Old tripod, missing release plate.

[griptape]

So my dad recently got rid of his old VHS camcorder, and with it he had a tripod (which of course I claimed), but the mount is missing. I'm not 100% sure what I should be searching for, but I know the wal-mart tripods are a different mount (have one laying around from one), and B&H has a ton but they don't seem very specific as to what they fit. So anyone know what I should be looking for (or hey, want to sell me one?)

Pictures:

[René Damkot]

Not sure waht you want to put on top of that, but honestly: I wouldn't bother, unless you need a tripod real bad...

"You get what you pay for" and all that...
It'll hold the camera (probably), but it won't offer much stability at any reasonable height...

There was a thread on here recerntly where the QR shoe on a similar tripod broke.

[griptape]

It's actually surprisingly sturdy for such an obviously cheap tripod (remember, this was for a camcorder in the 80's, they weren't exactly the palm sized camcorders of today).

But you're right, it's not worth any real effort to salvage it as a usable piece of photographic equipment (it would actually end up as my 4 year old's to play with her point and shoot on), but I just wanted to see if I wasn't overlooking something simple and easier to find than I think before I threw it in the trash.

[René Damkot]

Maybe you could replace the head with a ballhead?

[griptape]

:idea: A ball head you say? That idea hadn't actually occurred to me, but you're right, I could. It just might be worth salvaging yet.

[Woolburr]

That seems the simple solution....unscrew the current head and replace the entire thing with a new ball head or other mount. As long as the legs are sturdy, a new head might well be a worthwhile investment.

[SkipD]

I seriously doubt that tripod has a way to mount conventional interchangeable heads. Most cheap tripods have non-removable heads.

If, however, you can merely unscrew the whole head from the center column and are left with a platform and a 3/8-16 threaded stud then you can mount other heads.

[griptape]

If, however, you can merely unscrew the whole head from the center column and are left with a platform and a 3/8-16 threaded stud then you can mount other heads.

Yep, it sure does.

[Lowner]

Griptape,

Your photo reminds me of the QR plate I used to have on an old Velbon monopod. It was simply a plastic rectangle with angled sides, which locked into the space you see when the lever was closed.

As it is such a simple shape, you could make one yourself in glass fibre (use a car repair premixed glass/resin). Just make a wooden pattern that seems to work, wax it thoughougly, then cover it in polyfilla and use that as a mould for the GRP. It produces a perfectly workable item at very low cost - just needs some of your personal time.

I did exactly that for my 055PROP tripod modification until I'd decided how I should finally do it. I then had a friend machined me a part in alloy. If metalwork is more your thing, then go that way.

[kyarger]

Google TripodQuickRelease.com They have replacement quick release plates for all kinds of tripods. (found one for an old Velbon that was given to me- makes a good light stand until I can afford one....)