Anyone got a Manfrotto 393 head ?
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- Alasdair Fowler
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Yup, ive got one. I got mine second hand off Dougdarter. I love it. Its very well made and makes very easy work of large lenses (Largest setup I use is a D40X with battery grip and Sigma 300mm f2.8 + 2X TC). Its easy to adjust the friction in all directions (I tend to prefer it quite stiff). Only downsides with it are the rubber cover (Protects the centre rotation part) comes off VERY easily. Ive removed it for the moment which has resulted in the 300mm lens hood having a few scratches, but another option would be to glue it permanently in place. You also need a pretty stiff tripod. My Manfrotto 190X ProB just about works, but fails if I try and extend the centre column as theres just too much vibration. Im looking to eventually replace it with a coloumnless Gitzo. Hope that helps. 
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- Paul Beastall
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I had one but got rid of it. I found it worked well but was bulky, heavy and not as smooth as the Wimberley Sidekick I'm using now (although the Wimberley and ballhead did cost 5 times as much!)
Paul
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Yes, I've just acquired one having done a straight swap with Moomike for a ball head. The only reason he parted with his was he sold his long lens.
I have a Dietmar Nill gimbal head also and am very happy with it, but it costs 5 times the price, so I was always going to be critical of the Manfrotto.
Having used the 393 a couple of times though, I have to say I'm seriously impressed with it. Where the Nill is cast aluminium the Manfrotto is simply bent to shape, but it's a very nice sturdy bit of kit at a great price and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Plus points
It comes with a long plate to mount to your lens which should give you enough slide adjustment to balance the longest lens with or without converters. The mount also has a very nice safety device built in, so it's impossible for your lens to slide out of the mount either backwards or forwards without pressing a safety release catch. The extra height of the 'U' bracket gives a huge range of movement up and down which would be an advantage for tracking flight shots, and the torque adjustment is very nice - the lens stays where you put it regardless of the angle.
Minus points
Instead of opting for the universal Arca Swiss type mount, Manfrotto have gone for their own design, but this isn't a big issue if you only intend to use the head with one lens, and I dunno if Manfrotto do different length plates for other lenses. I'd be very surprised though if Manfrotto or someone else doen't do a conversion shoe for Arca plates - the mount is wide enough. As I say, no biggy anyway if you only intend to use one lens.
Unlike the Nill head where you can just drop the lens foot on from above and then tighten the clamp, with the 393 you have to slide the lens into the shoe from behind. No real biggy again except that mounting these big lenses on a tripod and unmounting them is when you're most at risk of dropping them, but you soon learn to develop good safe techniques.
It's bigger and heavier than the Nill, but it wouldn't stop me getting one.
Frankly it's a bargain compared to the alternatives, just get one.
I have a Dietmar Nill gimbal head also and am very happy with it, but it costs 5 times the price, so I was always going to be critical of the Manfrotto.
Having used the 393 a couple of times though, I have to say I'm seriously impressed with it. Where the Nill is cast aluminium the Manfrotto is simply bent to shape, but it's a very nice sturdy bit of kit at a great price and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Plus points
It comes with a long plate to mount to your lens which should give you enough slide adjustment to balance the longest lens with or without converters. The mount also has a very nice safety device built in, so it's impossible for your lens to slide out of the mount either backwards or forwards without pressing a safety release catch. The extra height of the 'U' bracket gives a huge range of movement up and down which would be an advantage for tracking flight shots, and the torque adjustment is very nice - the lens stays where you put it regardless of the angle.
Minus points
Instead of opting for the universal Arca Swiss type mount, Manfrotto have gone for their own design, but this isn't a big issue if you only intend to use the head with one lens, and I dunno if Manfrotto do different length plates for other lenses. I'd be very surprised though if Manfrotto or someone else doen't do a conversion shoe for Arca plates - the mount is wide enough. As I say, no biggy anyway if you only intend to use one lens.
Unlike the Nill head where you can just drop the lens foot on from above and then tighten the clamp, with the 393 you have to slide the lens into the shoe from behind. No real biggy again except that mounting these big lenses on a tripod and unmounting them is when you're most at risk of dropping them, but you soon learn to develop good safe techniques.
It's bigger and heavier than the Nill, but it wouldn't stop me getting one.
Frankly it's a bargain compared to the alternatives, just get one.
OP
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To anyone thinking about a head for your new long lens this is an absolute steal at £100 compared to the alternatives
I used it yesterday for the first real outing, I wnt to cardiff for the day, and used this mount with my new 500mm f4 lens, never did I feel insecure or unstable, it was totally awesome, don't waste your hard earned buy a Manfrotto 393 and spend the money saved on another photographic "must have"
I used it yesterday for the first real outing, I wnt to cardiff for the day, and used this mount with my new 500mm f4 lens, never did I feel insecure or unstable, it was totally awesome, don't waste your hard earned buy a Manfrotto 393 and spend the money saved on another photographic "must have"