jiminlondon99
Well-known member
Fed up with the problem of having to continually lock the fluid head when using the scope and or camera I decided to modify the head. I have wasted so much time and lost photo opportunities aligning and locking the scope on target I was determined to improve things! Having looked at the design I was pleasantly surprised that it only took about 40 minutes to complete, including taking the poor quality (camera shake) pictures. Other users may find the change helpful as it allows the built in spring to balance the scope and 30x eyepiece without any additional friction, so one finally gets the full benefit of the fluid head. Used with the TLS and an SLR a small amount of additional friction adjustment is needed, but the combination can still be moved far easier than the original set up where the high friction setting prevented easy and accurate movement.
1. Remove the sliding head plate Allen screw and small guide plate.
2. Refit guide plate for sawing guide slot and tape sides of the bracket to prevent damage in the vice then hacksaw guideline into the two stop plates.
3. The detachable (Silver) guide will then fall away and you can then file off the forward section of the integral slide stop. That’s basically it, clean off all the swarf and reassemble the head.
4. Reduce the size of the sliding plate locking bracket to allow the head to be locked in the new full forward position & you have equilibrium!
I have another plan to modify the tripod quick release plate to see if I can achieve the same degree of "perfect harmony and balance with the camera"?
Jim
1. Remove the sliding head plate Allen screw and small guide plate.
2. Refit guide plate for sawing guide slot and tape sides of the bracket to prevent damage in the vice then hacksaw guideline into the two stop plates.
3. The detachable (Silver) guide will then fall away and you can then file off the forward section of the integral slide stop. That’s basically it, clean off all the swarf and reassemble the head.
4. Reduce the size of the sliding plate locking bracket to allow the head to be locked in the new full forward position & you have equilibrium!
I have another plan to modify the tripod quick release plate to see if I can achieve the same degree of "perfect harmony and balance with the camera"?
Jim
