Head & Legs ... How do I Make An Informed Choice?

You mean them's your really really nails Glo -not stuck on??? :eek:

Wickid!!
 
InaGlo said:
I was stuck in the queue :bat:
... and we were talking bags & lights!

Ho hum! ... so much equipment and so little moolah! ;)
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Pah....i seem to remember showing you the grip and passing you a 055 so you could test the weight......then you went for a gossip :exit:
 
digitalfailure said:
Pah....i seem to remember showing you the grip and passing you a 055 so you could test the weight......then you went for a gossip :exit:
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yeah ... I remember having a feel of the legs ... but we were all huddled together on that stand and I couldnt do jack.

AND I WAS DISCUSSING BAGS ..... NOT GOSSIPING!!!! :annoyed:
 
InaGlo said:
yeah ... I remember having a feel of the legs ... when we were all huddled together and I couldnt do Jack.
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Poor old Jack!!

Looks like I missed quite an exciting day! ;) :D :lol:
 
CT said:
It crossed my mind , must admit! :nuts:
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:lol:
You really dont want to know just how sharp these babies feel, when Ive taken a file to them!
Luckily tapping away on my keyboard rounds the pointy bits and the only time I really fetch blood is when Im asleep ... so then its just my little old self that wears the scars! ;)
 
I'll stick my tuppence worth in here based on my own experiences. I have the 055 Pro and whilst they are very good legs they are heavy, particularly with the head attached. I am now looking at the CF equivalent because of the weight saving, I am also going to go for the four section legs as opposed to the three section as it will be small and light enough to fit in a suitcase if necessary. It's also easy to remove the centre column to get down very low with the Manfrotto 'pods.

As for head :naughty: I had the 322 pistol grip (still have in fact) but did not like it at all, the grip can be difficult to move and on my one the plate moved around in the slot which became very annoying when shooting macro, as even a mm of movement made a lot of difference. I changed it for a 488 RC2 a few weeks back and this head is excellent, it locks in tight and there is no movement at all. In time I might change the quick release system to an Arca type plate affair as they appear to be excellent at reducing any play between the camera/lens and ball head. The RRS ball heads are very nice and desirable but possibly a bit over engineered IMO unless of course you are using huge lenses.

If you want to try my 322 pistol grip type head just let me know and I'll send it to you, at least you'll get the chance to try it.
 
InaGlo said:
Ta peeps,

I dont have anywhere Im aware of to try out the goods ... Jessops is NOT an option :lol:

I have read a bit/chatted about the Manfrotto 055 & 190 ... & I do like the sound of that black Janice ;)
But before I decide on the Manfrotto, Id like to read up a bit on the Gitzo range too, but dont really know where to look for reviews/solid advice.

CT, Im was thinking around a couple of hundred on each ... suprised to see I can get the Manfrotto's for much less, which is good.
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Hi Glo, Jacobs stock them in their shops, don't know if you've got one near you?? Or do you have a Calumet in the area, they do the full range.

Calumet Brum....

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/ctl?ac.ui.pn=compinfo.CompStoreLocDetail&ac.comp.locID=UK_BHM

Jacobs Brum....

http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/index.php?target=pages&page_id=stores&storeid=10
 
Hmmm! it really does look like this is going to come down to personal choice regarding the head, and its looking like I really am going to need to try some out.
Thanks for the addy's Glen, I'll try & head over there this week, see what they have.

Colin, thats really good of you to offer me a trial of your head ... no Janice... dont even go there :lol:
If I cant get my hands on one to try I will definately take you up on it.

Thanks for all the input here ... you guys are great ... confusing ... but great :D
 
Hacker said:
In time I might change the quick release system to an Arca type plate affair as they appear to be excellent at reducing any play between the camera/lens and ball head.
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Way to go most definitely as they also give you the ability to balance the mass of the lens/camera over it's centre of gravity by sliding and adjusting where the arca plate sits in the mount.
 
LOL.

Arca plates are what everyone buys when they realise eventually it's what they shoulda bought in the first place. :D
 
InaGlo said:
Colin, thats really good of you to offer me a trial of your head ... no Janice... dont even go there :lol:
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Well, Colin lives near me.....so I might JUST go there...and take up the offer on your behalf!!! I'll tell you if it is satisfactory! ;)
 
They're generally referred to as Arca Swiss type plates Colin and loads of manufacturers make compatible versions of them, so wherever you get them from they'll always fit an Arca Swiss type mount.

Quality varies enormously though. Wimberley are undoubtedly the best. You should get em from WE or Wimberley's own site, but they're widely available. Make sure you get safety stop studs at either end of the plate, which ensures that the whole camera and lens combo wont slide right out of the foot if you have a blonde moment and forget to tighten the shoe.

I had three plates supplied with my gimbal head. They do the job, but they're nowhere near the quality of the Wimberley plate I bought for the 500mm lens. The cheapo plates have lost two safety studs which are just push -in jobs, while the Wimberly ones are screw -in.
 
InaGlo said:
Plates???

You mean there is even more to consider than head & legs???

Jeeez!!! think Ill refer back to my first post....



:help:
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A picture paints a thousand words Glo. :)

BHtrio2006-01.jpg



All that happens is that the compatible plate which is usually attached to the lens, slides into that open foot in a sort of dovetail fashion. The lens plates come in different lengths so that you can balance any lens camera combo over it's centre of gravity by sliding it in the foot, which makes it far easier to manage on the pod.

You can probably see why the safety stops at either end are pretty crucial!

Manfrotto and Gitzo will both do compatible Arca type heads, I'm not really pushing you towards the RRS one. :D
 
Only problem with Arca plates is you have to buy a head that will take them, this adds to the initial cost, i have a Kirk BH-1 (£300approx) and Wimberley Mk2 Gimbal (£500)Heads, both take Arca plates so i am not in such a predicament, but if thinking of going the arca plate route, do decide BEFORE purchasing the head ! Nothing worse than buying a head you like then finding it wont take arca plates anyway ! Not sure if Manfrotto do a head that takes Arca swiss style plates natively, they have to be modified i believe !

If you decide Arca plates arent necessary, then choose a head with removable plates and buy enough plates for the camera, lenses you have etc! then you dont have to keep taking them off ! ;) So if the lens has a tripod mount ring, buy a plate, if it doesnt then you only need a camera one ! :)
 
To shove my 2p in here, I think the "Arca plate system" is a must for any head.

I use the RRS BH-55 LR head, its the best ball head ive used, and have no intention of changing it. If you do go for the arca system buy an "L plate" for your camera, again saves time and ease of use.
 
A useful thread this, I'm looking at tripods at the moment and was very confused - I also don't want to spend an enourmous amount, those RRS do look nice! :D What about a head with tilt and pan using a handle on the head (not sure of the technical description!!)

I want a monopod too.
:)
 
AquilaEagle said:
What about a head with tilt and pan using a handle on the head (not sure of the technical description!!)


:)
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A three way head they're usually called Ian. What sort of head you go for is largely dependent on what sort of shots you intend to take. Three way heads are OK for weddings and studio work IMO, but those three handles you have to adjust in turn to line up your subject can drive you daft trying to do macro, wildlife and many forms of photography involving movement. The decent ones are also usually quite solid large castings so they're heavy and add substantially to the weight of your tripod. It doesn't encourage you to want to take it with you. ;)

The beauty of a good ball head is that you have access to the adjustment of all three axis of movement with the release of a single lever and they're very quick to use. They're also lighter than three way heads.
 
Thanks Ced, I'd not thought of it like that. Never really used a tripod before, but when I was in Gambia, it would have been so much easier at the Nature reserve to get the birds :)
 
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