Tripod Head Recommendations

Freester

Freester

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Mark
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I am looking for a new Tripod head.

My current Manfrotto 390 RC2 3-way head that came with my 190XB tripod is beginning to give up the ghost. I have to do it up really tight in one of the directions but even then it is slipping a bit with my 7D and 10-22 or 70-200 attached.

The kind of shooting I use my tripod for mainly is Landscape, I do a bit of still life, product photography, splashes etc etc also.

I'm really not sure what I should be looking at to replace? Another 3-way? Ball head or are the new Manfrotto trigger types up to the job?

Budget, hmm 100-150. This time buying quality for life. Please post a few suggestions / experiences. Thanks in advance.

Mark
 
i use the #029 head, never let me down..simple yet effective...the trigger handles are good and do work...i only tend to use mine these days with my bronica...or low light work..
 
I've just picked up the 496RC2 head and it holds my gripped D90 with the 70-300vr plus extension tubes (just to test) very well :)

I suppose that if you're used to a three way head, then changing to a ball head may seem a bit odd at first.
 
You've got a video head. You be better off with a good ball jobbie, and you've got the budget. A a rough guide, something with a ball around 40mm is pretty strong.

Benro are very high quality and exceptional value, like a J-2 or B-2. I have a J-2 :thumbs: from this recommended Ebay dealer http://stores.ebay.com/DCs-Photogra...18QQ_sidZ896782438QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322

You can get Benro in the UK now but you'll pay double those prices. Giottos ball heads are also pretty good and good value.
 
Thanks. Some good recommendations there. I'll check some of them out.
 
joefish1984 said:
without a doubt I would buy a geared head, currently have a ball head which I spent a decent amount of money on but just doesn't feel solid and it is hard to lock them down accurately. This is going to be my next purchase:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-410-junior-geared-head/p10890
Click to expand...

Cheapskate :D You want one of these - the Arca Cube. Very lovely indeed and only £1,100 :eek: http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=1119&PT_ID=326

There is a cheaper version made by Photo Clam which is only £700 ;)
 
I subscribe to the Manfrotto RC4 system purely because they do the 394 adapters which I find invaluable for making the camera hot-swappable between a variety of setups. For example, using the 394 on either side of the macro slide plate, I can remove the camera from tripod, just slip the slide plate on and replace the camera and it's ready for macro. I also have one attached to a flash bracket from FitP, makes switching to off-camera flash a doddle ;)
 
I really like the 222 trigger head from manfrotto. I have 3 on the plates and have fitted a quick release adapter to my monopod so now they both have a compatible release and this works very well.
 
With respect Joe the geared heads are great for macro work and where you have plenty of time.

I have just bought a 322RC2 and am happy using it with a standard body
(D200) and lenses.


pete
 
Peter said:
With respect Joe the geared heads are great for macro work and where you have plenty of time.

I have just bought a 322RC2 and am happy using it with a standard body
(D200) and lenses.


pete
Click to expand...

I would disagree with that. The Manfrotto 410 geared head is very quick to use and is a real pleasure. The main problem for me is that it's very heavy at over 1.2kg, which is more than double even a large ball head and almost as much as my tripod.

I was told by Acratech that they are bringing out a geared head later this year which will surely be very nice indeed but expensive.

As an aside, the thing that has enhanced my tripod use more than anything else recently is a custom L-bracket (Markins, Kirk, RRS etc http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-kirk-bl-5dii-l-bracket/p1030165 ) which allows you to switch from horizontal to vertical without flipping the head off to one side, and that usually means you have to reposition the tripod and adjust the height again, and then it's still badly balanced - it's a real pain :thumbsdown: They cost over £100 though and they all use the Arca Swiss QR system.
 
Kaouthia said:
One of these 5-way jobbies from Induro is looking awfully tempting (check out the videos section). :)
Click to expand...

That's nice John :thumbs: Induro is made by Benro.

Here's another which adopts the really useful top-pan feature from PhotoClam http://www.dentonimages.com/page.php?id=Photo_Clam_Pro_Gold_II_Easy_PQR_Review It also only weighs 477g which might suggest it's only for light duty, but I have an idea that the ball head is actually a Markins Q3 (pretty sure Markins and PhotoClam are the same) and that gets rave reviews. It's about $300.

Edit: here's another top-pan upside-down jobbie - Arca P0 http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=2724&PT_ID=326
 
I have an arca-swiss Z1 SP ball head. It is an investment but it is great !!
I recommend it without reserve. Like anything in photography, it is cheaper in the long run to get pro quality material.
 
I used to use a manfrotto hygrostatic ball head with the RC2 plates. I found once I upgraded to a D800, I was getting slight shake at long exposures. After a bit of research online, I decided to go for an Arca-Swiss compatible plate and system.

Theres a company on Ebay that sell Sunway photo heads and plates.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/cguk?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

I can highly recommend the quality including the L Bracket that I bought for the D800
 
Just to add to the recommendations for a geared head - though as Hoppy said they are relatively heavy.

They are, however, a pleasure to use - on each of the three axis you have a quick release which allows it to turn freely on that axis for getting close quickly, then the geared dial to get the position spot on (and rock solid).
 
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