Manfrotto 718B tripod overhead view

This photo of a Manfrotto 718B tripod is an overhead view which shows how a camera, camcorder or video camera is fitted to the tripod.

It’s fitted to the ‘plate,’ the strange-shaped thing with a ‘red button’ at the top, and the plate is then placed inside a compartment which is the same shape as the plate.

The plate is made from a plastic type material, unlike other the plates on other Manfrotto tripods, which are made of metal.
This is probably to help reduce the weight of the tripod, which is a lightweight tripod that seems to be aimed at the travel photographer.
The plate has two components. One is the ‘red button’, which is actually a locating pin and is used to locate the camera, camcorder or video camera on the plate.
The other is the screw below the locating pin, which is screwed into the base of the camera, camcorder or video camera.