Best 1/4" to 3/8" adapter?

[Greg]

One of my high quality ball heads does not offer an OEM 3/8" tripod screw option. The only way to go is to get a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter. I have a few older ones but not that high of quality and the brass one scares me a bit to use. I would assume that a SS 1/4" to 3/8" adapter would be the best way to go or ? Can anyone recommend a high quality 1/4" to 3/8" adapter?

Only a personal observation, but 1/4" tripod screws seem to now dominate the current market. Probably just the result of digital cameras vastly outnumbering LF cameras...

[Drew Wiley]

There are different qualities of brass. But long ago mechanics and machinists discovered that it's important to preserve a primary thread by using something potential sacrificial and a little softer for the secondary thread. I don't always follow that advice myself, and generally use stainless steel instead because our marine atmosphere around here inevitably corrodes even brass or chrome to a significant degree. The local camera store sells perfectly decent adapters. But if you want a good selection of all kinds of alloys, go to any real machinist supply (if any are open at the moment), or to the McMaster Carr website. You'll pay far more for the shipping than the item itself, unless they only package it in multiples, which might make sense to have around anyway.

[Jeff Keller]

If you get one with a large flange, you won't have to worry about it getting stuck in your tripod head.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...to_3_8_16.html
(I would remove any rubber pad) I tried a couple different brands and one of them had very few threads.

Probably getting one, with as many threads that will go into your tripod head as possible and still be flush, is as important as the material. Some of the adapters are short so that they are guaranteed to screw all the way in, but all the way in has very few threads. If you don't get one with a large flange, pay attention to the outside end which may have a small squared off or beveled flange. If you have to use one with a small beveled flange so that it will mount flush with your tripod head, removing it may take more than the appropriate size of screwdriver.

[Pieter]

If you get one with a large flange, you won't have to worry about it getting stuck in your tripod head.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...to_3_8_16.html
(I would remove any rubber pad) I tried a couple different brands and one of them had very few threads.

Probably getting one, with as many threads that will go into your tripod head as possible and still be flush, is as important as the material. Some of the adapters are short so that they are guaranteed to screw all the way in, but all the way in has very few threads. If you don't get one with a large flange, pay attention to the outside end which may have a small squared off or beveled flange. If you have to use one with a small beveled flange so that it will mount flush with your tripod head, removing it may take more than the appropriate size of screwdriver.

I have the opposite problem: most adapters are too long and protrude beyond the camera base. Also, I prefer ana adapter that has a slot cut into it so I can remove it with a flat-blade screwdriver.

[Bob Salomon]

The best is the LInhof brass one.

[Pieter]

The best is the LInhof brass one.

And the Gitzo one?

[Bob Salomon]

And the Gitzo one?

Not as good. Too long.

[Greg]

The best is the LInhof brass one.

Found two Arca-Swiss 8mm 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 adapters that I had bought years ago, never used (still in original packaging), but stored and forgot about. They look to be a lot, I mean a lot better than my 4mm generic brass bushings that I just didn't trust to do the job. Also looks to me that there are different hardnesses of brass out there? Arca-Swiss quality and machining has to be akin to Linhof's from what I can tell. Ended up throwing away a couple of them that were between 4-5mm in "height".
Thanks to everyone who posted...

[Greg]

Found two Arca-Swiss 8mm 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 adapters that I had bought years ago, never used (still in original packaging), but stored and forgot about. They look to be a lot, I mean a lot better than my 4mm generic brass bushings that I just didn't trust to do the job. Also looks to me that there are different hardnesses of brass out there? Arca-Swiss quality and machining has to be akin to Linhof's from what I can tell. Ended up throwing away a couple of them that were between 4-5mm in "height".
Thanks to everyone who posted...

Available from B&H: Arca-Swiss Adapter Screw 8mm 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 Reducer Bushing BH #ARB.2538 • MFR #809011
Just ordered 2 spares.

[Tin Can]

Bob, I often buy from reputation

I will buy a $30 Linhoff just to test it

I have been using Wimberley BS-100 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 Brass Reducer Bushing $4

Arca-Swiss Adapter Screw 8mm 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 Reducer Bushing $10

The best is the LInhof brass one.

I really like the Latest, perhaps old Deardorff method that adapts from inside the camera

I have chipped broken diecast crap out after it broke

I vastly prefer to switch the tripod male screw

The best design and adjust for length are the Majestic screws, also spring loaded popup and long enough even for a KMV

I bought the last 2 inventoried Majestic at the last warehouse from the last owner by telephone, not that long ago

in box