Tripod threads ...... help needed

[Rich K]

yesterday I purchased a Manfrotto 055xprob
with a basic pan tilt head head
I also have a tripod (that has seen better days) with a perfectly functional pro head

the new tripod and head of course connect together perfectly but the old head,
although looks like the same screw thread doesn't screw easily onto the new tripod.
There is resistance and I dont want to cause any damage.

so, they both look like 3/8 threads but is it likely that they are different.

if they are different where is the best place to get an adapter?

R

[K12beano]

It would be a surprise if they weren't the same thread!!

Have you tried a good clean of the old head thread???

[Rich K]

after digging around on google it seems they could both be 3/8 but with different t.p.i.

3/8 BSW (Whitworth)has 16 teeth per inch (older equipment)
3/8 UNC has 20 teeth per inch (newer equipment)


need to find an adapter now, I think


I assumed they were all the same ............ we live and learn hey.


below from wikipedia

Per ISO 1222:2010, the current tripod screw thread standard for attaching the camera calls for a 1/4-20 UNC or 3/8-16 UNC thread. Most consumer cameras are fitted with 1/4-20 UNC threads. Larger, professional cameras and lenses may be fitted with 3/8-16 UNC threads, plus a removable 1/4-20 UNC adapter, allowing them to be mounted on a tripod using either standard.

Historically, the thread standard for attaching older cameras to tripods was 1/4-20 BSW for smaller cameras or 3/8-16 BSW for larger cameras and pan/tilt heads.