Splayed Leg on Tripod!

BintyMcFrazzles

BintyMcFrazzles

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Jackie
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I have a Manfrotto Tripod 390 MK393-H, that I've had for about 2 1/2 years.

I was out and about in some ruins of an old building, when one of the legs started to splay! I don't know what happened, if I knocked it or something, but I think I've probably broken it. Two legs are stable, but the other has decided it's going to go off on it's own around 45 degrees, so as a consequence, it's now unstable. Whilst it's not exactly flopping about all over, it does make me nervous. Plus, due to leg splaying, my photos taken on the tripod aren't straight.

As you might be able to see here, on the right, the grey circle with black centre is "different" to the other two......

9093721e4c45b65084375bd0b1babb2e_large.jpg


Now, call me stupid, but are tripods designed to actually do this (intentionally)? ie If you want to do this, you can. But I can't seem to get it back to it's original position.

I have this sinking feeling, it's broken. :hungover:

Now, I know some of you will be thinking, "She bought cheap". Yeah, I know, but it was the best I could afford at the time, and it's been great (up until now!)

I just wanted to confirm with others that is IS broken, before I buy another. (OH is already complaining).




Edit: Sorry for the MASSIVE photo, but I don't know how to resize.
 
I don't know the tripod but many have a 'switch' of some sort on each leg to allow them to splay, I would think this is what has happened and it just needs to be switched back to the normal locked position.
 
As the others have said Jackie. the grey bit you are referring to is adjustable. It works on a similar basis to a cam, twist it around allowing the legs to splay wider so as you can lower or raise the height. HTH

Edit to add, you may have to close the legs of the tripod to adjust the cam, just in case you thought it might be stuck.
 
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Nothing to worry about, see this instruction video- around about the 1 min mark:

 
BintyMcFrazzles said:
Aye!!


Husband is pleased now, as he can spend the money on a wiggit for his whatsit.
Click to expand...

You missed a trick there Jackie, you could have scored a few quid out of him to say that you didn't need a new tripod, just some cash to get it fixed ;)
 
Yes I have the same tripod with the splay switches. Every tripod should have them! Its always nice to discover a new feature and remove a problem all at the same time. Unfortunately the 390 only goes up to ~60 degrees, where some other Manfrottos go out to almost 90 degrees. Great for low level and macro.
 
ianp5a said:
Yes I have the same tripod with the splay switches. Every tripod should have them! Its always nice to discover a new feature and remove a problem all at the same time. Unfortunately the 390 only goes up to ~60 degrees, where some other Manfrottos go out to almost 90 degrees. Great for low level and macro.
Click to expand...
60 degrees more than I realised it could before! lol
 
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