Mounting Folders on Tripods

[Alan9940]

For any of you that use a tripod with a folder, I'm curious if you have an issue with the mounting screw length? With all my folders--MF or my Retina IIa--the length of the mounting screw in the quick release plate is too long; just by a tad. Therefore, when I screw the plate as tight as possible the camera can still rotate on the plate. I've tried adding a square of thin corkboard material to provide some friction and all manner of different washers made of various materials, but nothing has really worked to my satisfaction. The "dimples" on the bottom of these cameras also make it difficult to tripod mount the camera because the bottom plate of the camera is not in solid contact with the tripod mounting plate and/or tripod head.

What kind of tripods were available in the 1950's? Has anyone else experienced this issue and resolved it? Yes, I know I could just handhold the camera but at my age, and especially with 35mm, I much prefer the solid base of a tripod.

Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Kino]

You could get a secondary quick release plate to mount on the tripod that has a shorter screw.

 

[DWThomas]

There is a mat sold for exercise use that appears to be a closed cell foam with a sealed "skin" but it has a waffle or pebbled surface texture and has some grip. I've used that on occasion, though I seldom use my folders on a tripod. (And generally the Manfrotto RC2 type that I use works as-is on my particular folders.)

The bad news about the pad is that you might have to buy a 24 x 48" roll to get the inch-and-a-half piece you need!

It also might be possible to customize a QR plate by popping it apart and machining the screw a bit, though that may be easier said than done.

 

[grain elevator]

If the space is sufficient on your quick release plate, you could put washers on the head side of the screw so that it protrudes less. This way the camera will still rest on the padded surface of the qr plate.

 

[Hassasin]

For any of you that use a tripod with a folder, I'm curious if you have an issue with the mounting screw length? With all my folders--MF or my Retina IIa--the length of the mounting screw in the quick release plate is too long; just by a tad. Therefore, when I screw the plate as tight as possible the camera can still rotate on the plate. I've tried adding a square of thin corkboard material to provide some friction and all manner of different washers made of various materials, but nothing has really worked to my satisfaction. The "dimples" on the bottom of these cameras also make it difficult to tripod mount the camera because the bottom plate of the camera is not in solid contact with the tripod mounting plate and/or tripod head.

What kind of tripods were available in the 1950's? Has anyone else experienced this issue and resolved it? Yes, I know I could just handhold the camera but at my age, and especially with 35mm, I much prefer the solid base of a tripod.

Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you.

I can't help suggesting a tripod, some folders have threaded socket deep enough to accept modern screws. However, regarding the lack of flat bottom on the folders, and indeed to solve length of the screw rather easily, would be a long quick-release plate (Arca standard). These also give easy access to the screw, easy removal and shortening as needed.

THIS one may be too short to accommodate your camera, but there are longer ones available, some with sliding feature that would help center camera over tripod's head. One side would have screw to attach camera, but the whole plate goes under the full length of bottom and provides much better support.

 

[BrianShaw]

I haven't used it for a long, long time (and can't even remember what camera I used it on)... but in my box of tripod parts is a fender washer with a piece of thick leather glued to it. I remember using it for a spacer, between the camera and tripod head platform, in a circumstance like described in the OP.

 

[Kino]

Of course, you can always take a grinding stone or file to the tripod screw and shorten it slightly.

A second quick release plate for your tripod could be modified just for this purpose if you want to retain the original length screw for another camera.

 

[Neil Grant]

yes it's a problem because the tripod screw is too long. For my AR 3 camera, I use a Manfrotto qr plate with a washer around the screw to stop, it bottoming out in the camera's tripod bush. The washer is textured so it grips the camera properly and stops it rotating. A smooth washer is no good,

 

[250swb]

After trying the easy things of an ordinary washer and shortening the screw I ended up making a rectangular spacer with a hole in the centre for the QR screw and covered both sides with some Griptac. Works well and the camera doesn't rotate which is the main problem with a simple washer.

 

[Alan9940]

Thank you for all the great suggestions.

Shortening one screw was my very first thought and certainly made the most sense, but I don't really have any convenient way to do this cleanly. All of my Arca-style plates have screws with a portion of non-treaded shank that allow the screw to slide along a slot enabling some means to position the camera on the plate, as needed. Therefore, I don't see that installing a washer on the head side of the screw is workable.

I never thought about getting a rail, as suggested by Hassasin, but I really like the idea of having something under the entire width of the camera; especially with my Retina IIa which has the tripod mount on one side of the camera, not in the center. I bought a 120mm length rail from Amazon, yesterday, which should be here today or tomorrow. To my mind, this will be the perfect solution, if it works.

Thanks, again, everybody!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I had no problems with my Certo SuperDolly II nor my Voightlander Vito II. Try one of the many quick release adapters available.