Yashica D tripod head option: long exposures

Darryl Roberts · May 5, 2022

Hi,

What's a good head for the Yashica D with it's tripod mount and door knob combination.

How about the Arca Swiss P0 without a plate?

Rick A · May 6, 2022

Over the years I've owned many Yashica TLR's and several different tripods, it really doesn't matter what tripod or head.

cjbecker · May 6, 2022

If you do it like me. Just go headless. I find it much easier too deal with, tripod is smaller and lighter. I just use a tripod with a rotating center column and use the tripod legs too level it out. At most i will use a quick disconnect mounted on the tripod, but normally nothing at all.

Sirius Glass · May 6, 2022

I prefer separate axes and I do not like nor trust a ball tripod head with my equipment.

BrianShaw · May 6, 2022

cjbecker said:
If you do it like me. Just go headless. I find it much easier too deal with, tripod is smaller and lighter. I just use a tripod with a rotating center column and use the tripod legs too level it out. At most i will use a quick disconnect mounted on the tripod, but normally nothing at all.

This echoes What I've done with TLRs and square-format SLRs and monopods/tripods for decades... just a camera-specific quick-release device. Simple and effective. Occasionally I'll use a ball head with the SLR if in the field.

ic-racer · May 6, 2022

Yes, I think, if it is anything like the124g, it would be prudent to not clamp the 4 feet on the camera bottom against the tripod head.

Collin Orthner · May 6, 2022

I have mounted my 124G and Yashica 12 onto heads using Arca Swiss style plates, but as ic-racer mentioned be careful of damaging the base(back) as the four feet are on a different level than the tripod thread. I use washers as spacers to match the height. It's bit of a pain, but works.

Darryl Roberts · May 6, 2022

Collin Orthner said:
I have mounted my 124G and Yashica 12 onto heads using Arca Swiss style plates, but as ic-racer mentioned be careful of damaging the base(back) as the four feet are on a different level than the tripod thread. I use washers as spacers to match the height. It's bit of a pain, but works.

Yes, that's the pain I don't want. It's either get a C220 or the Arca Swiss p0.

reddesert · May 6, 2022

I don't have a Yashica D but it's the same as most Yashica TLRs and many TLRs. The feet stick down a little. Either use a tripod with a small head, or use a tripod with a larger head and a soft surface like a rubber pad and tighten down the tripod screw just enough to hold the camera. Don't tighten it with a strongman's torque or you might distort the bottom plate. Abusing them is probably the origin of the idea that TLRs are subject to damage there.

Even a Bogen/Manfrotto hex quick release plate will fit in between the feet, so there is no need to buy a special expensive tripod head for an inexpensive TLR, but do that if it makes you happy or reassured.

Dan Daniel · May 6, 2022

reddesert said:
Abusing them is probably the origin of the idea that TLRs are subject to damage there.

I think another source of the 'fragile back' story is if you pick up the tripod with the camera mounted and walk along bouncing the head, etc.

Use a quick release plate and remove the camera from tripod head when moving. Beyond this, tripod head choice is a 17 page discussion here, which probably already exists about 9 times. For a simple TLR like the Yashica-D, the weight is small and it is centered very close to the mounting point.

Darryl Roberts · May 7, 2022

"Poor design on their part . I guess they felt the camera would not often be used on a tripod." Rod Klukas

Yashica D tripod head option: long exposures

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