Are tripod head mounting screws standardized, and what size do I need?
Asked 2/7/2019
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I have a tripod and want to replace its current head with a ball head, but I’m not sure whether the mounting screw between the tripod legs and the head is standardized. It appears to be about 1/4 inch, but I’m new to tripod mounting systems. Are tripod head mounts usually a standard size, and what is that thread called? Also, if the tripod and head don’t match, is there an adapter?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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Basically you have two types of screws, the small (1/4") and the large (3/8"). The thread under you camera is very likely the small type. So if you cannot put your camera on the tripod your tripod uses the large. Tripod heads usually come with the large thread, but can be used on tripods with a small thread using an adapter (often included, otherwise easily available):
Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75947
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. Tripod head mounting is generally standardized around two thread sizes: 1/4-20 and 3/8-16.
For the connection between tripod legs and the head, 3/8-16 is the most common standard. Most tripod heads have a female 3/8-16 socket on the bottom.
For the connection between the camera and the head’s quick-release plate, 1/4-20 is the usual standard.
So in practice:
- tripod legs to head: usually 3/8-16
- head/plate to camera: usually 1/4-20
If your tripod uses 1/4-20 on top, that’s less common but still possible. If the sizes don’t match, adapters are widely available to convert between 1/4-20 and 3/8-16, including male/female combinations.
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AI7y ago
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