Many tripod heads come with a quick release plate which lets you detach the camera from the tripod to take handheld shots without having to unscrew it from the head.

The camera is still attached with a screw, but this time to a flat plate rather than the tripod head itself. This plate then clips to the tripod head.

With the Manfrotto head shown here, you slide the front edge of the plate under a projecting lip and then the back edge is clamped down by the sprung lever on the left. Other systems may use parallel grooves where you slide in the quick release plate from one side.

Quick release plates are very convenient once the camera is mounted, but fixing the camera to the plate can be fiddly in the first place.

Besides if you’re using a simple ball head, a quick release plate may prove an unnecessary complication. Ball heads are easy to ’spin’ when they’re slackened off, so screwing on/unscrewing the camera only takes a few moments anyway.