3/8" UNC photo threaded pin with internal hex 1/2"

3/8" UNC photo set screw with hex socket 1/2", small, inconspicuous, but absolutely crucial

Anyone who has ever despaired over a camera, quick-release plate or tripod head because exactly that one matching set screw was missing knows: this is not an accessory you can just ignore. Our 3/8" UNC photo set screw with 1/2" length is made precisely for these moments – robust, accurate in fit, and deliberately designed for photographic use.

Precise 3/8" UNC thread for photo and video equipment

At the center is the clean 3/8" UNC thread, just as you know it from professional tripods, video heads, leveling half-bowls and many high-quality quick-release bases. It is an imperial coarse thread (Unified Coarse) that is virtually standard in photography whenever more stability is needed than with the usual 1/4" screws.

The screw type is a classic stud, i.e. a headless set screw that sits flush or nearly flush in the material. Ideal if, for example, you want to permanently equip a plate or adapter without a screw head getting in the way or catching on something.

18-8 stainless steel, built for continuous use

For the material we use 18-8 stainless steel. This is not some exotic marketing term, but a proven stainless alloy that shows what it can do in practice: corrosion-resistant, stable and in everyday use quite insensitive to moisture, sweat or the famous “was just lying in the backpack in the basement” scenario.

Especially in outdoor, studio or continuous use, that’s pleasantly reassuring: you screw in the stud and don’t have to constantly worry about whether it will start to rust in a few months or deform. It remains dimensionally stable, keeps the 3/8" UNC thread clean and ensures a reliable connection between your photo or video accessories.

3/16" hex socket, secure fit instead of fumbling

To tighten and loosen it, you use a 3/16" hex socket. This is an imperial size that appears more frequently in the photo sector, but is not usually included in standard hardware-store hex key sets. That’s exactly why we explicitly point it out: the matching 3/16" hex key is not included and must be available separately.

Why this specific hex socket? Quite simple: it allows you to tighten in a controlled, powerful way without the screw head protruding or damaging the material. You can countersink the set screw cleanly, tighten it firmly, and it stays where it’s supposed to be – with no play, no wobble, and no improvised solutions using keys that are too small or too large.

ATTENTION: For this set screw you absolutely need an imperial 3/16" hex key. Metric keys won’t get you far here; you’re more likely to slip and potentially ruin the hex socket.

Right-hand thread, compatible with common photo accessories

The set screw has a classic right-hand thread. Exactly what you know from virtually all tripods, heads, plates and adapters: turn clockwise to tighten, counterclockwise to loosen. No special case, no oddball, but deliberately compatible with typical photo and video connections using a 3/8" UNC thread.

So whether you want to permanently fix a quick-release plate to a video head, mount an adapter plate or build your own rig setup, this stud integrates into existing systems without forcing you to deal with unusual directions of rotation or special solutions.

Areas of application in photo and video

In practice, the 3/8" UNC photo set screw with 1/2" hex socket is a typical “problem-suddenly-solved” candidate:

• as a replacement set screw for quick-release plates or tripod adapters
• for permanently mounting camera plates on video heads or ball heads
• for custom constructions in rig or studio setups where 3/8" UNC is required
• for retrofitting or replacing damaged or worn set screws on photo accessories

We would almost say: this is the kind of part you’d rather have one too many of in your tool or camera bag. Because when it’s missing, you notice it immediately.

Scope of delivery and important notes

You receive a robust set screw made of 18-8 stainless steel with 3/8" UNC thread, screw type “stud”, right-hand thread direction and hex socket for a 3/16" key. The required imperial hex key is explicitly not included and must be provided separately.

So if you’re looking for a reliable imperial fastener for your photo or video equipment that fits cleanly into the 3/8" UNC system and can be mounted precisely with a hex key, this photo set screw will serve you very well – inconspicuous, but surprisingly important in everyday use.