| GunzorroOffline• • • • • •Upload & Sell: On |  p.1 #11 · How tight do you tighten your tripod plates, etc? |
Like the OP (apparently), I don't use Arca-Swiss style grooved rail mounting system. I use Manfrotto quick release hex plates, which work fine in the horizontal position. But in turning the head to vertical (surely you folks all remember this!), unless the screw in the QR plate is quite tight, some rotational slippage can occur. I'm pretty good after all these years at assessing how much torque to apply to keep the camera, spotting scope or other attachments from slipping in normal use. To answer the OP's questions: For attaching QR plates to camera bases, use some care not to over tighten or you may damage the base of the camera. Tighten the screw until your feel it is tight, then use your hands to try to turn the plate. If it budges at all, you need to apply a bit more torque until is it firm. Some plates are more likely to slip. If made from a hard, smooth material (even a hard rubber), it will slip more easily than a plate that is faced with patterns such as ridges or other 3D pattern. For attaching battery grips -- extreme care must be taken to NOT apply excessive torque. You can easily bust through the top of the accessory grip, causing a severe problem with some camera models (Nikon is particularly susceptible to breakage, even the OEM parts). While the QR plate and camera base can tolerate a good amount of torque, the battery grip cannot. Usually the grips are made with side flanges contoured to the camera body to prevent rotation. Back to QR camera mounts: if you have one that is prone to rotation, you can purchase an extra plate and build on a mated top surface from several quick set polymers or epoxy-like compounds. A release agent will be needed and perhaps a thin mask (Glad Wrap, etc). Then you'll have a simple, custom fit mount plate. To summarize: Less care needs be taken with mounting plates or quick release plates than battery grips. Tighten slowly and carefully until either is just secure, and leave it at that. Don't over tighten or you risk damaging the camera and/or battery grip. PS -- Just read your last note -- you are not tightening the battery grip enough. Mine (Canon and Nikon) never come loose. There is always a tiny amount of flex in these connection, but no loosening should occur. Sounds like you are being too gentle. Hope this helps answer your questions. Good luck!  Edited on Apr 08, 2014 at 04:56 PM · View previous versions |
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(or Hejnar, or ...)
I've been using grips since the Canon A2 (film, mid-1990s) and never had an issue with this. I would not recommend anything "liquidy" and "sticky" being applied to any camera gear. Do you keep your equipment somewhere where there is a lot of vibration like the cab of a semi truck or an airplane? You seem to have more than the "normal" amount of screw-loosening issues.
Edited on May 11, 2014 at 09:39 PM · View previous versions
My method is to tighten to what seems a good point, then put light rotational force on the grip, back and forth, back and forth to see if there is any remaining play in it. If it flexes or "creaks" against the camera base, continue tightening until all possible movement is gone. Doing this in careful, but firm, stages should solve your issue without damaging the gear. You may have an Arca-Swiss mount system in your future! 
