what tripod head to you use and why?

i have several tripods but the ones i use are a Bogen 3021 and Hakuba 504MX which is carbon fiber. i love the hakuba for its light weight but found myself even at 5'2" stooping over all the time so needed something taller so got the bogen 3021 from ebay (has lovely thick leg pads!) i don't like using the center column as i think that is opportunity for vibration/movement. but if the new head raises the camera up some i might be able to use the hakuba more.

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karen

460 MG load capacity is 3.00 kg/6,66667 lbs (1 pound = 0.45 kg).

i use the bogen 3021B with 3047 head. the 3047 has been replaced by the 3039 which seems to be the same. combo is not super cheap but is definately solid. i use a dslr with the bigma and 2.0 converter and it is still solid. no problems at all.

if getting a bogen tripod switch the feet to the spike/rubber combination style, works better for indoor and outdoor use. outside the spikes when planted do not move at all.

I was going to buy this setup anyway, but I got a fantastic deal on the "Silver Jubilee Edition" about ten-twelve years ago, so I got it. The silver head and components are a little silly-looking, but functionally, it has served me very well.

It is a fantastic medium-sized tripod that I've used for everything from copy work to time exposures to weddings. The largest lens I've used on it has been a slow 300, though I may have used it with the 80-200 2.8 I borrowed years ago just to see how it did – I don't really remember.

I would not recommend it for birding or sports with lots of nonlinear movement as the "3-D" head isn't very good for that. It does pan fairly well in one dimension, but if you need more than that, it gets to be a pain.

I would also not recommend it as a super-travel tripod, as it is pretty weighty. Because of that, though, I have never worried about it tipping with a camera on it...

-Eric

My 190/3030 outfit is essentially a 7/8-scale version of the 3021/3047

I thought about the 3021, but the price and size (weight, really) made me go with the smaller one.

-Eric

Like godfrey I have used the Acratech Ultimate for quite some time and adores the ball head...

Flexible and very sturdy, but as godfrey mentions a bit more expensive too...

A very fine ball head indeed.
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Thomas

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://www.duplophotography.com/
http://www.my.opera.com/duplo
My pictures categorised by lens used:
http://main.duplophotography.com/f311992052/

Hi Karen,

I spent weeks researching and obsessing about tripods and heads. I ended up going with a Markins M20 which is overkill for what I have now but you never know what may come in the future and I only wanted to make this purchase once, plus it was only $50 more than the M10 which was already EXPENSIVE! lol From all of my research and reading it is a beautifully made ballhead which is a joy to use. Can't wait..... It is sitting on my dining room table (at the head, of course) awaiting the legs.

I ordered the Velbon 740 tripod that Thomas (Duplo) uses. I am short as well and my hope is that I will be able to mostly use only 3 sections of the tripod but have the fourth section if needed in our hilly terrain. The added benefit being that it will be smaller to tote around.

I also ordered a Kirk L bracket for the K10 and grip. My goal was a tripod/head that was fairly light weight, faily compact and VERY easy to setup and use.

Good luck,
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Robin

The fault is not in the stars, dear Brutus, but in ourselves.......
Shakespeare

The Acratech Ultimate Ball Head is beautifully made, light weight, and very strong. It's one negative is that it does not have an independent friction adjustment, like the Kirk BH-1 and BH-3 have. That said, it's the lightest ball head rated to support 20+ lbs of gear on the market.

Godfrey

karen clanin said:

i'm having the same problem with precise positioning with the 322RC
which is why i was thinking of going to something else.

Click to expand...

I have an old Gitzo 275 ( ball head) and love it. It's not too big and very smooth to tighten and loosen. Well machined. But, it's too small for my smc 500mm, so I have a larger, much larger,Bogens which is capable but not a favourite.
Brent
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HENRYIMAGES
My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/henryimages

I use it mostly with a 190.
B.

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HENRYIMAGES
My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/henryimages

Up until recently a used Bogen 3265 vertical pistol grip ball head, though I'd get the horizontal grip one if I had it to do again. It has the advantages of being very quick to reset, gives you about 8 more inches of height, and offsets from the tripod for angled/vertical shots. Downside is that it's a pain to avoid creep if you've got a heavy macro lens on it and you're shooting off to one side. I still have it as I like the offset option. If I can figure out what I did with my 3/8 to 1/4 adapter I might mount it on my old tripod and use it with my slave flash. And I'll probably hang onto it for situations where I need to move things around in a hurry.

A couple weeks ago I bought the Bogen 488RC2 ball head, which I love. Not quite as fast to reset as the 3265 and no offset to speak of, but it locks in place rock solid and can be panned horizontally without adjusting the ball, a definite plus for panos.

I also have the Bogen 3229 monopod head on my 676B monopod. I think it came with it. Might eventually get a small ball head for the monopod as the 3229 only moves in one plane. You have to move the plate to switch to portrait from landscape which can be a pain.

For a tripod, I have a heavy beast of a Bogen knockoff I got at the local Shutterbug store. Haven't been able to find it online and I'm not sure which model it's supposed to be, 3021 maybe, but it's pretty sturdy - about 1" aluminum legs, stands about 5' tall before you pull the extension up in the midde. It even came with a nice case with a pocket that the 3265 fits in.

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Chris
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http://www.pbase.com/sinnettc

I just ordered a Markins M10 head. I also ordered Feisol 3442 legs. Thanks Godfrey for your extensive posts when researching your purchase earlier this summer. Eagerly awaiting delivery of the head, legs, and RRS L-plate next week!
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• Jed -

In my profile you will see that I own a Manfrotto 3021 pro and Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head. The head has always been a piece of junk for me. It never stays where I adjust it and the quick release plate is a disaster. I thought it was a dud plate and bought another. Same junk. I just don't like Manfrotto quick release plates at all.

It is a pity really because I came to own these two in a very sweet and surprising way. My kids looked through my bookmarks to see if I had any tripods marked. They got together with my husband and bought me this set for Christmas one year. I was shocked! I only wish the set up had worked out as well for me as the thought they put behind it.

I now use a Dynatran AT-L101T professional series set of legs from amvona.com (actually I got them through auction on ebay, saved some $$ by being patient for a good deal). I use the Dynatran ATH-918 grip ball head and love it.

The tripod is lightweight (important for me after lugging that heavy manfrotto around for a couple years), it is easily adjustable, stable and works well for me.

I am sure there are better tripods and set ups for more money. But I am very very pleased with what I have now in the Dynatran line.
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LaRee
http://www.laree.smugmug.com/

Karen,

I use the Markins M10 which has been suberb. I wanted a ball head that was able to support the biggest of lenses, but was still a manageable compact size. I use it mostly with the robust Benro C327 (largest set of legs they make) which at times doesn't seem sturdy enougth for the huge FA*250-600/5.6 (13lbs). The Markins works well with the Wimberley Sidekick.

The Markins has a solid reputation. I'd check out the Really Right Stuff ballheads also, but they are kind of pricey.

JayT
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Interesting comments re the Bogen QR plates. I've only had a problem with one, and that's my oldest one. It's got cork instead of rubber and I had the cork twist while doing some macro work with the camera in portrait configuration. It took me a while to figure out what was going on.

FWIW the 488RC2 is much better than the 486RC2, though it uses the same plates.

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Chris
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http://www.pbase.com/sinnettc

Hi Karen

I use the Benro C228n6 carbon fiber tripod along with their top of the line KJ-2 Ball head...I wish I had been able to get this combo when I was in my 20's because I would still be using it now. I tried the cheap route over the years (had 3 very unsatisfactory aluminum tripods). My advice is get the best you can afford. The KJ-2 Ball head by Benro on sale now goes for 199.99 Canadian dollars from Benro's Canadian dealer (they ship to the USA too) and it is as smooth as silk and very strong (load 39.6 pounds and when you tighten it down there is no droop). It has a beautifully machined 2.13 inch ball and it weighs in at 1.69 pounds. It pans 360 degrees wonderfully and has an excellent patented safety catch on it to prevent the plate with camera attached from slipping off ! It already saved me a lot of money when I loosened it and carelessly canted the tripod and of course the whole unit tried to slide off... and it would have save for the intervention of the safety release!

I am highly impressed with the quality, strength and price of this tripod and the ball head combo...610 Canadian dollars including taxes and shipping.

The service is top notch and they are very caring, responding to e-mail queries quickly, sometimes in minutes day and night. Liucia who dealt with me laughed when I commented on this...she said they have to try harder to gain a reputation that can compete with the other high end gang! And their products are really high end in my books. Their ball head is also compatible with Arca-Swiss and Kirk clamp sets.

I could go on and on but I will end by saying, in this instance, Made in China means excellent engineering, highest quality and non plus ultra service. Give them a shot at this link:
http://benphoto.ca/store//catalog/index.php
All the best Karen

Mitch
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K10D and Canon G7...simply the very best!
mitch

3229 RC2 on the Manfrotto monopod 679B and 488 RC2 on the Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod.

I got monopod first so when getting the tripod I opted for RC2 since I already had the quick release plates.

I like the tripod a lot as the center column can be changed into a horizontal position extending photo opportunities.

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Cheers,

Igelfeld

.....many of the suggestions given. appreciate all of the input on this.

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karen

I use a Digipod A2840 tripod with a Digipod BH-25Q ballhead. These are very similar to the Benro products but even better value for money. Very happy with this tripod/ballhead combination!

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René

http://www.luminous-pixels.com
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/ren%C3%A9box