locating pin on tripods/cameras - where have they gone?

[cirks]

something that I've found a bit odd since returning to the photographic world and moving from film to digital is that the locating hole in camera bases (and corresponding pin on the tripod mount) seem to have disappeared.
Obviously the screw thread is still the same but why has the locating pin gone? It seems to me it just means that you've got to tighten the thread that much more than you used to to stop movement of the camera on the mount....

[marctwo]

I've been wondering the same thing. Seems like a strange omission?

[GetCarter]

I've got the hole on the D2X
...but no pin on the tripod

[imperialism2024]

Hmm I've the pin on the tripod but no hole on the D70...

[te51cle]

When I was looking at tripods 15 years ago I was told that the locating pin was for video cameras only. Certainly my DV camera of 2 years ago still has a hole for a locating pin, but I've never seen a 35mm camera with such a hole.

[imperialism2024]

te51cle said:

When I was looking at tripods 15 years ago I was told that the locating pin was for video cameras only. Certainly my DV camera of 2 years ago still has a hole for a locating pin, but I've never seen a 35mm camera with such a hole.

mmm that makes sense

[GetCarter]

te51cle said:

When I was looking at tripods 15 years ago I was told that the locating pin was for video cameras only. Certainly my DV camera of 2 years ago still has a hole for a locating pin, but I've never seen a 35mm camera with such a hole.

They lied. Every one of my SLR's have had said holes (including my latest).

[funkynige]

Dad's spotting scope has a hole, my SLR (EOS 500) hasn't which caused a bit of confusion when I tried using his tripod!

[te51cle]

Fascinating. Not had one on My EOS 650, 620 or 1, my dad's Zenith, nor on my Mamiya 7II.

Nor the EOS 350D of course.

Edited by te51cle on Wednesday 12th July 20:16

[GetCarter]

te51cle said:

Fascinating. Not had one on My EOS 650, 620 or 1, my dad's Zenith, nor on my Mamiya 7II.

Nor the EOS 350D of course.

Edited by te51cle on Wednesday 12th July 20:16

I think it's Nikon & Hasselblad being cheap... I mean the more holes they put in a camera, the less material they use.

Having said that... there isn't one in Mrs Get's D50. Hmmm

[Platinum]

My Minolta Z2 hasn't got the hole.

I wonder if my new D50 will have...?

Edited by Platinum on Wednesday 12th July 21:11

[cirks]

20D hasn't, Ixus 400 hasn't and Vivitar 4100 hasn't BUT old Pentax Super-A and Minolta's did! I had to remove the pins from my tripods to use the current cameras