Which Head and Why ?

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percymon

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I'm now pretty set on buying the Redsnapper Tripod - it might not be the best tripod out there but for my occassional use and the price/spec its about the money i want to spend.

So, which head ?

I'm doing my first photoday next month at a Bird of Prey centre - some indoor studio shots and some outdoor in flight work.

Indoors i want to use..

EOS5d and EOS30 (yes thats film!!) bodies
24-105 IS f4 L lens, and maybe Sigma 80-400 OS lens

plus my Bronica ETRSi MF with 75mm and 150mm lenses


I've narrower my search of heads down to...

Manfrotto 460MG (light weight so if i do later use the tripod for landscape work it will be a bit lighter to carry)
Manfrotto 804RC2 (seems to be very popular)
Manfrotto 484RC2 - ball head design

Giottos MH7000
Giottos MH1302
Giottos MH7302


My main concerns are..

1. Do i really need a quick release mechanism and a couple of plates ?
2. Are ball heads, with or without QR facility, secure enough to cope with the 5d and a weighty lens ?
3. Would the 460MG be a better option, even if it takes a bit longer to set up ?
4. as i've never needed a tripod before i don't want to spend a fortune on something i can't see me using an awful lot in the future.



Many thanks for your comments and thoughts.
 
1. No, you don't NEED them but they sure as hell make swapping from camera to camera quicker and easier!

2. Some are, some aren't - go to a shop and try them to see if you're happy with them.

3. Might be - if you prefer it.

4. Is renting an option or can you borrow one from a mate? IMO, a good tripod is worth every penny and most cheap ones aren't worth the hassle.


FWIW, I went on a BoP photo day a year ago. I took the tripod but it stayed in the car. Didn't do any indoor shooting though.
 
taz said:
Have you discounted the Redsnapper ball head then?
Click to expand...

No i haven't but i've no way of seeing before buying - they all look good in the pictures. I've no reasn to doubt their quality , all Redsnapper kit gets very good reviews here, as do Manfrotto and with fewer reviews Giottos.

Think i will forego the quick release plate option, as i've only ever used a tripod once or twice in work, never for my own purposes, and i can see fiddling around with a tripod is only going to be one other thing to worry about on the day. There's also the issue that over time its another joint/connection to wear and loosen.

Thanks for the replies
 
percymon said:
No i haven't but i've no way of seeing before buying - they all look good in the pictures. I've no reasn to doubt their quality , all Redsnapper kit gets very good reviews here, as do Manfrotto and with fewer reviews Giottos.

Think i will forego the quick release plate option, as i've only ever used a tripod once or twice in work, never for my own purposes, and i can see fiddling around with a tripod is only going to be one other thing to worry about on the day. There's also the issue that over time its another joint/connection to wear and loosen.

Thanks for the replies
Click to expand...

I'd just like to reassure you as to the quality of the Redsnapper ballhead. Don't hesitate, it's absolutely one of the best out there.

It is in fact, like a slightly smaller version of the Arca Swiss B1, with exactly the same functionality, and in so far as I can tell, quality. It is the best value in ball heads I have ever seen

It holds my D2X/300mm f2.8 quite securely.

As far as QR plate/shoe goes, it would be a mistake NOT to use it. It is ultra secure, and takes only a couple of seconds to connect the two. These items/interfaces will last for years - the only moving part is a stud. They won't wear out with normal use. Both the shoe and plate are anodised, and very smooth.

Fitting your camera directly to a stud, with the comcommitent screwing/unscrewing of the tripod screw/camera boss will cause far more wear, and you certainly won't have the same control over your camera.

I haven't used a Redsnapper tripod, but from the reviews it gets, both here, and on other forums, it's probably an excellent purchase.
 
I've got the Manfrotto 804RC2 on an Manfrotto tripod and it's very stable and controllable. Got a nice quality feel to the build.
 
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