Say a tripod is rated for 10lbs and head is rated for more than tripod's weight rating, for example 15lbs. In this case if a setup weighing more than what tripod is rated for but lesser than what head is rated is used will that work.
This is just an example and maybe is not a valid one. However I am trying to understand these ratings when used in practice than on paper.
To the best of my limited knowledge, the supposed weight ratings don't correspond to *any* physical standard. It's all up to the manufacturer to assign a pound/Kg rating. While comparing the ratings of 'pods from the same mfg may have some validity, comparing those from different brands is utterly pointless.
My old Slik700 brick is rated at 15#, but will physically support many, many times that load. It works great with my 4x5 and Bronica 6x6, but is not quite up to very long lenses on my digital or film SLR bodies, despite the low total weight. Tell me, Slik, what the *bleep* does '15#' mean?
Instead of the absurd weight capacity rating, some standardized measure that combines strength, rigidity, and vibrational damping might actually be useful.
Design engineers normally give substantial safety buffer above the ratings both for safety and liability. However, structural integrity and operational stability may be two entirely different things. Also, even if you’re under the rating of the tripod and head, you may still be exceeding its usefulness to suppress vibration based on the setup you’re using and the conditions.
Rick
