Manfrotto 029 tripod head unknown functions.

[BobUK]

I recently bought a secondhand Manfrotto tripod complete with 168 ball head, and 029 pan and tilt head.
There are two things I do not understand.
Hopefully some one here can enlighten me.

On the pan and tilt head is a screw hole just above the horizontal pivot.
Pictures on the internet show a chrome, knurled screw inserted into what seems to me to be a blind hole. I wonder if an accessory bracket may screw into the hole. Just a guess.

The other unknown is a hole drilled into the tripod about half an inch away from the spirit level bubble.
The hole also has a slot cut across it. It looks similar to the symbol put on the top plate of some cameras to mark the film plane.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can reveal the functions of these two oddities.

 

[Ardpatrick]

I don't know about the slot & hole on the tripod, - it might be to hold a pin of some sort for the centre column.

The threaded hole in the 029 Pan & Tilt head is to house a 3/8 inch brass bolt. The Hex plate comes with the smaller 1/4 inch threaded bolt for most smaller & medium sized camera bodies. However that can be unscrewed through the centre of the hex plate and the locking collar, and replaced with the larger 3/8 inch brass bolt, for situations where you have a larger camera body that uses the larger size tripod mount. It's convenient to have, but not exactly essential. You can just have a second hex plate with the larger size thread, or use a thread adaptor that costs nothing.

 

[BobUK]

Ardpatrick

Thank you for the fast response.
I would never have guessed that in a month of Sundays.

The tripod did not have a hex. plate when I bought it so I ordered a Chinese one from ebay.
Around eleven pounds each, delivered within the week.
The 3/8" one ordered later is yet to arrive.

Looking at the screw I now see how the extra is stowed safely.

Nice one.

 

[Ardpatrick]

No problem Bob.

In the photos above you already have a Hex plate sitting in the jaws of the 029.

I've had one of these heads for 30 years. It's more or less indestructible. But its a little on the bulky / heavy side for use outside the studio for me these days.

 

[BobUK]

That's the 1/4" plate that arrived this morning from China. 3/8" plate on it's way .

You are right on the weight. I think I have a Manfrotto 074 model tripod. Combined with the head, I doubt it will travel much more than a mile away from the car.
When you are young, fit and healthy no one tells you the downsides of getting old.

Cheers.

 

[Ardpatrick]

That's the 1/4" plate that arrived this morning from China. 3/8" plate on it's way .

You are right on the weight. I think I have a Manfrotto 074 model tripod. Combined with the head, I doubt it will travel much more than a mile away from the car.
When you are young, fit and healthy no one tells you the downsides of getting old.

Cheers.

Indeed. When I bought the 029 head (Along with a 55? aluminium tripod) I was a fit 25 year old. I thought I was set for life. By the time I hit 40, I was all into Carbon Fibre! Now I'm mid-50's its monopod wherever possible!

You'll notice a pattern - many of the people who are selling this sort of gear are older!

Still a very good head.

 

[MattKing]

The hole on the tripod might be there to hold an Allen wrench just like the one I find useful for keeping things tightened on with my Manfrotto tripod.