Tripod gave way.

Well I was out taking photos of christmas lights last night, and my tripod just crapped itself. What happened? My camera fell off, landed (fortunately) on grass, could have been worse. The impact was made on the flash. The flash smashed open, camera was fine. The flash was still working good.

I was able to put new screws into the frame to hold it together again with tiny almost unnoticable washers under them and it's all fixed. Yeah I was incredibly lucky

The problem was the knob on the tripod holding the head to the bit that extends was margainly too tight, and because when it turned it dragged the whole unit with it, eventually deeming the thread unusable. I managed to hacksaw some off and it's all fixed.

Has anybody had this sort of thing happen before, or am I the only stupid one (note: don't answer that :cool

Hey, it's better than losing your tripod by leaving it behind.

Time to get a better tripod?

Mathias927 wrote in post #6941007
What kind of tripod was it?

most likely the Velbon Vel-flo 5 PH 248 (Tripod) in his sig.

fubarhouse wrote in post #6936119
Well I was out taking photos of christmas lights last night, and my tripod just crapped itself. What happened? My camera fell off, landed (fortunately) on grass, could have been worse. The impact was made on the flash. The flash smashed open, camera was fine. The flash was still working good.

I was able to put new screws into the frame to hold it together again with tiny almost unnoticable washers under them and it's all fixed. Yeah I was incredibly lucky

The problem was the knob on the tripod holding the head to the bit that extends was margainly too tight, and because when it turned it dragged the whole unit with it, eventually deeming the thread unusable. I managed to hacksaw some off and it's all fixed.

Has anybody had this sort of thing happen before, or am I the only stupid one (note: don't answer that :cool

Sounds to me like you ought to scrap it and get something decent. It also sounds to me like it probably cost you more than it was worth (or certainly could if it happens again).

J

JohnJ80 wrote in post #6949622
Sounds to me like you ought to scrap it and get something decent. It also sounds to me like it probably cost you more than it was worth (or certainly could if it happens again).

J

Given the OP's DIY description for repairing it, I doubt he has learned his lesson. He walked away this time. Next time, he may not be so lucky. I would be looking for a new legset if I were him.

I'd also have to wonder about the stability of a tripod (in terms of image quality) if it can't stand up on its own.

j