Tripod head loose or locked for transport?
 

Hi folks,

After spending thousands of dollars on a tripod system you want to take care of it properly. Is it better to keep the drag and / or break locks on the head loose or locked when you are transporting the system, and why?

I'd been told by Sachtler a long while back that you should set all drag to 0 and counterbalance off, then lock the pan and tilt locks. But others said they'd been told the opposite.
Steve

personally I prefer loose so if they get banged around the head will move a bit. I'm afraid if the head is locked and some gorilla manhandles it something might go kadiwaumpus (nice word huh?)
Could be the wrong thing to do but it's just a personal thing.

I lock mine, simply because it has a strong spring, and the handles only stay flat with the legs when I lock it. It fits in my trunk better that way. I guess I could do the same with a strap.

Frankly, give it enough pressure and the locks slip, so I don't think that locking it makes it more prone to damage.

I assume we're talking about plane travel? I actually take the head off the sticks and pack it in the middle of suit case surrounded by lots of cushioning. I keep the handles off even when I just lugging it around myself.

Sachtler has video at sachtler: ideas_in_motion and around 4:25 on the fluid head video, they discuss transport settings...

They say to put settings to maximum drag, and open the brakes.

So they do, well who'd of thunk it. That's an unusual combo, you'd think it'd be the other way around.

Miller here in Sydney say, for bagged travel unlock the brakes on their DS5/10/20 heads.

Cheers.

Can you not set the spring to zero? I'd have thought that leaving the spring locked in one position would be the worst thing to do as maybe it'd get set in the position.

As for Sachtler saying tighten drag and leave locks open I am surprised, not what they told me years ago.

I wonder if we're all worrying a bit much about nothing here though, maybe these things are only really an issue if the head is sitting on a shelf for 5 years.

Steve

Yea, I just happened across the video and thought I'd add it to the discussion - don't really know what to think. Other makers may recommend something different...

My Sachtler FSB-4 manual states:

"Transportation: During transport both brakes should be
opened. Damping should not be set to “0” position.
If it is set to “0” position, the shocks from transportation
cannot be absorbed."

It also states: "To ensure smooth operation of the setting rings over the
long life time period of the fluid head, you should turn both
setting rings from position “0” to maximum position, before
and after the use of the fluid head."

So, it seems like they state that the damping should be on the maximum setting unless you are actually using the head.

Any kind of transportation applies, not just plane travel. Accidents happen and since a tripod must be relegated to transporting out of sight unlike a camera, unsuitable for a pelican case, and usually in a soft case if not bare naked, you want to set the head so impacts can be absorbed.


If it's about transportation, not at all. Storage is a different ball of wax. Taylor touched on it a la Sachtler...



For plane I'd suggest a hard case like Tuff pack or A&J and padding the inside with other items, foam or a soft case.