Not the usual Tripod questions...

[taybo20]

...this is even more amateurish.

I have noticed that tripod mounting plates are different in that some only have a screw and others have a screw plus a pin.

My question is, on a T2i that only has the screw hole, would the camera not sit correctly if used on a mounting plate with a pin? Should I look for tripod heads that use mounting plates with screws only?

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[tnle2]

Usually that pin can be removed, but if it can't, then yes the T2i would not sit right because it doesn't have a hole to receive the pin.

The pin is used on video cameras which has a threaded hole (1/4-20) and a plain hole to receive the pin. The purpose of the pin is to prevent the plate from twisting.

Still cameras like your T2i only have the threaded hole so you have to use plates that only have one screw or plates where the pin can be removed. Check with the manufacturer. Usually the pin can be removed.

 

[taybo20]

Awesome Tim. Thank you very much for the reply!!

 

[jdv]

They're pretty easy to tear out as well (just slide back the rubber base, grab some pliers and BAM! Pin removed....

Hey, I do a lot of DIY projects!

 

[Ren Tachino]

I'm pretty sure that pin can be pushed down. Kind of like a button. Hard to explain, but when you put a camera without a pin hole on the bottom, the bottom surface of the camera will just push it down. You don't have to worry if its there and 550D doesn't have the hole. That's how my tripod foot is anyways.

 

[tnle2]

Ren makes a good point. The pin on many of these plates are spring loaded and just push out of the way.

Basically, don't worry about it too much because at the very least like John said you can just tear it out

But do keep an eye on the plate. The one screw design is not very good because the plate tends to twist. In the stills world, they even make custom plates with a machined lip to catch the edge of the camera to stop it from twisting.

 

[taybo20]

Thanks for the answers guys. I suppose if it were ever a problem I could get something akin to the Zacuto Gorilla Plate. However, with money always being an issue, I think I will try ripping it out before buying something like that.

 

[Ted Ramasola]

Some plate, like older manfrottos, have this second pin on a thread, on the under side you can use a small screwdriver to twist it down but not all the way out so its flush on the camera side.