How do I know if a tripod will fit my camera ?

[ac12]

An option is to convert to something like the Arca Swiss mounting system.

• The rail is attached to the camera
• The clamp is attached to the tripod

With a rail on all your cameras and tripods, they will all mount.
With this setup, you have eliminated the question of is the camera tripod socket 1/4" or 3/8", and is the tripod 1/4" or 3/8."

It is an extra cost, but I find it easier and safer to mount the camera in a AS mount, than to hold the camera on the tripod while I screw (or unscrew) the tripod screw into the camera.

 

[Steve Smith]

The two threads are 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16. Both are extremely common threads here in the US.
The inch value is the male screw diameter. The dash number is the number of threads per inch.

I expect there are also metric standards, with which I'm unfamiliar.

Depends on the age of the camera. Tripod threads were originally British Standard Whitworth. Same TPI and diameter as the American UNC threads but with a five degree difference in cutting angle.


Steve.