3/8" UNC photo threaded pin with 1/4" hex socket

Precise 3/8" UNC photo set screw with 1/4" hex socket, small but crucial

It’s easy to overlook until it’s missing: this 3/8" UNC photo set screw with 1/4" hex socket is made exactly for those moments when your gear simply has to work reliably – no wobble, no improvising with some half‑fitting screws from the odds‑and‑ends box.

Durable 18-8 stainless steel for long-term photo use

For this set screw we deliberately use 18-8 stainless steel. In the photo world, this material is like the unobtrusive pro in the background: corrosion-resistant, dimensionally stable, and still clean in the thread even after frequent screwing in and out. Especially outdoors – in the rain, at the coast, or in dusty terrain – the screw remains reliably ready for use, without you having to worry about rust or rounded-off edges.

3/8" UNC thread, classic standard in photography

The thread is 3/8" UNC, the common imperial standard you know from many tripods, adapters, and high-quality video heads. Thanks to the UNC thread form, the screw engages firmly and securely, which is particularly noticeable with heavier setups using telephoto lenses, slider systems, or video rigs. No fiddling, no “sort of fits”, but a cleanly defined imperial thread made exactly for this application.

1/4" hex socket, precise tightening with the right key

The set screw is operated via a 1/4" hex socket. This lets you tighten it in a controlled way without damaging the surface of your equipment or having to improvise with pliers. This also allows the screw to be mounted securely in hard-to-reach places, such as in clamp plates, special adapters, or custom-made brackets.

Important: you need an imperial 1/4" hex key for tightening, which is not included. A metric hex key may sometimes look “almost right” at first glance, but it still doesn’t fit properly, and over time this leads to rounded sockets or damaged tool edges.

Right-hand thread and “set screw” type, ideal for adapters, plates, and rigs

The set screw has a classic right-hand thread, as you know it from most photo and video components. This makes it highly versatile: for example, you can screw it into quick-release plates, camera sliders, mounts, or special fixtures to create stable 3/8" connection points.

As a screw type, it is designed as a “set screw”, meaning without a head in the conventional sense. This is particularly practical when the screw needs to sit flush or almost flush in the material, for example in plates, adapters, or housings where nothing is allowed to protrude. This keeps your setup pleasantly compact, nothing catches, and you can neatly mount other components on top.

Note on tool selection – please read carefully

One point we want to state very clearly: this set screw requires a specific imperial hex key. Not a metric “it’ll probably work” key, but a truly matching imperial hex key. Only then does the tool sit play-free in the 1/4" hex socket, and you avoid damage to the screw or the key.

The required 1/4" hex key is not included so that you can deliberately choose the tool that best fits your setup, whether a classic L-key, T-handle, or bit for a power screwdriver. This way you remain flexible and can use the set screw exactly as is most convenient for your workflow.