Talk:Tripod (photography)

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[edit] Mounting bolt

Do all tripods mount to cameras the same way? It seems like they all have a 6mm bolt, but there can't be just one standard, can there? Anybody know anything about this?

• It's probably mentioned in some standards document somewhere (I'd guess maybe the SMPTE, MPAA or some industry body like that). I don't know for certain. I'm inclined to think larger cameras probably use a different mount though, custom-designed to hold the weight of the camera perhaps. (I'd shudder to think of a 6mm bolt trying to hold a full-sized TV or film camera.) Haikupoet 04:50, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
• I'd be pretty sure its not 6mm. The most common camera mount is usually quoted as 1/4 inch, but of course the pitch of the thread is also important and this is normally 20 turns per inch. However there also seems to be an alternative standard which is 3/8"-16 (0.375 inch in diameter and 16 turns per inch along its length). I suspect the larger screw mount is popular for large format cameras and more expensive tripods often come with an adaptor to fit both standards. -- Solipsist 06:12, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
• The standard is 1/4-20, but I think technically it may be Whitworth rather than UNC. In any case, a standard American 1/4-20 bolt from the hardware store will fit (a fact that can come in handy if you don't have a tripod with you and need to improvise a camera support). Most tripod heads mount to the tripod with a 3/8-16 thread, but come with an adapter to fit 1/4-20 as well. Larger cameras also use 3/8-16 threads. BTW the page doesn't mention quick-release plates, which are another method of mounting the camera to the tripod. Rbean 19:08, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
• ENG style cameras usually mount to the tripod with a camera plate, because the shoulder pad is too curved and is directly in the middle of where a threaded hole would be used. The plate attaches to the tripod with a sliding plate that is locked in with a set screw. The plate attaches to places on the camera in front of and behind the shoulder pad. Indeed, larger cameras need larger tripods, and the mounting screws are no exception. Miller tripods (http://miller.com.au) have 3/8" and 1/4" mounting screws. Edinc90 16:36, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Tabletop tripods

I edited the description of tabletop tripods to include heavier (and more expensive) professional models-- certainly professionals tend not to use the cheap/flimsy ones mentioned in the earlier article, but they do use the heavier ones. The webpage referenced is mine (the tabletop tripod rated for 25Kg is the Novoflex "Basicball", which is admittedly an extreme example). Rbean 19:08, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

• Should a section on Hi-hats be included? Should hi-hats be mentioned in the tabletop tripod section? Should hi-hat have a disambiguation page (as it now only lists the cymbal hi-hat)? edinc90 16:41, 30 April, 2007

[edit] Ballhead vs Panhead

It seems to me there should be some mention of ballheads vs pan heads. Rbean 19:08, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

I added a section for that, and I also added information about the head types into the image captions - the tabletop tripod has a ball style head and the larger tripod has a panhead type. I also moved the panhead image down to the head types section for ease of calrification. I'm new, please don't shoot if I did it wrong! Tiberius47 10:37, 15 November 2006 (UTC)