Tripod weight rating

I have a tripod with a weight rating of seven and one half pounds.

If I do not extend the center pole, can this weight be exceeded? What
may be the consequences of "overloading" a tripod that is stable when
set up?

--
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and
carrying a cross."
Sinclair Lewis

"Ockham's Razor" wrote in message
...
I have a tripod with a weight rating of seven and one half pounds.

If I do not extend the center pole, can this weight be exceeded? What
may be the consequences of "overloading" a tripod that is stable when
set up?

You will get a lot of camera shake. It's doubtful that you're physically
going to damage the tripod, but you will definitely notice that touching the
camera will cause vibration, which will take some time to subside. Raising
the center column will worsen the effect.

Toby


--
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and
carrying a cross."
Sinclair Lewis

Talking to a Bogen rep recently at an in-store event he said, unofficially,
the real capacity is usually much higher but they error on the side of what
is safe.

YMMV!

"Ockham's Razor" wrote in message
...
I have a tripod with a weight rating of seven and one half pounds.

If I do not extend the center pole, can this weight be exceeded? What
may be the consequences of "overloading" a tripod that is stable when
set up?

--
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and
carrying a cross."
Sinclair Lewis

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:59:17 -0800, Ockham's Razor
wrote:

I have a tripod with a weight rating of seven and one half pounds.

If I do not extend the center pole, can this weight be exceeded? What
may be the consequences of "overloading" a tripod that is stable when
set up?

You have to go a _lot_ over the weight rating before you break
anything. I managed to crack a leg latch on my lightweight Manfrotto
a while back but some significant percentage of my 200+ pounds was on
it and there was some leverage besides. It still worked, but the leg
wouldn't stay retracted until I got a new latch.

What you'll see is increased vibration, how much increased depends on
the model of the tripod and how much over the design weight you have
gone.