Forgot my quick release clamp. Please help.

I am now in Europe and dragged my tripod with me to take pics of the buildings at night only to discover that I left the quick release clamp at home. I went to a local camera store and the guy wanted to charge me $35 for one.
I have the manfrotto tripod. Is there anyway to use it without the clamp?

You forgot the plate? Got a spare one attached to any of your long lenses?

If worse comes to worse, open your aperture as wide as you can, ISO to 1600 and try to steady yourself against something solid.

So you have spent the time and money to go to Europe, left the clamp behind...and now don't want to spend $35 on a new clamp?

Pay the $35...

$35 seems cheap compared to the thought of carrying a tripod 3,000 miles and never using the damn thing once.

Can you screw the camera directly onto the tripod?

If you need to use the tripod soon, pay the $35. Otherwise, shop around.

BTW, did you really forget your QR clamp or the QR plate? If you forgot the plate, but are mistakenly asking the guy for a clamp, then that sounds about right. I believe the clamps are $30ish here in the States. Plates would be around $15.

Can't you just undo the quick release stuff and screw your camera on the old fashioned way? Otherwise, pony up the $35.

thenextguy wrote in post #12819842
Can you screw the camera directly onto the tripod?

crn3371 wrote in post #12819954
Can't you just undo the quick release stuff and screw your camera on the old fashioned way?

Manfrotto tripods have a 3/8" thread for the head that won't fit the 1/4" thread of the camera.

Just pay the $35 or 35 Euro. EVERYTHING is more expensive in Europe. 3 beers sometimes costs me more than that in Europe.

Pay the $35 and enjoy yourself. $35, isn't that what a Big Mac costs over there?

Guys,
If I were in your shoes, I would tell me to buy the darn clamp also, but now that I am in Europe and the dollar is worthless here, and spending crazy money on everything else, this 20 euro clamp just became the last straw. I can't find a way to unscrew the quick release. I may bite the bullet and buy one anyway, or just hike up the ISO.
I have not shot higher than iso 800 on my 40D, so I am concerned that it may not be good at 1600 or 3200.
Thanx for all your suggestions.

msowsun wrote in post #12819984
Manfrotto tripods have a 3/8" thread for the head that won't fit the 1/4" thread of the camera.

Just pay the $35 or 35 Euro. EVERYTHING is more expensive in Europe. 3 beers sometimes costs me more than that in Europe.

Actually, beer here (Vienna) is cheaper than water.

Sell your tripod while you are there, use the cash on the trip and replace it when you get home

Bite the bullet. Whenever I go to Germany, I go knowing that I'm gonna pay out the nose for everything. My bar tab ranges from "ridiculous" to "just plain stupid". But I'm on vacation, so screw it...

davudvl wrote in post #12820112
Actually, beer here (Vienna) is cheaper than water.

Makes drowning more fun too.

Bob