APO Televid plate problem (1 Viewer)

Rob Smallwood · Mar 2, 2005

I have just replaced my old Kowa TSN 3 with a Leica APO 77.

I am having great problems securing the plate - I am using the old plate on a Swarowski/Manfrotto fluid head but it works loose in minutes.

Do I need a different plate or is this a general problem?

matt green · Mar 2, 2005

Rob Smallwood said:
I have just replaced my old Kowa TSN 3 with a Leica APO 77.

I am having great problems securing the plate - I am using the old plate on a Swarowski/Manfrotto fluid head but it works loose in minutes.

Do I need a different plate or is this a general problem?

sounds like you need one of those quick release plates specialy desighned for leica scopes,see www.warehouseexpress.com.i think they retail at about 12.99 or so.best of luck,matt[still not a proper birder]

postcardcv · Mar 2, 2005

The plate mentioned may help with this problem, though for me it did not totally solve it. It kept the scope on longer than the standard plate managed, but it still worked loose quite quickly. In the end someone recommended using a pair of plyers to tighten the plate to the scope - this has done the trick and I've only had to re-do it once in teh last six months.

jeff · Mar 2, 2005

postcardcv said:
The plate mentioned may help with this problem, though for me it did not totally solve it. It kept the scope on longer than the standard plate managed, but it still worked loose quite quickly. In the end someone recommended using a pair of plyers to tighten the plate to the scope - this has done the trick and I've only had to re-do it once in teh last six months.

I had a similar problem with my Leica scope, on mine i'd worn the threads on the scope with the constant tightening all the time. I took it to my local shop (focus optics - corley) and the guy drilled it out and replace the thread (top man!), when he reconnected my plate he used some thread seal to stop it working loose all the time, works a treat

Cheers

Jeff

Pie Face · Mar 2, 2005

The special Manfrotto plates are c.£12 from southwest optics. I occasionally have to tighten it slightly but it totally solves the scope spinning round or worse dropping off problem.

Mark

Rob Smallwood · Mar 2, 2005

Thanks all - another £12.00 and a pair of plyers are a small price to pay for the fantastic increase in performance!

Swissboy · Mar 2, 2005

Rob Smallwood said:
I have just replaced my old Kowa TSN 3 with a Leica APO 77.

I am having great problems securing the plate - I am using the old plate on a Swarowski/Manfrotto fluid head but it works loose in minutes.

Do I need a different plate or is this a general problem?

Sorry, but this is all in the WRONG FORUM. Should be in the SCOPE section. :h?:

Darrell Clegg · Mar 2, 2005

Rob,
I had the same problem, and I casually mentioned it to Steve Rogers from South- West Optics while we were looking at a Baird's Sandpiper. He took the scope from me - removed the plate and put it on the other way round!! - It has never come loose since!

Having said that - I am left handed and have reversed the head of my tripod so that the arm is on the correct side for me.

Darrell

Antony Kay · Mar 2, 2005

Antony Kay (Optrep Optical Repairs)

Regarding worn-out threads on telescopes, I cannot recommend having a bush fitted into the old hole. These bushes are quite feeble and can easily break with the weight of something like a Televid on them.
Better idea, that we recommend, is to have a new thread tapped into the telescope's bracket. Alternatively, the old hole can be tapped out to the larger 3/8" W thread and use the appropriate Manfrotto QR plate. Some scopes have the small 1/4" W thread and the large thread already in the bracket. The larger thread is a better job and less likely to work loose.
Tightening with pliers is OK (dont overdo it) but never use glue please.

mike coleman · Mar 3, 2005

I agree with Antony, tighten the existing screw by all means, but tapping an extra hole into the belly of the bracket is the best thing to do. I took mine to a local engineering workshop and for about 14 quid it was sorted forever. (I still need to tighten the original screw once in a blue moon, but I do use my scope constantly nearly every day of the year).

Corax67 · Mar 3, 2005

Hi Rob,

Experienced similar problems myself with the Leica / Manfrotto (200PL) combo - managed to resolve this when a mate supplied me with a metal pin from a video tripod head which locates in the plate and scope to prevent twisting - apparently Manfrotto now supply such an item as an accessory in their catalogue.

He also gave me a liquid thread lock - a thin blue liquid goo to spread on the screw thread - this is apparently used by model engineers, and unlike glue it stops the screw loosening but the bond is not permamnent & application of a little extra force allows removal without damage.

The loosening effect also made me reconsider how I carry my scope & tripod - no longer do I leave the scope attached to a fully attached tripod & carry it balanced on my shoulder - when walking, the scope is over my shoulder on it's strap & the scope carried in hand - whilst this lengthens time taken to set up & get onto a bird, it far outweighs the risk of writing off a lovely (& very expensive) scope.

iporali · Mar 3, 2005

As much as I love the APO Televid optically, I have to appreciate the attention that Swarovski has paid on small details like the attachment plate. The older A/ST80 body has two threaded holes in the attachment "foot" (3/8" and 1/4"). With the quick release plate of the Manfrotto 501 head you can attach the scope with two screws - and this gives a nice feeling of security, when you carry the scope. My previous scopes were Kowa's, which both had a tendency to gradually work loose with their single screw.

Ilkka

griffin · Mar 3, 2005

I use the specially adapted Manfrotto Televid 77 specific plate and it works fine. However, I am sure I saw at Warehouse Express that it is now discontinued ???

Linz

Rob Smallwood · Mar 3, 2005

Thanks again all.

There was a special plate - and yes, it is discontinued - as i have learned today. This plate had a channel to fit the 'scope mouting so it could not move left or right. Brilliant! So why discontinue it.

The answer may lie in the soon to be released Manfrotto "omni" mount which will fit all scopes - replacing specialist Leica, Zeiss Swarowski plates.

Good news? Well, the "old" plates retailed at arounfd £12 each - the "new" "omni" plate is...you've guessed it... £40 !!

My current plate has three hole, the centre one with the main screw and a second smaller one at the back which aligns with the second hole on the @scope mount - but I expect that the fixing screw is too short, so I will try to get a longer one.

Ideally I would secure in three places but am reluctant to let anyone drill into the 'scope mount!

The other alternative (other than to shell out £40 when the new plate is released) is to see if anyone out there has an unwanted Manfrotto/Leica discontinued but altogether useful plate?

PS - what does the Leica "mount" on the 'scope actually fit - it must be designed to fit something?

Pie Face · Mar 3, 2005

Rob Smallwood said:
Thanks again all.

There was a special plate - and yes, it is discontinued - as i have learned today. This plate had a channel to fit the 'scope mouting so it could not move left or right. Brilliant! So why discontinue it.

The answer may lie in the soon to be released Manfrotto "omni" mount which will fit all scopes - replacing specialist Leica, Zeiss Swarowski plates.

Good news? Well, the "old" plates retailed at arounfd £12 each - the "new" "omni" plate is...you've guessed it... £40 !!

My current plate has three hole, the centre one with the main screw and a second smaller one at the back which aligns with the second hole on the @scope mount - but I expect that the fixing screw is too short, so I will try to get a longer one.

Ideally I would secure in three places but am reluctant to let anyone drill into the 'scope mount!

The other alternative (other than to shell out £40 when the new plate is released) is to see if anyone out there has an unwanted Manfrotto/Leica discontinued but altogether useful plate?

PS - what does the Leica "mount" on the 'scope actually fit - it must be designed to fit something?

Try this Rob www.jacobsdigital.co.uk they've definetely got them in as I've just looked.

Mark

Rob Smallwood · Mar 4, 2005

Mark,

Thanks.

Unfortunately the plate is "not in stock" at Jacobs although they were the first place I've tried who offered to contact Manfrotto to se if they had any left on the shelf.

I am assuming not as I have not heard anything yet.

Pie Face · Mar 5, 2005

That's weird Rob because if you search their website there still on and it actually lets you add them to your shopping basket?

Mark

Rob Smallwood · Mar 5, 2005

But they stilll can't deliver!

Touty · Mar 5, 2005

Antony Kay said:
Tightening with pliers is OK (dont overdo it) but never use glue please.

Not a Leica or a Manfrotto but I had the same problem with an Optolyth TBS80 / Cullman combo and I sealed it with epoxy resin. It lasted 8 years before the Cullman head gave up... it was a bugger to shift when I switched to a Manfrotto head and plate (2 €0.10c pieces totally destroyed as I turned the screw with a wrench).... almost made me wish I'd bought another Cullman

Swissboy · Mar 5, 2005

WRONG Forum

Administrators, are you listening????

This thread is in the wrong place, please move it. Things get to be annoying if posts are in wrong places. Thanks.

APO Televid plate problem (1 Viewer)

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