If you want the ultimate system for attaching your camera to a tripod, then check out Really Right Stuff‘s quick release clamps and camera L brackets. They allow you to securely attach your camera to the tripod in about one second (for vertical or horizontal shots) and when done properly, the camera will not move a millimeter. I’ve been using this system for years and have found nothing better.
Ben,
check out this article:
http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_58/essay.html
It shows how to use the L-Bracket for stitching (with T/S lenses) and avoid parallax.
Uwe