10
Operation
Lift the complete tripod and head out of the case using the finger holes just below the top clamps.
Set the pan bar.
.
Still holding the finger holes, open out the legs. Gentle foot or hand pressure on the spreader
will ensure that the legs are fully spread.
Adjust the operating height by undoing the leg clamps
and pulling the tripod up to the desired
height. Adjust the spreader
if necessary. Level the head using the level bubble.
Tighten the clamps
until an audible click is heard and the knob is in the horizontal, locked po-
sition.
In the case of a ‘baby-legs’ tripod, tighten the cleat rope spreader
.
NOTE:
The following procedures refer to a two-stage tripod fitted with a Vision head
and a floor spreader. The procedure for single-stage tripods is essentially
similar. When using a two-stage tripod the bottom stages should be fully
extended or fully retracted, unless conditions such as split levels prevent this.
NOTE:
Keep the spreader attached to the tripod
NOTE:
Always use the spreader where possible as this increases rigidity of the tripod.
Being flexible, the spreader compensates for uneven ground. It can be
removed and a dolly fitted. At the fullest extension of the spreader and with all
legs fully retracted, the tripod can be used at its lowest operating height.
Although the tripod can be set up lower than this without the spreader, it is
NOT recommended as the tripod geometry becomes unstable
NOTE:
An optional, conventional floor spreader (3379-3) is available for the ‘baby-legs’
tripods.
WARNING! It is possible to set the tripod legs so that the centre-of-gravity
of the tilted payload falls outside the footprint of the tripod, lead-
ing to instability.
Use a mid-level or floor spreader to ensure that the tripod legs
are spread sufficiently so that the centre-of-gravity of the tilted
payload remains within the footprint of the tripod.
Secure the tripod with the tie-down hook (7) or hang a suitable
weight from the hook.
NOTE:
The Vision spreader protects floors and carpets as well as preventing the
tripod legs sinking into soft ground and should be used at all times.
If the floor spreader cannot be used, use Vision carpet feet and a ‘Spread-Loc’
mid-level spreader.
