Recommend me a tripod for shooting long focal lengths in potentially windy conditions in low light.

[SFTPhotography]

Hmmm . . . certainly cheaper and the large one would be a better fit, but I wouldn't want to trust a bit of plastic to hold my camera and tripod together.

I am off to Ffordes tomorrow - a) to drop the 645z in for a sensor clean b) I see they've got a 410 head with the spacer - I'll see if I can buy the spacer off them for a sensible price. c) to discuss further 645z stuff and have a chat about all things medium format.

 

[ecoleman]

Hmmm . . . certainly cheaper and the large one would be a better fit, but I wouldn't want to trust a bit of plastic to hold my camera and tripod together.

It’s not a brittle plastic, more like a very dense rubber. Once screwed down it’s not going anywhere.

actually the descriptions says is HDPE

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Hmmm . . . certainly cheaper and the large one would be a better fit, but I wouldn't want to trust a bit of plastic to hold my camera and tripod together.

These days the camera tripod mount is often only attached to the thin outer case of the camera, not to the body casting or inner plastic molding. And yet I have never heard of one fail. They are inturn attached with three or four, 1.4 mm screws. The Cameras own 1/4 inch screw mounting is undoubtedly the weakest link in the entire system.
A plastic spacer would be more than sufficient and give a good wide surface support.

 

[Sky]

actually the descriptions says is HDPE

Exactly - plastic.

A plastic spacer would be more than sufficient and give a good wide surface support.

Maybe in your world of physics, but not mine. Besides, if the socket on the camera were to fail I would have some recourse with the manufacturer. Like you, I've not heard of one failing either. Dodgy tripod connections however, do fail for those people that trust in plastic and Chinese monkey metal.

 

[Sky]

I am off to Ffordes tomorrow - a) to drop the 645z in for a sensor clean b) I see they've got a 410 head with the spacer - I'll see if I can buy the spacer off them for a sensible price. c) to discuss further 645z stuff and have a chat about all things medium format.

A very good price too - gutted I bet.

 

[Peter123]

It was flagged before he bought the other!!

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Exactly - plastic.



Maybe in your world of physics, but not mine. Besides, if the socket on the camera were to fail I would have some recourse with the manufacturer. Like you, I've not heard of one failing either. Dodgy tripod connections however, do fail for those people that trust in plastic and Chinese monkey metal.

High density polyethylene is used for underground gas and water pipes and fittings and also things like Tupperware and lab measuring jugs. I had one for mixing developer for some 50 nears till it got lost in a move. It is not biodegradable, but easily recycled. It is not what you would expect to be used for camera accessories as it is relatively expensive compared to many engineering plastics. But for a spacer why not. It will be one of the strongest links in the chain. There is no way you could break it with out special tools.

 

[SFTPhotography]

I just bought the manfrotto spacer off amazon, Ffordes wouldn't break it up. I bought the one here as I didn't think I'd need the spacer and it was a tenner less.

I went for the manfrotto spacer for that recourse against the manufacturer if the thing fails and for ease of selling later.

Right, I'm set. Next stop Spain.

 

[Sky]

There is no way you could break it with out special tools.

I'm not going to argue about this with you any further, but I'll just finish with this:

Take a small piece of plastic (whatever you want to call it), drill one hole in the bottom, then another in the top and insert a receiver to accept a bolt and put another bolt in the opposite side. Now attach a lens, heavy camera and a tripod that potentially adds shearing and leverage forces.

Anyway, you carry on . . . I'll trust my degree level understanding of physics over yours thank you.

 

[ecoleman]

I'm not going to argue about this with you any further, but I'll just finish with this:

Take a small piece of plastic (whatever you want to call it), drill one hole in the bottom, then another in the top and insert a receiver to accept a bolt and put another bolt in the opposite side. Now attach a lens, heavy camera and a tripod that potentially adds shearing and leverage forces.

Anyway, you carry on . . . I'll trust my degree level understanding of physics over yours thank you.

But it seems you are the ONLY person arguing about it.

I have one, it's rock solid and I have complete faith that it will hold my camera securely. You on the other hand are just speculating.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I'm not going to argue about this with you any further, but I'll just finish with this:

Take a small piece of plastic (whatever you want to call it), drill one hole in the bottom, then another in the top and insert a receiver to accept a bolt and put another bolt in the opposite side. Now attach a lens, heavy camera and a tripod that potentially adds shearing and leverage forces.

Anyway, you carry on . . . I'll trust my degree level understanding of physics over yours thank you.

You have tried it of course.
A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
the weak link will be the three or four tiny screw holding the base as on to many digital cameras, or to the camera, or the fixing of the 1/4 " screw adapter to it. or to the core of the camera.
many quality cameras these days are mainly constructed from engineering plastic.. materials engineers and scientists know what they are doing.
I would far rather a camera base plate crumple under the strain, than any more expensive part. Even then my expectation would be that nothing would actually come free..

 

[Sky]