11
Then slide the base plate back on.
If you can’t get the red catch to
‘click’ as it slides on, or the base
plate sticks, try putting it on
another way. Have patience with
this part, as it is not always easy
to start with.
Do not force anything. If you
have to force anything you are
doing it wrong.
When the red catch ‘clicks’, line up the edges of the base plate with
the head of the tripod and tighten the screw-catch.
If you need more height, you can use the large catches on each leg at
the top or bottom. It is easier to adjust the top catches, so always
extend the bottom ones first. That way you can do small adjustments
with the
top
catches
and you don’t have to lean down
in the
middle of filming.
Never extend the legs or move the
tripod
by pulling up on the camera. All
tripod
adjustments and movements must
be done
by holding the tripod itself. If you
drag on
the screw that holds the camera you could put massive strain on it and possibly rip the bottom out.
Once you have your height right, look at the head of the tripod.
At the top of the legs there is a small
circular spirit-level.
You can make sure your shot is level by reaching under the
legs and twisting the
post
under the head to release the ‘
bowl
’
the head rests on.
Hold the camera steady by the handle on
the top while doing this
.
When you have centred the bubble in the spirit level, tighten
the post back up.
Tripod movements:
The
fluid head
of the tripod will allow you to move the camera from side to side
(
pan
), up and down (
tilt
) and a smooth combination of the two.
You can adjust the position of the ‘
pan handle
’ by loosening and tightening the screw holding it in place
and moving it to a comfortable position for you.
You can increase or decrease the ‘
fluid drag
’ on either axis-
so you can have quick, whippy loose movements or slow
steady ones.
The
fluid drag control
for the
pan
axis is underneath the base
plate.
The
fluid drag control
of the
tilt
axis is on the right of the
head just below the base plate.
You can also lock off either axis or both and have it completely
fixed.
The
lock
for the
pan
axis is behind the camera by the spirit
level.
The
lock
for the
tilt
axis is on the right hand side of the tripod.
Never try to pan or tilt with the locks on- this can damage the threads.
Always lock off the tripod- especially on the tilt axis- before letting go of the handle.