How do I mount a Nikon D90 on a tripod head with an alignment pin?
Asked 9/19/2011
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My tripod head has a mounting screw plus a small alignment/registration pin. My Nikon D90 only has the standard tripod socket on the bottom, and I don’t see a matching hole for that pin. Is this normal, and how should I attach the camera? Will the camera stay secure, including when shooting in portrait orientation, or do I need a different head or plate?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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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.
Originally by user2719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2719
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, this is normal. The Nikon D90 mounts using the standard tripod screw only; most camera bodies do not have a separate hole for that alignment pin.
That pin is typically meant to engage with a quick-release plate or clamp, not the camera body itself. If your tripod has a quick-release plate, remove the plate, screw it firmly into the camera’s tripod socket, and then reattach the plate to the tripod head. The camera is held in place by the clamping force of the screw and the contact area between the camera and plate/head.
If the pin gets in the way, it may be spring-loaded or removable. A thin rubber pad can also help improve grip and prevent marking the camera base.
So in most cases, you do not need a new tripod head—just use the screw/quick-release plate correctly and ignore the pin unless it’s designed to work with the plate.
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