How strong is the tripod mount on the bottom of a DSLR?

Question

I'm looking at getting a sling-style strap for my camera (Canon 60D) but the one thing I keep wondering is if the tripod mount is strong enough to "hang" the camera from. I've seen some discussions of this, but no clear answer.

Are the any known issues with hanging a camera from the tripod mount? Would hanging it from one of the side lugs be stronger/safer?

Asked by Ward

Answer

The mount on the bottom of the camera is plenty strong. I carry a 5D and 1Ds Mk III around with my Black Rapid all the time and have had no problem. Just make sure you have the screw snugged down and check it periodically.

I really can't recommend these sling straps enough. I have a Black Rapid, so I haven't tried any others, but it's really made it a lot easier on my neck and back to carry heavy cameras and long lenses around.

Answered by Steve Ross

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What can I use to attach a strap to the tripod socket on my camera?

Question

Just bought a new strap which I'm very happy with then saw the fancy-schmancy slings that attach to the tripod-screw mount under the camera.

Is there a threaded bolt with a loop or two to allow me to attach one or both ends of my new strap to the tripod bolt? Something like this but perhaps cheaper and available in the UK?

I have a Nikon D5000.

Asked by 5arx

Answer

Almost a year on, I found the Opteka NS-7 on Amazon UK. I will post my findings once it arrives ...

Answered by 5arx

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Is there a standard tripod mount?

Question

Is there a standard tripod mount? Is it reasonable to assume that a given tripod will attach successfully to a given camera, or will I have to research my options?

Answer

Yes. The tripod thread is standard: 1/4-20, which means ¼", with 20 threads per inch.

This is specified by ISO 1222:2010. I'm not willing to pay the $57 for my own copy, but I'm kind of curious, as wikipedia says that the current standard also allows 3/8-16 — apparently that's an older mostly-European standard. This is probably old-hat to aficionados of classic field cameras, but was new to me — all of the modern Japanese DSLRs and compacts I've seen use the 1/4-20 thread. 3/8-16 may still be common for larger-format cameras. I think it's safe to say that for consumer and mass-market professional cameras, 1/4-20 is now almost universal.

The other important thing is that almost all modern tripods use a quick-release plate system. There's a small plate which has the tripod thread which screws directly to the camera, and then that snaps into the tripod head using a proprietary-to-each-company attachment. That means that even if your camera would use the less-common thread, you could get a plate that matches — for example, a Gitzo plate which comes with both threads. And adapters between these two threadings are readily available.

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Why doesn't my tripod ball head fit properly on the legs any more?

Question

I've a tripod ball head (Manfroto 496RC2) which used to fit perfectly with a tripod legs (Trax travelpod 480A) that I had. I removed the head a couple of days back and now I'm trying to reattach them but it just will not fit. It seems like either the screw in the legs have somehow become smaller or the attachment on the ball head have gotten wider.

Has anyone else had similar problem with their tripod legs / head?

Is their any kind of setting on the ball head that I'm unaware of?

Answer

I just figured out why it happened. It turns out the thread on the ball head got pushed inside (for whatever reason) and so, the screw on the legs could not fit properly.

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How do I fasten a Nikon D90 to a tripod head with camera alignment pin?

Question

A few years ago I got my first DSLR (a Canon EOS 350D), as well as my first tripod. Now I changed my camera to Nikon D90, but kept the tripod. When I first tried to mount my new camera on the old tripod, I got confused — there was no fixation hole on the camera's bottom as the tripod head would presume. Without that, there is nothing to make the camera stay at fixed position at all angles of z-axis (x being left-right, y being up-down, z being forward-backward). Here are the pictures to help you out:

Do I need to get a separate head for my tripod to accommodate my new D90? If not, how would camera stay in its position when the tripod is configured to take vertical or portrait photos?

Answer

That pin normally engages into a hole in a quick-release clamp base (and I can't recall ever owning a camera that had a hole for a registration pin, though I've owned a lot of cameras). The clamping force of the screw, combined with the surface area of the contact between the camera and the tripod head, should be more than enough to secure the camera.

You should be able to obtain a quick-release set (clamp and plate) for relatively low cost if you want a QR, but don't get a cheap plastic set. Alternatively, you can probably drive or press the pin out of the head, leaving a flat plate. You would probably want to add some sort of cushion to prevent marring of the camera -- one of those thin rubber sheets they sell as a jar opener would do the trick.

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How do I fasten a Nikon D90 to this tripod?

Question

A few years ago I got my first DSLR (a Canon EOS 350D), as well as my first tripod. Now I changed my camera to Nikon D90, but kept the tripod. When I first tried to mount my new camera on the old tripod, I got confused — there was no fixation hole on the camera's bottom as the tripod head would presume. Without that, there is nothing to make the camera stay at fixed position at all angles of z-axis (x being left-right, y being up-down, z being forward-backward). Here are the pictures to help you out:

Do I need to get a separate head for my tripod to accommodate my new D90? If not, how would camera stay in its position when the tripod is configured to take vertical or portrait photos?

Answer

That pin normally engages into a hole in a quick-release clamp base (and I can't recall ever owning a camera that had a hole for a registration pin, though I've owned a lot of cameras). The clamping force of the screw, combined with the surface area of the contact between the camera and the tripod head, should be more than enough to secure the camera.

You should be able to obtain a quick-release set (clamp and plate) for relatively low cost if you want a QR, but don't get a cheap plastic set. Alternatively, you can probably drive or press the pin out of the head, leaving a flat plate. You would probably want to add some sort of cushion to prevent marring of the camera -- one of those thin rubber sheets they sell as a jar opener would do the trick.

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Do GoPro mounts use standard tripod points?

Question

I've been looking at some wearable camera mounts, and I get the impression that GoPro mounts are different from the standard tripod mount point.

Can I use my video camera with its standard screw-in tripod mount with a GoPro mount?

Answer

GoPro cameras do not have a built in tripod mount(1/4-20). They actually have a more specialized quick release clip built into the waterproof housing. To attach a GoPro unit to a tripod mount, you need the GoPro Tripod Mount which runs about $8 these days.

To answer your question, if you want to mount a GoPro camera to a tripod, you need the Tripod mount accessory. The various other mounts that you can get will allow you to mount the GoPro to things like a flat surface, curved surface, pivot arm, or a leather leash. You can pick these up in its "grab bag" mount kit as shown here. Note - this does not come with the tripod mount.

If you are asking about a video camera in addition to the GoPro, that will not work with any of the GoPro mount accessories, because it will not have the quick release GoPro mount.

Here is an image of the GoPro standard housing mount with quick release clip built into the housing:

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