Mono/Tripod ?

[ScootersDaddy]

I'm curious how folks keep their camera from unscrewing when on a Monopod or Tripod? Monopods seem especially prone to loosening if you swing it around with a heavy lens on it. If you pack up and move to another spot and put the whole assemblage over your shoulder I've noticed this is another time that it can happen. How come there is no lock of some kind to prevent accidental loosening?

[Headshotzx]

The arca-swiss plates have 'anti-twist' features. You can purchase a monopod (and a tilt head) and mount an Arca Swiss clamp, then mount the setup with arca-swiss plates on the lens feet or camera body.

As for the non-arca-swiss plates, yes, they sometime do twist, but not often. During my 9 hour shoot at my local zoo, the 70-200 on monopod never became loose with my manfrotto RC2 qr plates.

Cheers,
Zexun

[ScootersDaddy]

I'm not worried about anti-twist on the camera plate. What about the attachment to the tripod?

[Headshotzx]

I don't understand your question... All Manfrotto ballheads have a security lock on their plates, and Arca-Swiss plates use the screw or flip lock type. The only worry would be that the plates would twist on the setup and the setup might fall off etc.

[Duncan Frenz]

If you examine either of your Gitzo tripods, they have two set screws to prevent the ballhead from turning. If you are using your L plate with your RRS bh-40 then it is custom and has an anti-twist edge to prevent it from coming loose. Are you using an RRS QR clamp with your 486RC2, or do you remove the L plate and use an RC2 plate for your monopod?

[ScootersDaddy]

Oh, well let me try to explain it more clearly. My L plate and my RRS ballhead will be here tomorrow so I have not yet tried them together... For the past two weeks I've been using the Manfrotto ballhead, first on the Manfrotto 190 tripod and now on the Gitzo. Same issue with both. I am concerned about securing the ballhead to the tripod or monopod. On my current Manfrotto setup I find that the ballhead comes undone rather easily from the tripod. I don't see anything to really secure it. There is no lock washer, no Orings, nothing to supply tension or friction between the tripod plate and the ballhead. Thus, given sufficient force it will come apart no matter how hard you tighten the two elements together.

I did manage to get it a bit tighter by winding some teflon tape over the post and then used channel lock piers to hold the round plate securely while I tightened down the ballhead by hand. But this seems like kind of stupid solution for such expensive gear. Why isn't there an easier way to create a secure connection that won't come undone with light force? There ought to be a pin or something to lock it up once screwed together.

[Duncan Frenz]

Oh, well let me try to explain it more clearly. My L plate and my RRS ballhead will be here tomorrow so I have not yet tried them together... For the past two weeks I've been using the Manfrotto ballhead, first on the Manfrotto 190 tripod and now on the Gitzo. Same issue with both. I am concerned about securing the ballhead to the tripod or monopod. On my current Manfrotto setup I find that the ballhead comes undone rather easily from the tripod. I don't see anything to really secure it. There is no lock washer, no Orings, nothing to supply tension or friction between the tripod plate and the ballhead. Thus, given sufficient force it will come apart no matter how hard you tighten the two elements together.

I did manage to get it a bit tighter by winding some teflon tape over the post and then used channel lock piers to hold the round plate securely while I tightened down the ballhead by hand. But this seems like kind of stupid solution for such expensive gear. Why isn't there an easier way to create a secure connection that won't come undone with light force? There ought to be a pin or something to lock it up once screwed together.

There is! There are two set screws that you tighten to secure the ballhead from the bottom.

[ScootersDaddy]

Well not on the smaller Gitzo. I'm looking at it right now, nothing there beneath the plate. I'll check the bigger one though this evening. Thanks!