tripods: heads on tripods

[specialman]

I may sound thick as two short planks but do all heads and tripods come with standard fittings so I could, for example, fit a giottos head to a redsnapper tripod?

I've only ever bought complete outfits before, hence the stupid question.

Looking at a Giottos birding head (for video) but not sure which tripod to fit it to...

 

[Canon Bob]

Typically yes, Pat....although I'm sure there'll be the odd exception.
Most tripods have a 3/8" stud protruding and the heads will have a 3/8" insert.

Bob

 

[Martyn...]

I may sound thick as two short planks but do all heads and tripods come with standard fittings so I could, for example, fit a giottos head to a redsnapper tripod?

I've only ever bought complete outfits before, hence the stupid question.

Looking at a Giottos birding head (for video) but not sure which tripod to fit it to...

Usually that is the case Pat, it is normally a 3/8 thread, if it is 1/4 they tend to have a reducing bush.

Some tripods have a reversible 1/4 & 3/8 bolt.

 

[specialman]

Cheers guys, thought I was on the right track its best to ask. Got to buy several tripods so didn't want to make an epic faux pas

 

[markmullen]

Yep, I use two tripods;

Manfrotto 055 XProB with a Manfrotto 405 head
Gitzo c/f mountaineer with Manfrotto 410 head

Both can be interchanged.

 

[specialman]

Looking at the Giottos birding head with either http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Giottos_MT_9240B or http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/283_Alloy_3-Section_Tripod.html

 

[footman]

I have a Manfrotto CF tripod with a 3/8 stud which is fixed. In order to use a velbon head for my spotting scope I had to buy a Manfrotto converter for about 17 quid.

 

[Nod]

IIRC, Manfrotto heads come with a 3/8 to 1/4 whit reducer screwed gently into the 3/8 threaded hole. I think it's my monopod (Manfrotto) that has a spring loaded 3/8 thread that slides down over the 1/4 one if you want to mount the camera directly onto it rather than use a head.