Does your head wobble?

I have a Manfrotto 190X PRO B tripod, reasonably sturdy with a central column. When I decided to try my hand at video I added a 503 HDV floating head.

With so many knobs to twiddle it has taken until this year to really appreciate that, even when every knob is turned to its tightest, the head has about an inch of play. Not really why I paid for a floating head, but I put it down to a fault in manufacture.

Yesterday I decided to apply a bit of brain to the issue. I discovered that the extra play was not in the central column. And it was not in the floating head itself. A bit of a puzzle.

Well, the Internet is a wonderful resource. Choosing my search weapon carefully, I launched the question into the cybersphere and almost immediately pinned down an answer. There followed these actions:

– Turn tripod over and observe three flathead screws connecting the tripod to the floating head.

– Apply a screwdriver and a measure of force to each of these screws. Yes, they were loose.

Problem solved. If your head wobbles, maybe all you need is a flathead screwdriver.

(Edited on 2012-12-01 02:49:19 by Whiteway)

Wording your Google query just right will find the answer to most technical questions. Knowing answers used to be useful. Now it's knowing the right question that counts. 

^ Absolutely. I used to think there might be money in performing Internet searches as a job of work, but many folk do not understand the importance of the right phrase, or the right question.

Yeah - I have to tighten mine once a week.