Tripod head (doing MY head in!)

neo2810

neo2810

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I'm in the process of buying a new tripod, and so far I've pretty much decided on the Manfrotto 190X ProB tripod but deciding on the head is proving tough. I'm looking at the following:

Manfrotto 460MG (£55)
Manfrotto 410 Junior geared (£130)

My primary use will be landscapes, so weight is a small factor to consider, but the tripod needs to handle a 40D with grip at about 1kg, Sigma 70-200 lens at 1.3kg and possibly a flash as well at times (heaviest load).
The 460 is light at 0.43kg but only holds 3kg max which is cutting it fine. The 410 is nearly 3x the cost, but looks oh so much better in every way and although weighs in at 1.2 kg (much heavier), it holds up to 5kg comfortably.

Does anyone use the 460MG that can offer me some useful advice as to why I shouldn't spend 3x as much on the 410?
 
I believe the 460 has a little 'flex' with a decent load on it.

For me, it also has too many knobs to fiddle about with if you are in a hurry.

I've had more tripod heads than I want to remember, but now have just one for Landscapes and general stuff, a Manfrotto 488rc, quick to setup, light and will take up to 8kg, I think.
 
junior geared head is probably the best head under £140. I used to have the RC222 grip head and for shooting cars it was great cause it was so quick to use but there would always be a bit of movementwhen you let it go. The 410 allows very precise movement

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My only complaint is its a bit bulky but the more compact one which is next up the ladder costs over £300 lol
 
Look at a ball head - I have had the magnesium head - it does corrode quite quickly....magnesium is NOT a stable material, light yes, but also VERY fragile. I broke two - the casting breaks with the slightest knock on anything hard (I bet they don't tell you that in the shop) Motorcycle wheels made from magnesium go porous over a peroid of about 5 years, so the tyres don't stay at pressure for any length of time - it is a well known problem, this is due to the degradation of magnesium in normal atmospheric conditions.

I have had a 486 ball head for about 3 years now and it hasn't failed once - it will hold a mamiya RZ and 250mm lens fine, so your 35mm SLR will be well within its limits. Rated to about 10kgs, but I can put all my weight on it and it stays put. Quick release plate comes with it too. About £90 I think. You get used to how to use it.
 
Lensflare said:
Look at a ball head - I have had the magnesium head - it does corrode quite quickly....magnesium is NOT a stable material, light yes, but also VERY fragile. I broke two - the casting breaks with the slightest knock on anything hard (I bet they don't tell you that in the shop) Motorcycle wheels made from magnesium go porous over a peroid of about 5 years, so the tyres don't stay at pressure for any length of time - it is a well known problem, this is due to the degradation of magnesium in normal atmospheric conditions.

I have had a 486 ball head for about 3 years now and it hasn't failed once - it will hold a mamiya RZ and 250mm lens fine, so your 35mm SLR will be well within its limits. Rated to about 10kgs, but I can put all my weight on it and it stays put. Quick release plate comes with it too. About £90 I think. You get used to how to use it.
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Thanks for that Lens (and Poah). I do tend to whack my tripod about a bit since I'm always clambering over rocks or walls to get the shot :)

Although I really like the look of the 410 Junior, and the precise aligning is a bonus, I've managed so far with a cheap £40 Velbon jobbie so anything will be an improvement.

I was just a little dubious about ball heads being hard to line up, and that causing serious "toys out the pram" moments, so how precise can you get it, and does it have friction control?
 
IMO, the Arca compatible system is the ultimate in tripod heads and quick release systems. An Arca compatible head is not inexpensive but works very well and is compatible with many plates from different manufcturers such as KIRK and Really Right Stuff.

I consider the Really Right Stuff L-Bracket as the absolute best way to attach a camera to a tripod head since it keeps the center of gravity of the camera/lens directly over the tripod head insted of being cantilevered over to the side.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/QR/05.html

Arca compatible heads by Arca Swiss, Really Right Stuff, Acratech, Markin and others are available but, are expensive. Less expensive but, very adequate heads are available from Giottos and from Benro (not the U.K. Benbo).

HVSTAR which ships photo accessories from Hong Kong. Besides great prices on filters, they also ship Benro heads.

http://hvstar.net/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=77
 
I'm quite disappointed in my 486RC ball head for precise positioning. I love the quick release, but it just has a little 'droop' especially with heavy lenses on, and its difficult to fine tune.
 
mrklaw said:
I'm quite disappointed in my 486RC ball head for precise positioning. I love the quick release, but it just has a little 'droop' especially with heavy lenses on, and its difficult to fine tune.
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Thanks mate, that's what I imagined would be the case. I'll pop up to Jessops/Jacobs at lunchtime and have a play with a couple.
 
mrklaw said:
I'm quite disappointed in my 486RC ball head for precise positioning. I love the quick release, but it just has a little 'droop' especially with heavy lenses on, and its difficult to fine tune.
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:agree: I've got a 486 on my 190 PROXB and a 488 on the O55. The 486 droops under the weight of the d300 with a battery grip and even something like the Sigma 10-20, the 488, on the other hand would probably support my car :lol:

Edit- what about a 488RCO? There's one for sale in the TP Classifieds
 
Cheers Flash... I nipped into an independant store to have a play with the 488 and I must admit, despite the over-enthusiastic sales chap literally demanding I take the 804 as it would be prefectly suited to landscapes, I think it will work nicely. Having messed on with the 804, I'm not sure it's any more precise than the 488 as it's slightly jerky in itself. The only issue with the ball head is that if it happens to work itself lose, lens could meet tripod with an expensive outcome.
 
I've never had any issues with mine working loose, however there are probably smoother heads, but like everything else the better it is the more it costs ;)
 
I'm actually really frustrated with my 486. Bought it as something more beefy to replace my 484 which wasn't up to much. thats now sitting on my gorrillapod which is overkill, but nevermind.

486 is widely recommended on the net, so jumped blind at that one, and TBH its not much better than the 484. is the 488 significantly better at resisting droop(ooer!)?
 
mrklaw said:
I'm actually really frustrated with my 486. Bought it as something more beefy to replace my 484 which wasn't up to much. thats now sitting on my gorrillapod which is overkill, but nevermind.

486 is widely recommended on the net, so jumped blind at that one, and TBH its not much better than the 484. is the 488 significantly better at resisting droop(ooer!)?
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It seemed pretty sturdy in the shop, and give me a few days and I'll be able to tell you cause I've bought one. :)
 
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