on two or three of these bases for my steadycam, rig, jib and slider. i hope you're thinking of re releasing this thing, that would be awesome.

  13.

    So cool Emm. Sad that international shipping makes it unviable for me.

    By the way I have gone crazy finding a kit for 717. While some say load capacity is max at 6kgs, some say 8kgs and Olivia on her blog said 27 lbs and I found on amazon a version (sold by fancierstudio with 717 name not 717A nor AH) which says so. On the flip side that model max height is around 55" while the 8kg version I found says 72".
    Add to that the 718 kit and the 270 kit (with 02H). My head is spinning :D.
    Find this way too funny. Will comment by end of this week as I would have chosen hopefully.

    Thanks for all your help and replies man. Can't believe something much better than a 701 kit will cost me under 200$.

  14. Emm

     Post author

    @Tony - There's a return guarantee if the adapter has problems. Contact the seller for a refund. They do know about the tolerance and if they are planning to make more there will be a redesign.

  16. DavidN4

    I just checked my 3 clamps, and they are the same way. Looking at the clamp and the WF717 head, not all of the surface area is being used to grip the plate. The WF717 head has a lever that uses an alged bar to push down of one side which give more surface area contact, that's why you can't force it to move.
    My QR clamps seem to be strong enough for my equipment, leaving me with only one question:
    What ball heads are you using, and are able to screw into the QR clamps? My ball head is crappy and uses a strange sized screw that I can't screw into the QR clamp.

  19. Emm

     Post author

    @Habez @Kelly - Whoa. Sorry to hear guys, let me find out what's going on. Here' a pic of my adapter showing an additional 1.9mm of clearance to still clamp down. My plate doesn't budge at all. Can you guys send a pic of your adapter all the way tight?

    717-QR-Adapter

  20.

    @Habez
    Yeah mine is havin the same problem. I have one on my Glidecam and as i was walking to the next location i was holding my GC by the shaft (that sounds wrong) which made my 7d face downward as i walked. When I went for the next shot i noticed the plate had completely slid downward! Thankfully the safety pin caught it from plumeting to its doom! This could be a design flaw 🙁

  21. Habez

    @Emm

    Hey Emm just got two of mine in the mail today from the ebay seller. They work as advertised! Really pleased with them.

    The only gripe i really have is that they dont exactly lock down TIGHT. And what i mean is, after you tighten the side knob till it wont budge anymore, you can actually push the camera with your bare hands and it would actually shift a bit.

    Now i am not concerned for the safety of the camera because of the safety pin but its really just that i (had) expected it to lock down real nice, tight and snug but it could still slide a bit (front and back).

    Not that big of an issue because it takes quite a bit of force. Just expected that there would be zero movement.

    Thanks for the product anyway! Life saver (:

  23.

    Just got my order of (2) 717 QR plates in the mail. Very solid. I put one on my glidecam and one on top of my Velbon fluid head which sits on the Konova slider. Makes things so much easier to go from one to another. I found it a little difficult to loosen when it was on the Glidecam cuz the twist knob grinds against the top plate of the Glidecam. Easy fix though. I just put one of the Glidecam weights in between the top platform and the QR to give room to twist.

  27. Pippin

    ok, one last question before I buy a couple of these.. Can I use my Manfrotto 701 HDV pro fluid head base plate, and expect it to work with this quick release plate?
    I understand now that they were designed to fit the Fancier 717 plates, but I want to know if they are interchangeable with my existing Manfrotto stuff.
    Thanks!!

  28. Ian G

    Thanks so much for this. Seriously a lifesaver. I have been looking for a QR solution for months and was on the verge of just switching to manfrotto ... now that $$$ can go towards some new glass instead!

    Ordered 3 yesterday

    thanks again

  29. Emm

     Post author

    @Tony - Sorry, I stated it in the article that there would be free shipping from PhotographyandCinema. I know a few people waited for the product update. Actually, every single item on PhotographyandCinema.com has free shipping, but only for USA. Other retailers carry some of the products and list at their own rates and shipping.

  30. Tony

    I'm a little upset Emm. I ordered 3x of these from ebay last night because they were not on the website yet and you said they were in limited quantities. Had to pay $5 shipping. And now the site has Free shipping. What gives?

  33. SkunkWorks

    I too gave up on ever seeing an OEM version and made my own back in the summer...

    https://www.skunkworksonline.ca/misc/diy-717ah-plate/

    I've since switched all my gear over to the Manfrotto 394 rc4 which I'm extremely happy with and even use one fastened to a 717 plate on my jib which has my diy 717 adapter on it.

    I see a couple of people have posted an ebay link to the replacement 717 adapter that is normally just the top of the fluid head. If this part was available back in the summer (believe me, I looked hard for it) I wouldn't have even bothered making my own... I would have used it as is on some of my gear using the 4 corner bolts, and drilled and tapped the center for use on other things.

  37. Jim C

    Would have loved this 6 months ago - ended up going with Manfrotto 394 QR's instead, which I've been very happy with.

    Great product idea - was something needed that was missing.

  38. J Hanna

    I've been trying to speed up my work flow when using a standard tripod and slider.
    I bought a second basic tripod/ball head to match my first one for my slider so I don't have to use my manfrotto tripod.
    BUT STILL!!
    I have to switch plates. What's 2 minutes right? 2 minutes is 2 minutes I can move on and not break moment when I switch from slider to tripod.
    this is awesome!!!!
    thanks emm.
    🙂

  39.

    I wish these were available a couple weeks ago, when I was building rigs for a new video camera and hands-free DSLR rig. I bought 2 of the whole QR base plate mount kit...
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/120818883915?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_3466wt_1152 then bought a black plastic cutting board at Target, and made custom mounting plates from the cutting board. It works great, in fact, but it was a lot of hassle.
    But still wanting to set up additional rigs, I bought 2 of this new plate, too... it is so much simpler to be able to screw it in without building out a custom plate... thank you, Emm

    and tripod plate combo thing

  40. Sam

    They beat me too it! I was actually in the design phase of producing this exact product for myself (and to possibly sell and make some money on the side). All that was left was to fine tune the design and find a machine shop to produce them... Ah well, maybe next time. If it turns out I can produce them at a lower cost you guys will be the first to know 🙂

  41.

    Just realized what I needed was the quick release plate only.

    After searching so long for 717 extras I gave up on them and got two Manfrotto 577s and also two Velbon QRA635Ls (low profile, for slider and flycam). The original 717 lives under my mini jib. Basically I just need one more 717 QR plate for the shoulder rig.

    Was excited at first, anyway thanks for the base plate link.

  42. Habez

    @Carlos D

    This is a quick release adapter (QRA). What it does is allow you to use the same plate that you screw onto the bottom of your tripod with multiple devices.

    Without this QRA, going from the 717 tripod head to say, a flycam, you would need to swap out the plate under your camera with another plate so that you can attach it to your flycam.

    Now, what this QRA lets you do is to place the QRA straight onto your flycam so going from the tripod to the flycam will use the same plate.

    I hope this long winded explanation makes sense to you. Lol.

  43. Habez

    @Emm damn i think you're right. Just burnt 91USD on 2 of your's. Lol. Need to tell PnC to make more of these.. I'm sure they will sell like hotcakes.

  44. Carlos D

    I'm not totally sure I understand what this does? Does it make it so I can mount a QR plate on top of the tripod baseplate? or does it make it so I can mount the baseplate on top of the QR?

  46. DavidN4

    I have a question. Is the FT-6664H using the same plate size as the WF717AH? If so, then with the addition of this QR plate, could you use one plate and move between the fluid head, the ball head, and this adapter?

  47. Emm

     Post author

    @Habez - I don't think that's an actual QR adapter. That's a replacement for the top of the fluid head (repair part).

  50.

    BTW I've done a few minor mods to one of my Giottos ones that make it totally awesome. 🙂
    Let me know if you want me to post a vid on what I did. Maybe you would want to incorporate that into your design.

  51.

    That's really cool!
    I already use Giottos ones. 🙁
    I was really looking for something like this a while back but had to go with Giottos.
    Would be cool to also see an extended plate!

  52. DavidN4

    Once again, you are a genius! I was just looking for QR plates that would be compatible with the WF717, and jumped over here just now to search to see what you use for a QR plate. You couldn't have timed it better. Now, I just hope that I can afford a few of them!

  56.

    This is fantastic. Months I have been asking dealers carrying the WF717 about this and every time it is negative. Can't wait to see it on eBay.

    Emm, make sure you have enough of this to go around!

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