I have a SLIK 700 PRO DX tripod. I ordered an Acratech Ultimate Ballhead to put on it, and I have tried the best I can but I have no idea how to do this. Are most tripod heads able to be installed on most tripods? Should I just try to sell it and forget about it?
The problem seems to me to be that the ballhead expects a connector bolt to be part of the tripod and on the SLIK it seems that connector bolt is part of the tripod head, not the tripod. Does this description make any sense? I know the words that I'm using aren't right. But do all tripods have that bolt in the tripod itself or do some have it in the head?
Thank you.
Posted by Richard Ditch on November 5, 2011 at 7:51 PM
I don't know the Slik.
In general, the tripod (legs and "spider" ) are fitted with a threaded post at the top that receives the head. The head has the matching female threaded connection. On consumer level gear this post and matching threaded hole on the head are 1/4" while on professional level gear the mounting post is 3/8" in size.
Many good tripods have a single post that unsrews from the tripod and can be reserved - one end is 1/4" and the other is 3/8"
I suspect your Slik tripod has one of these and it unscrewed from the tripod when you removed the Slik head. You should be able to unscrew it from the Slik head and install it back in the tripod with whichever end the new head requires.
Posted by Buck Ward on November 5, 2011 at 9:23 PM
I'm not familiar with your Slik tripod, Barbara, but I have owned the brand, a long time ago. I also own and use an Acratech Ultimate ballhead. It is a good piece of equipment. If you are going to get rid of one, keep the Acratech and replace the Slik.
When you remove the head from the tripod it should leave a stud sticking up in the top of the tripod. if the stud is too small for the Acratech, there are bushings available that will fit onto the 1/4" stud and convert it to a 3/8" stud, onto which the Acratech will fit. I think Richard right. - the stud that should have stayed in the your tripod may have come off in your Slik tripod head.
Posted by Richard Ditch on November 5, 2011 at 9:58 PM
From the Slik web site: http://www.thkphoto.com/products/slik/slik-02.html
LARGE AND STANDARD THREAD MOUNTING POSTS
THE PROFESSIONAL series has both large (3/8) and standard (1/4-20) threaded camera-mounting posts. When one is not in use, the post fits into a socket in the side of the head where it is out of the way yet always available.
REVERSIBLE HEAD ATTACHMENT SCREW
The reversible tripod head mounting screw on the center column lets you use the widest variety of heads from any manufacturer with either large or standard screw mount sizes.
Posted by Carol Hyman on November 6, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Barbara, I happened across this article earlier today and thought you might enjoying reading it. http://bythom.com/support.htm
Good luck with your search.
Regards,
Carol
Posted by David Bostedo on November 6, 2011 at 11:24 AM
I'll play devil's advocate to that Thom Hogan article. I think the price levels he sets for a good tripod are super high... you can get very good tripods and heads for a couple hundred dollars (aluminum Manfrotto, Benro, Slik, etc.). They won't be light weight, and you may wind up upgrading eventually - but you might also find out that they are plenty good enough for your use and amount of use.
If you're someone who uses your tripod several times a week, sure, spring for the expensive carbon fiber Gitzo, RRS, etc...but for me, an aluminum Manfrotto is great.
Posted by Barbara Graham on November 6, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Thanks for the pointers, Rich and Buck. I did get the part separated from the head, but still there is a connection not there somehow. I think somehow I'm going to have to try to find someone somewhere to pay to figure this out, I just don't know who. There is an NPN member, John Reed, who lives in Jacksonville and who does workshops. I've never met him, but maybe I could ask him about this in person.
I'm fine with the SLIK tripod. I did research before I ordered it, and I think it's fine for me. I did want an upgraded head, preferably a ballhead, and Mike Moats demonstrated and recommended this one, so that's why I ordered it. I just want to be able to attach it to my SLIK tripod. My tripod as it came weighed 5 pounds and something, so that's not bad at all. I have no desire or inclination to spend even more money than I've already spent on gear in the last several months to get a different tripod.
Great info, as usual, from the previous people.
I bet any local camera shop could figure out the problem, and might even have the adapter it sounds like you need.
Sandy
Posted by Richard Ditch on November 6, 2011 at 2:53 PM
I did get the part separated from the head, but still there is a connection not there somehow.
Post a photo in this thread of the connecting bolt you removed from the Silk head. Is it threaded on both ends? If so are both ends the same diameter or is one larger than the other? I know I've owned tripods that have a reversible mounting post (maybe even the Gitzo I have now is like that).
Given that the ball head is pro level gear I'll bet it takes the 3/8" diameter end.
Note this line from the Silk web site I posted before: "THE PROFESSIONAL series has both large (3/8) and standard (1/4-20) threaded camera-mounting posts. When one is not in use, the post fits into a socket in the side of the head where it is out of the way yet always available." Check the Silk head to see if you already have the larger diameter mounting post and if so try it on the new head. If you can't find it then call the manufacturer or store where you bought the Silk tripod and inquire about getting one.
Posted by Richard Ditch on November 6, 2011 at 9:48 PM
Sounds like you have disassembled the head incorrectly, as have other owners.
Posted by Barbara Graham on November 6, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Richard, thanks again. That is the problem, but I can't get it back like it was supposed to be now. I'm almost completely incompetent about anything like this, and it's so extremely frustrating to me and so discouraging. My husband is not able to help either. If I can't find anyplace closer to help before then I can meet John Reed a week from tomorrow near UNF, where he teaches on Mondays and Thursday, and he'll help me. But what you found is the exact problem. I just can't follow the instructions. :(
Well, I couldn't sleep because of this, so during the night I found an image of just the legs, which showed me what it should look like without the head. It turns out that the stud was really stuck in the head, so I sprayed some WD40 around it and used pliers and spent a lot of time using repetitive non-strong motion so as to hopefully not dethread it and eventually got it to move. Wow.
So now the ballhead is mounted on the legs, and now I see that it didn't come with a QR mounting plate. Argh. So now I'll order that and then hopefully be using it when I get that.
I also saw in all my research and searching that this tripod weighs 7 pounds instead of 5. :( But I'm in a state of lost confidence at the moment and am second guessing spending any of the money I've spent on gear and software, so this will have to do.
Thank you again for all your help, Richard and others.
Discussion
11 repliesThe problem seems to me to be that the ballhead expects a connector bolt to be part of the tripod and on the SLIK it seems that connector bolt is part of the tripod head, not the tripod. Does this description make any sense? I know the words that I'm using aren't right. But do all tripods have that bolt in the tripod itself or do some have it in the head?
Thank you.
In general, the tripod (legs and "spider" ) are fitted with a threaded post at the top that receives the head. The head has the matching female threaded connection. On consumer level gear this post and matching threaded hole on the head are 1/4" while on professional level gear the mounting post is 3/8" in size.
Many good tripods have a single post that unsrews from the tripod and can be reserved - one end is 1/4" and the other is 3/8"
I suspect your Slik tripod has one of these and it unscrewed from the tripod when you removed the Slik head. You should be able to unscrew it from the Slik head and install it back in the tripod with whichever end the new head requires.
When you remove the head from the tripod it should leave a stud sticking up in the top of the tripod. if the stud is too small for the Acratech, there are bushings available that will fit onto the 1/4" stud and convert it to a 3/8" stud, onto which the Acratech will fit. I think Richard right. - the stud that should have stayed in the your tripod may have come off in your Slik tripod head.
LARGE AND STANDARD THREAD MOUNTING POSTS
THE PROFESSIONAL series has both large (3/8) and standard (1/4-20) threaded camera-mounting posts. When one is not in use, the post fits into a socket in the side of the head where it is out of the way yet always available.
REVERSIBLE HEAD ATTACHMENT SCREW
The reversible tripod head mounting screw on the center column lets you use the widest variety of heads from any manufacturer with either large or standard screw mount sizes.
http://bythom.com/support.htm
Good luck with your search.
Regards,
Carol
If you're someone who uses your tripod several times a week, sure, spring for the expensive carbon fiber Gitzo, RRS, etc...but for me, an aluminum Manfrotto is great.
I'm fine with the SLIK tripod. I did research before I ordered it, and I think it's fine for me. I did want an upgraded head, preferably a ballhead, and Mike Moats demonstrated and recommended this one, so that's why I ordered it. I just want to be able to attach it to my SLIK tripod. My tripod as it came weighed 5 pounds and something, so that's not bad at all. I have no desire or inclination to spend even more money than I've already spent on gear in the last several months to get a different tripod.
I think my next step is to email John Reed.
Thanks again, everyone.
I bet any local camera shop could figure out the problem, and might even have the adapter it sounds like you need.
Sandy
Post a photo in this thread of the connecting bolt you removed from the Silk head. Is it threaded on both ends? If so are both ends the same diameter or is one larger than the other? I know I've owned tripods that have a reversible mounting post (maybe even the Gitzo I have now is like that).
Given that the ball head is pro level gear I'll bet it takes the 3/8" diameter end.
Note this line from the Silk web site I posted before: "THE PROFESSIONAL series has both large (3/8) and standard (1/4-20) threaded camera-mounting posts. When one is not in use, the post fits into a socket in the side of the head where it is out of the way yet always available." Check the Silk head to see if you already have the larger diameter mounting post and if so try it on the new head. If you can't find it then call the manufacturer or store where you bought the Silk tripod and inquire about getting one.
Sounds like you have disassembled the head incorrectly, as have other owners.
So now the ballhead is mounted on the legs, and now I see that it didn't come with a QR mounting plate. Argh. So now I'll order that and then hopefully be using it when I get that.
I also saw in all my research and searching that this tripod weighs 7 pounds instead of 5. :( But I'm in a state of lost confidence at the moment and am second guessing spending any of the money I've spent on gear and software, so this will have to do.
Thank you again for all your help, Richard and others.