Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Apr 2023
    Location
    Kentucky, USA
    Posts
    13

    Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    I am attempting to mount a Calumet 401 to a 3 Legged Thing tripod (Winston 2.0 with Airhed Pro head).

    The tripod head has an Arca-Swiss compatible release as shown below.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1102.jpg 
Views:	16 
Size:	45.7 KB 
ID:	238235

    Who knows what the camera mount is. You can see it below.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1101.jpg 
Views:	18 
Size:	60.2 KB 
ID:	238236

    The bolt fits fine but as you can see below, the plate itself is too small and doesn't contact the sides of the camera foot. The bolt is the only thing holding the camera to the plate and there's a good deal of wiggle. It's this gap in between that proves problematic.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1105.jpg 
Views:	19 
Size:	41.8 KB 
ID:	238237

    I have a cheap plastic plate that's wide and long which gives good coverage over the camera foot. However, it's cheap plastic and it's a Peak compatible release which doesn't fit the tripod head.

    Anyway, I'm looking for ideas about adapters or other kinds of plates I can use to combine these pieces of kit that are nearly 60 years apart from each other.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Apr 2023
    Location
    Kentucky, USA
    Posts
    13

    Re: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    I might have solved my own problem. Seems like this would fit just fine.

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...era_plate.html

    It would rest against the "wings" on the base plate of the camera. So, maybe I'd want to put a little bit of rubber in between to minimize scratching and provide some friction.

    Looking closer, it seems like there's a 3/8" to 1/4" reducing adapter in the bolt hole of the camera's base plate. If I could remove that, 3LT makes a longer plate that would sit inside of those "wings" nicely. What I don't want to do is damage that adapter trying to get it out.

  3. #3
    Small town, South Carolina, US
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Here
    Posts
    494

    Re: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    Recommend you buy a larger plate from another manufacturer to use in place of the too-small plate. That will be the the easiest and most efficient way of solving your problem.

    Another possibility is to find or have cut a piece of 1/4" thick aluminum plate large enough to cover the base of the Calumet
    and drill a 1/4" hole in its center. You then can replace the original screw (1/4-20) of your original with one 1/4" longer (from a hardware store.) Placing this plate between the original plate and the camera base should work fine. The worst problem you will encounter then will be keeping the camera from rotating on the plate.

    I prefer to have metal to metal contact between a large camera and the tripod to reduce vibrations. Your existing plate has cushions which aren't good - in my opinion.

    Edit: Looks like you found a solution while I was typing.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Apr 2023
    Location
    Kentucky, USA
    Posts
    13

    Re: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    Quote Originally Posted by rfesk View Post
    I prefer to have metal to metal contact between a large camera and the tripod to reduce vibrations. Your existing plate has cushions which aren't good - in my opinion.
    Thanks for your reply! This detail is good to know.

    I think that plate I linked will do exactly what you described. It may need a longer bolt as you mentioned. I'll see how it comes together when it gets here in a few days.

    Another option occurred to me as I was measuring this thing. It's about 37-38mm in between the "wings" on the base plate of the camera. If I were to remove the reducing bushing, a plate could sit flush against the metal between those "wings". It would then be attached with a 3/8" bolt. That plate would need to be 60mm or longer to have full contact. The wings could then act as anti-twist guardrails of a sort.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    SooooCal/LA USA
    Posts
    2,802

    Re: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    Making an additional plate that screws on to the camera mount is a good idea... A 1/4" to 1/2 " thick aluminum oversize plate that screws with a counter sunk bolt, or hardwood block with a T nut that can screw to the tripod screw, and it just gets left attached to the camera during storage etc...

    Steve K

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Apr 2023
    Location
    Western Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    30

    Re: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    I have a Calumet CC-400. I use a BENRO PU-60 plate for the Benro Arca Swiss quick release. It fits long-wise across. With the thin orange rubber in between to prevent slipping, it has been solid.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCF3629.jpg 
Views:	16 
Size:	23.5 KB 
ID:	238238Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCF3630.jpg 
Views:	12 
Size:	26.7 KB 
ID:	238239

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Iowa City, Iowa
    Posts
    1,700

    Re: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    I remember going through this 40 years ago with one of these lovely great cameras, I just made a thin aluminum spacer with a oversized hole, worked fine. I have a Calumet CC-4××? wide angle camera, love it. 65mm lens with a standard flat board. I use a Manfrotto plate, oversized rectangular, with the old hexagonal qr setup.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    332

    Re: Mounting a CC-401 to a 3LT Airhed Pro

    Duolab, the Calumet wide angle model is the 402.

Similar Threads

  1. Are Arca-Swiss mounting plates and Really Right Stuff mounting plates the same ?
    By MrFujicaman in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 19-May-2015, 08:29
  2. AZO Mounting
    By Pawlowski6132 in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 18-May-2011, 17:09
  3. Wet mounting???
    By Charles Boileau in forum Digital Processing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 18-May-2009, 03:07
  4. Wet Mounting
    By paulr in forum Digital Hardware
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 21-Nov-2004, 12:42

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •