The Manfrotto MVA515W SYMPLA Variable Plate allows the camera and lens to be moved on three independent axes (longitudinal, lateral and vertical), a flexibility that's essential for aligning multiple camera and lens combinations with critical components like the flexible mattebox, or for positioning the camera viewfinder in front of your eye. Adjustment controls are simple and secure: longitudinally, the variable plate slides along SYMPLA rods and is unlocked and blocked with one repositionable ratchet lever. For vertical adjustment, a single geared dial on the side of the plate gives fingertip control of movement; the plate maintains its height when the dial is released, with a ratchet lever to lock the camera vertically in place.For lateral adjustment, again, a single geared dial - this time at the end of the plate - adjusts the offset of the camera from the plate's central axis and again, a single lever locks down the movement. Precision-cast in aluminum with durable steel components, the SYMPLA variable plate has no hard-to-access screws and requires no tools for fitting or adjustment: your camera is conveniently attached to the variable plate via Manfrotto's most popular quick release video plate so swapping cameras, or moving a camera between SYMPLA and a Manfrotto video head is easy and fast.Using the sliding QR plate also means that an additional level of longitudinal camera positioning is possible, allowing long lenses, viewfinders, batteries and other bulky accessories to be taken into account. The QR plate is held in place by a secured by a secondary safety lock, so the camera can't inadvertently slide out of the variable plate. On the underside of the variable plate are two 3/8" threads for attaching the rig to a monopod, tripod or to a video head (such as the 504HD) via another sliding QR plate.