found an old tripod/head combo... little help?

[jrm27]

Hi all,

I work at a church and a little while ago I was cleaning out a corner of a room. Wedged behind a TV was a tripd/head combo. A Bogen/Manfroto 3051 tipod with a Bogen/Manfroto 3063 head. I'm super escited for the find, because my other tripod is a piece of junk. So, this seems like a really solid setup. The only thing I dont like is the mounting plate for the head... It's this gigantic hexagon.

I'm wanting to build a shoulder rig that I can use in a hybrid setup, so I can take it off my shoulder and put it on the tripod. It seems like finding some kind of attachment that would allow me to use this mounting plate on a DIY shoulder rig could be quite daunting. Most of the QR stuff I see out there is small, rectangle, inobtrusive type stuff. So my question is, is the 3063 a good head? Should I ditch it and try to find something a little more "compatible" for a modular setup? Or am I completely missing the point here?

-jon

 

[ZazaCast]

They still make the hexagonal plates and systems.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/269979-REG/Manfrotto_625_625_3296_RC0_Hexagonal.html

I like them...although primarily designed for still photography....the plate lets you position the camera quick and easy.

 

[Alex H.]

The also make a QR plate for the 3063 that has a video pin in it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/557265-REG/Manfrotto_030VHS_14_030VHS_14_Quick_Release.html

 

[jrm27]

The also make a QR plate for the 3063 that has a video pin in it.http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/557265-REG/Manfrotto_030VHS_14_030VHS_14_Quick_Release.html

Thanks all. Noob question... What's the video pin for?Also, are there mounts that I could put on a shoulder rig that would connect to that hexagonal plate?

 

[Alex H.]

Thanks all. Noob question... What's the video pin for?Also, are there mounts that I could put on a shoulder rig that would connect to that hexagonal plate?

The video pin is the guide pin for mounting to video cameras. Still cameras don't utilize the pin, but video cameras have a divot that accepts the guide pin, which keeps the plate forward-oriented on the camera (or keeps the camera forward-oriented on the plate).

Most all shoulder rigs have the mount to take a quick-release plate.

 

[jrm27]

Thank you Alex. So, I would need to buy a couple of these setups then? http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-625-Connect-Adapter-030-14/dp/B0000A5A5J

and then place that clamp on my shoulder mount so I could easily switch between the shoulder mount and my tripod?

 

[Alex H.]

Thank you Alex. So, I would need to buy a couple of these setups then? http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-625-Connect-Adapter-030-14/dp/B0000A5A5J

and then place that clamp on my shoulder mount so I could easily switch between the shoulder mount and my tripod?

No. If you have the tripod head, you need only the quick-release plate. A shoulder rig, typically, will have its own mounting with quick-release for the camera to attach to the rig. The Manfrotto plate will then go onto the bottom of the rig so that it can be attached to the tripod.