Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 at DVinfo.net

Jeff Baker · November 18th, 2011, 10:13 AM

Okay I just got this Tripod this morning so User Error is big possibility here, but I am really having a hard time getting the plate to slide on to the Sachtler FSB-4 that just arrived from B&H.

I have the red side lock screw loosened and the red release button pushed in, but the plate has a lot of problems sliding to place, I really have to wiggle and force it to make it happen and that does not seem right. I have the arrow on the plate in the right direction and all that...

Is there a defect or a learning curve I am looking at here?

Mike Beckett · November 18th, 2011, 10:36 AM

Jeff,

Is this this the small touch & go plate, or the larger full size plate?

I think it's a side-load plate rather than something you slide in from the end of the tripod - i.e. you line up the long edge of the plate at the right hand side of your camera into the right hand edge fo the tripod slot, and then bring the left hand slide down into the tripod.

This is only a guess though, from my past Sachtler experiences. You may need to post pictures!

Les Wilson · November 18th, 2011, 12:07 PM

I have the fsb4. It's a side mount not a slide. That's an advantage in my book. Basiclly you arm the latch mechanism then drop the right edge on he head first then come down as mike described. Once it's on you can release it and slide it to balance it without concern it will slide out.

Jeff Baker · November 18th, 2011, 01:43 PM

This is a slide mount (from the back I guess). Here are some pictures. I purchased an extra plate, so trying that now.

Mike Beckett · November 18th, 2011, 01:46 PM

Jeff, it looks like you are trying to mount the plate from the rear of the head. You need to be mounting it from the side.

Standing behind your tripod, you align the plate on top of the tripod, and click it in, right hand side first, then left hand side. It looks like you are trying to slide it in from the rear of the head, which isn't how these are meant to work.

(Still an off-chance I am missing something here!).

Jeff Baker · November 18th, 2011, 01:50 PM

Your right, I am trying to slide it in from the back. Ugh, how embarrassing.

Works great, love it now. Thanks!

Chris Soucy · November 18th, 2011, 02:22 PM

You're not the first, Jeff, and you won't be the last. It happens more often than you'd think.

CS

Mike Beckett · November 18th, 2011, 02:32 PM

Jeff,

No worries - it's one of those things, it seems odd at first. But it is a truly excellent mechanism, once you get used to it. I'm just happy for you that it wasn't a problem with the tripod.

I had it on my Vinten Pro-6HDV a few years back, and it was great. My Vision Blue is rear-load, which is just about the only think I don't like about it.

Now, enjoy your new toy!

November 18th, 2011, 10:13 AM	#1
Jeff Baker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 184	Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 Okay I just got this Tripod this morning so User Error is big possibility here, but I am really having a hard time getting the plate to slide on to the Sachtler FSB-4 that just arrived from B&H. I have the red side lock screw loosened and the red release button pushed in, but the plate has a lot of problems sliding to place, I really have to wiggle and force it to make it happen and that does not seem right. I have the arrow on the plate in the right direction and all that... Is there a defect or a learning curve I am looking at here?

November 18th, 2011, 10:36 AM	#2
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 Jeff, Is this this the small touch & go plate, or the larger full size plate? I think it's a side-load plate rather than something you slide in from the end of the tripod - i.e. you line up the long edge of the plate at the right hand side of your camera into the right hand edge fo the tripod slot, and then bring the left hand slide down into the tripod. This is only a guess though, from my past Sachtler experiences. You may need to post pictures!

November 18th, 2011, 12:07 PM	#3
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 I have the fsb4. It's a side mount not a slide. That's an advantage in my book. Basiclly you arm the latch mechanism then drop the right edge on he head first then come down as mike described. Once it's on you can release it and slide it to balance it without concern it will slide out.

November 18th, 2011, 01:43 PM	#4
Jeff Baker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 184	Re: Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 This is a slide mount (from the back I guess). Here are some pictures. I purchased an extra plate, so trying that now. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Canon C100, 5D3

November 18th, 2011, 01:46 PM	#5
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 Jeff, it looks like you are trying to mount the plate from the rear of the head. You need to be mounting it from the side. Standing behind your tripod, you align the plate on top of the tripod, and click it in, right hand side first, then left hand side. It looks like you are trying to slide it in from the rear of the head, which isn't how these are meant to work. (Still an off-chance I am missing something here!).

November 18th, 2011, 01:50 PM	#6
Jeff Baker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 184	Re: Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 Your right, I am trying to slide it in from the back. Ugh, how embarrassing. Works great, love it now. Thanks! __________________ Canon C100, 5D3

November 18th, 2011, 02:22 PM	#7
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Re: Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 You're not the first, Jeff, and you won't be the last. It happens more often than you'd think. CS

November 18th, 2011, 02:32 PM	#8
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: Diffculty attaching plate to Sachtler FSB-4 Jeff, No worries - it's one of those things, it seems odd at first. But it is a truly excellent mechanism, once you get used to it. I'm just happy for you that it wasn't a problem with the tripod. I had it on my Vinten Pro-6HDV a few years back, and it was great. My Vision Blue is rear-load, which is just about the only think I don't like about it. Now, enjoy your new toy!