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02-27-2012, 05:43 PM   #1
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Tripod pin

I often see on tripods a sprung pin in front of the 1/4" camera screw.

What is this designed for ?

I find it just scratches an arc to the underside of cameras so I always remove it.

Is it supposed to be an anti-rotate pin ?
I haven't noticed a hole for it to go into on any camera I've owned.

02-27-2012, 06:19 PM   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by chromo Quote
I often see on tripods a sprung pin in front of the 1/4" camera screw.

What is this designed for ?

I find it just scratches an arc to the underside of cameras so I always remove it.

Is it supposed to be an anti-rotate pin ?
I haven't noticed a hole for it to go into on any camera I've owned.
I only know what I 'assumed' it was for--- i.e. to hold the slack out of things incase you didn't screw it together tightly the camera wouldn't rock
and role and vibrate
02-27-2012, 06:49 PM   #3
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I believe it is for video cameras so they can be aligned properly.
02-27-2012, 06:50 PM   #4
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I've also checked for holes under the cameras but no one seem to have any.

02-27-2012, 07:07 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by demp10 Quote
I believe it is for video cameras so they can be aligned properly.
You got it right. If you don't have a video camera exactly square on the mount, you get compound moves when you tilt, with the horizon shifting off level. Most dedicated video cameras have a non-screw pin hole in front of the 1/4-20 mount to align the camera. Most tripod mounts now include this alignment pin - sometimes it is sprung as described by the OP, and sometimes it screws in. The screw-in type of pin tends to get lost within minutes of unscrewing them.
02-27-2012, 07:18 PM   #6
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Why doesn't DSLR got a mount for the pin?
02-27-2012, 07:24 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by VisualDarkness Quote
Why doesn't DSLR got a mount for the pin?
My old Sony F717 EVF (circa 2004) has the extra hole for the pin.

02-27-2012, 07:27 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by VisualDarkness Quote
Why doesn't DSLR got a mount for the pin?
As the difference between still and video cameras continues to blur, I wouldn't be surprised if dSLRs start to support them at some point. I suspect the only reason most don't is that dSLRs are still thought of as primarily for still photography.
02-27-2012, 09:52 PM   #9
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Well I just checked a couple of old video cameras I have, and sure enough, they both have the hole.

Perhaps this comes from the older and much larger and heavier video cameras of years ago. I can imagine they would spin on the screw very easily.

This made me think about my heavy 600mm so I checked the ring mount on it too... No hole.

Interesting !
02-28-2012, 05:51 PM   #10
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Just checked my old sony camcorder, there it is.
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