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#1
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
I don't need the fanciest tripod around - I had never heard of tripod heads
until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a regular tripod - And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to screw it into the camera? I know these are basic questions for experts, but I have no clue |
#2
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
There are many proprietary inexpensive tripod designs were a plate with the
tripod screw is attached to the camera and then the plate with camera attached is inserted in a slot on the tripod head. The camera and plate can be removed by flipping a catch lever without having to unscrew the camera from the tripod. Whether or not this is an advantage is up to you to decide. The biggest problem with tripods, especially less expensive units but also with many very expensive units, is that they do not hold the camera firmly enough for small adjustments of position and require much fiddling. Regardless, a tripod is an indsipensable accessory. |
#3
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
Hoover wrote: I don't need the fanciest tripod around - I had never heard of tripod heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a regular tripod - And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to screw it into the camera? I know these are basic questions for experts, but I have no clue If I've interpreted your question correctly, here are a couple data points: 1. The tripod head screws on the top of the tripod and stays there permanently. It allows full movement of the camera: 360 degree panning, vertical movement so that the camera is pointing up or down to whatever extent you desire, and finally a movement that allows you to tilt the camera from horizontal to vertical. When the desired position is reached, everything can be locked to prevent unwanted movement. These heads come in several variations, including three-way pan and tilt and ball-joint versions. 2. The quick release is usually a small plate that is screwed to the bottom of your camera. It fits into a recess in the tripod head, locking securely in place, but a lever or button allows it to be released quickly. When everything is set up, it takes but a moment to mount the camera on the tripod: just align the plate with its receptacle and snap into place. Might be useful for you to do a quick search on Google. If you search for "Bogen quick release", the first illustration shows one form of the quick release plate and its socket. Try this site: http://www.shortcourses.com/equipment/tripods/3-qr.htm -- Ron |
#4
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
"Hoover" wrote:
I don't need the fanciest tripod around Sure you do! (Keep researching, because the question is not "if", but is more like which one is actually the fanciest...) - I had never heard of tripod heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a regular tripod - Pan/tilt heads are suitable for just that, and as a result are commonly used for video, and are sometimes called video heads. They pan and tilt as separate movements, with separate locking mechanisms, and when locked will hold a camera solid without any manual assistance. When unlocked, hold on tight or things get broken. A ball head is nice for a lot of hands on manipulation, and allows a relatively lightweight camera (up to a normal SLR + lense size) to be very easy to maneuver. If the camera going to be moving around continuously, it beats a pan/tilt head. Again though, hold on if anything is loosened up enough to move... If the camera gets truly *large*, as with an 8x10 view camera, pan heads and ball heads can be used they just aren't safe or easy. For heavy cameras that will be positioned and not moved, a gearhead is very very nice. There is no risk that it will fall over while the adjustment is loosened enough to reposition the camera; just crank on the gear and position it. A 35mm SLR with an 800mm telephoto lens to photograph wildlife is not very "flexible" on a gearhead, though it is indeed safe. A gimbal mount, however, can make a big lense act like it is weightless. The locks are "loose", but it won't move when not being held. And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to screw it into the camera? Actually that is a "quick release mount", not a head. Any head can have a QR mount. And it seems as they each do too... all different! For non-QR mounts, there are two "standards". One is a 1/4 inch threaded bolt, and the other has a 3/8 inch thread. (There are "converters" that can be screwed onto a 1/4 bolt to make it 3/8 inch.) Almost every tripod and tripod mountable equipment uses one or the other, obviously with the larger 3/8" being more popular on larger equipment. Quick release mounts invariably attach to/with a standard threaded bolt. Most of them are for 1/4" threads, some for 3/8" and a few have both available. A QR consists of a "plate" that is "permanently" attached to the camera (via that standard 1/4" threaded screw) and a "mount" that is "permanently" attached to the tripod. (Occasionally there are equipments that really do have their QR permanently mounted! Some tripods, for example, have the QR mount incorporated into the tripod, and the only 1/4 screw is the one on the QR plate that attaches to the camera.) The idea then is that the "plate" can be easily attached and detached from the mount, via some locking mechanism that is easier than screwing and unscrewing the 1/4" bolt! Some of them actually are more difficult! But the real trick is to have a given tripod with a given QR mount, and then all equipment that is ever mounted on it has a permanently attached plate that fits that QR. Or conversely an equipment (a camera or bellows or whatever) has a plate attached, and each and everything it will ever be mounted on has a permanently mounted matching QR mount on it. Because there are so many, that never happens. Instead you'll probably end up with more than one system. It can be annoying, but it can also be useful too. For example, if you have a variety, and have extra QR mounts and plates, before any given shooting session starts you can set up everything that will be used to have the one set of QR equipment. That way, during the shoot you can switch quickly between equipment. I know these are basic questions for experts, but I have no clue But this is the *fun* stuff! Everyone starts without a clue. Nobody was born knowing how to tell time, count money, or tie their shoes. Most of us remember both learning how to do those things *and* teaching our children or grandchildren how to do them. Who remembers learning/teaching the advanced questions??? -- Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) |
#5
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
thanks for the info -
"Floyd L. Davidson" wrote in message ... "Hoover" wrote: I don't need the fanciest tripod around Sure you do! (Keep researching, because the question is not "if", but is more like which one is actually the fanciest...) - I had never heard of tripod heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a regular tripod - Pan/tilt heads are suitable for just that, and as a result are commonly used for video, and are sometimes called video heads. They pan and tilt as separate movements, with separate locking mechanisms, and when locked will hold a camera solid without any manual assistance. When unlocked, hold on tight or things get broken. A ball head is nice for a lot of hands on manipulation, and allows a relatively lightweight camera (up to a normal SLR + lense size) to be very easy to maneuver. If the camera going to be moving around continuously, it beats a pan/tilt head. Again though, hold on if anything is loosened up enough to move... If the camera gets truly *large*, as with an 8x10 view camera, pan heads and ball heads can be used they just aren't safe or easy. For heavy cameras that will be positioned and not moved, a gearhead is very very nice. There is no risk that it will fall over while the adjustment is loosened enough to reposition the camera; just crank on the gear and position it. A 35mm SLR with an 800mm telephoto lens to photograph wildlife is not very "flexible" on a gearhead, though it is indeed safe. A gimbal mount, however, can make a big lense act like it is weightless. The locks are "loose", but it won't move when not being held. And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to screw it into the camera? Actually that is a "quick release mount", not a head. Any head can have a QR mount. And it seems as they each do too... all different! For non-QR mounts, there are two "standards". One is a 1/4 inch threaded bolt, and the other has a 3/8 inch thread. (There are "converters" that can be screwed onto a 1/4 bolt to make it 3/8 inch.) Almost every tripod and tripod mountable equipment uses one or the other, obviously with the larger 3/8" being more popular on larger equipment. Quick release mounts invariably attach to/with a standard threaded bolt. Most of them are for 1/4" threads, some for 3/8" and a few have both available. A QR consists of a "plate" that is "permanently" attached to the camera (via that standard 1/4" threaded screw) and a "mount" that is "permanently" attached to the tripod. (Occasionally there are equipments that really do have their QR permanently mounted! Some tripods, for example, have the QR mount incorporated into the tripod, and the only 1/4 screw is the one on the QR plate that attaches to the camera.) The idea then is that the "plate" can be easily attached and detached from the mount, via some locking mechanism that is easier than screwing and unscrewing the 1/4" bolt! Some of them actually are more difficult! But the real trick is to have a given tripod with a given QR mount, and then all equipment that is ever mounted on it has a permanently attached plate that fits that QR. Or conversely an equipment (a camera or bellows or whatever) has a plate attached, and each and everything it will ever be mounted on has a permanently mounted matching QR mount on it. Because there are so many, that never happens. Instead you'll probably end up with more than one system. It can be annoying, but it can also be useful too. For example, if you have a variety, and have extra QR mounts and plates, before any given shooting session starts you can set up everything that will be used to have the one set of QR equipment. That way, during the shoot you can switch quickly between equipment. I know these are basic questions for experts, but I have no clue But this is the *fun* stuff! Everyone starts without a clue. Nobody was born knowing how to tell time, count money, or tie their shoes. Most of us remember both learning how to do those things *and* teaching our children or grandchildren how to do them. Who remembers learning/teaching the advanced questions??? -- Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) |
#6
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
Hoover wrote:
: I don't need the fanciest tripod around - I had never heard of tripod : heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a : regular tripod - And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to : screw it into the camera? I know these are basic questions for : experts, but I have no clue If you go to a Kmart or Walmart or other similar store you will find tripods that may or may not do what you want. Most of these have a bult in "head" which allows the camera to be panned (turned left and right) tilted (aimed up and down) and sometimes skewed (turned from a horizontal orientation to a vertical or somewhere inbetween). But since different people and different equipment can require or may work better with a slightly different head, such a built in head is limiting. So most higher end tripod makers allow you to purchase the tripod (legs with a mounting plate on top) seperate from the head. Then there would be a range of different heads available that can be mounted on that tripod to allow the camera to be aimed where it should. As to Quick Release (QR), some all-in-one tripods have these built in, and some do not. And for those without you can get add on ones if you wish to add one. In general a QR is a metal (or plastic) plate that has the tripod screw in it, which you secure to the camera, and a receiver plate that mounts (or is built into) the top of the tripod head. when the plate on the camera is slipped into a slot on the receiver a lever or button locks the two together. To remove the camera from the tripod (to catch that person acting silly behind you) you just flick the lever or press the button to release the camera for hand held use. One problem is that each manufacturer (and each model from that manufacturer) is a totally different design and they are not compatable with each other. So if you have a QR on your tripod and a different one on your monopod you will not be able to swap back and forth without stopping to unscrew the tripod plate and screw on the monopod plate. Negating the whole concept of the QR IMHO. Of course you could do as I did. It isn't pretty but it works. I bought several sets of QR that mount to a 1/4" screw (with an adapter in my case) and screwed these to the built in QR on the tripod and the monopod. Then I just secured the original QR permanently in place on both. Now I have the same model of QR on both support devices and so I can go from tripod to monopod to hand held operation in a snap. One other thing I did with my QR is a bit odd. One passion I have is panorama shots and I like to use a pano head (marked in degrees along the horizontal axis). But I don't need this when I am not taking a pano. So I put a QR camera plate on the bottom of the pano head and the tripod plate on the top. This way I can snap the pano head onto the top of my regular tripod and then snap the camera on top. When I'm done with the pano head, it unsnaps and goes in the bag and my tripod and camera are back to normal quick and easy. Randy ========== Randy Berbaum Champaign, IL |
#7
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
thanks for all the info - appreciate it
"Randy Berbaum" wrote in message ... Hoover wrote: : I don't need the fanciest tripod around - I had never heard of tripod : heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a : regular tripod - And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to : screw it into the camera? I know these are basic questions for : experts, but I have no clue If you go to a Kmart or Walmart or other similar store you will find tripods that may or may not do what you want. Most of these have a bult in "head" which allows the camera to be panned (turned left and right) tilted (aimed up and down) and sometimes skewed (turned from a horizontal orientation to a vertical or somewhere inbetween). But since different people and different equipment can require or may work better with a slightly different head, such a built in head is limiting. So most higher end tripod makers allow you to purchase the tripod (legs with a mounting plate on top) seperate from the head. Then there would be a range of different heads available that can be mounted on that tripod to allow the camera to be aimed where it should. As to Quick Release (QR), some all-in-one tripods have these built in, and some do not. And for those without you can get add on ones if you wish to add one. In general a QR is a metal (or plastic) plate that has the tripod screw in it, which you secure to the camera, and a receiver plate that mounts (or is built into) the top of the tripod head. when the plate on the camera is slipped into a slot on the receiver a lever or button locks the two together. To remove the camera from the tripod (to catch that person acting silly behind you) you just flick the lever or press the button to release the camera for hand held use. One problem is that each manufacturer (and each model from that manufacturer) is a totally different design and they are not compatable with each other. So if you have a QR on your tripod and a different one on your monopod you will not be able to swap back and forth without stopping to unscrew the tripod plate and screw on the monopod plate. Negating the whole concept of the QR IMHO. Of course you could do as I did. It isn't pretty but it works. I bought several sets of QR that mount to a 1/4" screw (with an adapter in my case) and screwed these to the built in QR on the tripod and the monopod. Then I just secured the original QR permanently in place on both. Now I have the same model of QR on both support devices and so I can go from tripod to monopod to hand held operation in a snap. One other thing I did with my QR is a bit odd. One passion I have is panorama shots and I like to use a pano head (marked in degrees along the horizontal axis). But I don't need this when I am not taking a pano. So I put a QR camera plate on the bottom of the pano head and the tripod plate on the top. This way I can snap the pano head onto the top of my regular tripod and then snap the camera on top. When I'm done with the pano head, it unsnaps and goes in the bag and my tripod and camera are back to normal quick and easy. Randy ========== Randy Berbaum Champaign, IL |
#8
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
Hoover wrote:
I don't need the fanciest tripod around - I had never heard of tripod heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a regular tripod - And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to screw it into the camera? I know these are basic questions for experts, but I have no clue The best way is to go to a decent camera shop and have a look at them. -- Delete l to reply. |
#9
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
Hoover wrote: I don't need the fanciest tripod around - I had never heard of tripod heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a regular tripod - And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to screw it into the camera? I know these are basic questions for experts, but I have no clue I may take some flack for this, but here goes anyway. Try a regular tripod. If it works, fine, if it leaves a bit to be desired, you can get a better one later. We recently bought two inexpensive new tripods that are worlds above the stuff we paid considerably more for twenty years ago. Although these were going to be backup/spare tripods, we use them a LOT and leave the older heavier ones home. They came with the removable quick release, one was twenty bucks, one was twenty five! They are the lightest pods we have. But then, our newer cameras are also lighter than the ones we used to lug around. These tripods are fine for smaller lighter still cameras. They do NOT work for video- the heads do not move smoothly enough. We have a heavy fluid head video tripod for that- one you don't want to have to carry very far. These new cheap tripods are fine for stills with reasonable weight on anything but a very windy day. The big thing about the fancy tripod heads is smooth movement with no "stickion". Essential for video, helpful when trying to exactly frame a telephoto shot where you want to smoothly loosen and move head a degree or two. Unless you are really exacting in your shooting a regular inexpensive to medium price all-in-one tripod should do you fine. However, so many come with quick release I'd hold out for one that does. |
#10
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Tripod "Heads" and Quick Release Question
Hoover wrote: I don't need the fanciest tripod around - I had never heard of tripod heads until i started doing research - what's the advantage over a regular tripod - And what is a "quick release" head - you don't have to screw it into the camera? I know these are basic questions for experts, but I have no clue You are right about fancy tripods -- the best tripods are simple designs, more rugged, lightweight. Unfortunately, lightness, stiffness and ruggedness are somewhat conflicting aims and in order to get all three the price can really soar. Quick release heads have been explained adequately. Personally, I am not convinced that they are all that useful. However, the better tripods all seem to have them. I personally use a Manfrotto CF tripod with three section legs and a magnesium head with short knobs. I love this tripod. Nothing sticks out to snag clothing or furniture while I am carrying it around. It is light enough to carry it all day. And it is reasonably stiff; it will support a DSLR and 400mm lens just fine. I especially like the rubberized carrying handle. This tripod has not got a lot of features, but it does its job very well. |
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