Manfrotto 501/503 QR plate compatibility?
 

Is the quick releas plate from 501 head compatible with 503 head and are those plates reversible so that the lens can face the operator?
I assume that the upcoming 501HDV head will accomodate the same QR plates.

Thanks in advance,
T

Yes on the compatability, will check on the reverse for you later.

Manfrotto 501/503 QR plate compatibility?
 

The plates are compatible but NOT reversible. There's a metal lip at one end that prevents this.

There goes my hope to use padded carbon fibre expedition legs as occasional shoulder mount... or wait, are there any uni-directional non-photo heads that have the ability to reverse mount a camcorder?

Oh yes, my Cavision DV plate from 15mm rail support mount has the ability to reverse mount a cam - got to couple that with a QR plate.

Thanks,
T