4x5 Tripod Question!

[samanthab]

Hi all,

I recently was gifted a 4x5 camera with various accessories. I'm trying to piece together the tripod properly and had a couple questions.

I am not familiar with the large plate on top of this tripod - what is it's purpose? Is the rail clamp meant to screw in/attach to the middle of the plate? I'm unsure whether this will be most safe/secure. The thread is also loose/not catching so It appears that I may need a new head.

Should I be getting something like this instead? https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wAAAAOSwNWhbvAFq/s-l300.jpg

Thank you in advance!
Samantha

[Robin H.]

Hello Samantha,

the plate on top is meant to give cameras with a flat bottom a large support platform. I've personally never used a Majestic head myself, but from what I gather they are very heavy duty and of high quality, so it'll handle your camera just fine.
As for the thread not catching; check if the thread inside the rail clamp and the screw that protrudes through te top plate aren't damaged. It might be a matter of a simple repair/replacement, instead of having to buy a whole new head.

Good luck!

[Drew Wiley]

One does not need replace an expensive head due to a very simple thread issue that might cost less than two dollars to fix. But which piece is affected needs to be determined first. Just take an ordinary hardware store 3/8-16 bolt and nut to test the threads.

[Keith Pitman]

That Majestic head is overkill for a 4x5 and will be a lot to carry around. You should be able to remove the head and attach the camera to the top of the tripod—no head. Give it a try.

[LabRat]

The Majestic single leg tripod + head do not weigh too much and are sturdy (but maybe staying closer to the car)... A good value, and aces it when doing still lifes... Maybe a little bulky when head is on it, but head is strong and light...

Head screw should be a minor issue if old one has not been tampered with, and I think is still carried by Bencher in Chicago area...

Steve K

[Jim Noel]

A single leg is not a tripod - it is a MONOPOD.

[LabRat]

A single leg is not a tripod - it is a MONOPOD.

Rather than the two strut leg type, you know...

Steve K

[jonby]

Hi all,

I recently was gifted a 4x5 camera with various accessories. I'm trying to piece together the tripod properly and had a couple questions.

I am not familiar with the large plate on top of this tripod - what is it's purpose? Is the rail clamp meant to screw in/attach to the middle of the plate? I'm unsure whether this will be most safe/secure. The thread is also loose/not catching so It appears that I may need a new head.

Should I be getting something like this instead? https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wAAAAOSwNWhbvAFq/s-l300.jpg

Thank you in advance!
Samantha

When you say the screw is loose/not catching, could it be that the screw is simply the wrong size, or do you think it is the right size but damaged (screw or thread in the rail clamp)? It's just that there are two thread sizes in common use with cameras and tripods. The Cambo camera has the larger of the two (3/8"), but the most common size on tripods is the smaller one (1/4"). If this is the case with your tripod, you can get a little adapter that screws into the camera's tripod thread to convert between the two.

However, maybe it's not this - maybe the threads are damaged, in which case you should try to see whether it's the camera or the tripod and replace that part.

I have one of these cameras (or a similar version). It's a great camera, through not the easiest to carry anywhere. I have always wondered why they made the rail clamp base so small through! It looks a bit lost on your tripod head with its huge platform. Nothing functionally wrong with that, but as others have said, it's overkill for that camera. You might want to get something lighter if you plan to take it out. Indoors however, it should be great as long as you can attach the camera securely.

[samanthab]

Thanks everyone for the great tips! Will definitely try to just replace the screw for now - hopefully that will work. While the tripod does seem a little overkill, it will definitely do the trick capturing things from home during isolation. Thanks again, all!






When you say the screw is loose/not catching, could it be that the screw is simply the wrong size, or do you think it is the right size but damaged (screw or thread in the rail clamp)? It's just that there are two thread sizes in common use with cameras and tripods. The Cambo camera has the larger of the two (3/8"), but the most common size on tripods is the smaller one (1/4"). If this is the case with your tripod, you can get a little adapter that screws into the camera's tripod thread to convert between the two.

However, maybe it's not this - maybe the threads are damaged, in which case you should try to see whether it's the camera or the tripod and replace that part.

I have one of these cameras (or a similar version). It's a great camera, through not the easiest to carry anywhere. I have always wondered why they made the rail clamp base so small through! It looks a bit lost on your tripod head with its huge platform. Nothing functionally wrong with that, but as others have said, it's overkill for that camera. You might want to get something lighter if you plan to take it out. Indoors however, it should be great as long as you can attach the camera securely.

[Alan Gales]

Thanks everyone for the great tips! Will definitely try to just replace the screw for now - hopefully that will work. While the tripod does seem a little overkill, it will definitely do the trick capturing things from home during isolation. Thanks again, all!

If you do end up getting another head or head and tripod then look at eBay and this forum. Tripods are a lot cheaper used over new.

By the way, I like your name. My wife and I named our daughter Samantha. :)

[LabRat]

If you do end up getting another head or head and tripod then look at eBay and this forum. Tripods are a lot cheaper used over new.

By the way, I like your name. My wife and I named our daughter Samantha. :)

This pod is great!!! Just used the same model yesterday... (And I have quite a few tripods...) ;-)

Steve K

[DrTang]

That Majestic head is overkill for a 4x5 and will be a lot to carry around. You should be able to remove the head and attach the camera to the top of the tripod—no head. Give it a try.

not with a majestic tripod... the head slips over the post...it doesn't screw on to it

[Alan Gales]

This pod is great!!! Just used the same model yesterday... (And I have quite a few tripods...) ;-)

Steve K

I don't doubt you one bit, Steve. It's just that tripods/heads are like cameras. Everyone has their own opinion of what they like. :)

[LabRat]

I don't doubt you one bit, Steve. It's just that tripods/heads are like cameras. Everyone has their own opinion of what they like. :)

The one thing that takes getting used to on the Majestic head and pod is a lot of locking knobs... You get the hang of them, but maybe usually shoot downwards by using the gear drive crank... Then one day out in the field you are shooting everything 45 deg upward, meaning the crank is now facing forward... Most of the rest of the head locks are reversed, so you have to think about it a little...

The center column extension goes really high, but shakey... But can be at full extension using strobe...

But I like this tripod, fairly strong but not very heavy...

Steve K

[Sasquatchian]

I bought my Majestic in '82 when I started school and it's still going strong today. My Majestic gear head finally crapped out when they were still around I asked them about a conversion from the old 1.5" post to a 3/8th thread and they had some really convoluted unnecesarrily complicated conversion piece so I went out to Industrial Metal Supply, bought a piece of 1.5" ID steel tubing, got out my acetylene torch and brazed up my own custom converter that now lets me put modern tripod head on with no problem. Still prefer the 5662 Gitzo whenever possible but the Majestic is good gear. The other thing I did a long time ago was replace the aluminum upper leg section with stainless steel as the aluminum always dented in when tightening down the lock knobs for the leg spread. That fixed that issue and added a whole 'nother level of rigidity (and weight) to the beast. Who knows - you may be able to find smaller Majestic plates for the top of your gear head. They did make them in a few different sizes.