Grip action Ball head +Manfrotto 441

[George Vardas]

I just bought a manfrotto 441 tripod and a grip action ball head
Has anyone used it?
How do others find the grip action ball head ?

 

[Adrian Hood]

I have it and I love it. That S2 is pretty heavy and it holds it nice and tight. Even when I have my S2 positioned to take vertical shots!

I wish there was a leveler for when the handle is sideways, but I carry a small one which works just fine.

Adrian

I just bought a manfrotto 441 tripod and a grip action ball head
Has anyone used it?
How do others find the grip action ball head ?

--
Adrian H.

 

[George Vardas]

Im Loving it too

 

[BJN]

I just bought a manfrotto 441 tripod and a grip action ball head
Has anyone used it?
How do others find the grip action ball head ?

I retired my grip action head for use with a spotting scope. It's tall and relatively heavy for your 441. It is fast to use, but it throws the center of gravity off if you use it for vertical shooting. Since the 441 has a narrow stance anyway, the off-center CG is a bigger problem with that tripod.

The small quick release plate allows twisting with heavier lenses and bodies. The Arca-type plate system is a better solution. You can get custom plates with anti-twist and the plates are slim enough to leave them on all the time.

Since you got a nice lightweight tripod, I'd suggest a quality compact ballhead to go with it. Check out these options:

http://acratech.net/prod01.htm

http://www.markins.com

http://www.kirkphoto.com/ballheadbh3.html

BJN

 

[Adrian Hood]

BJN is right,

When I do use my s2 in vertical mode, it does throw the CD off and have the tendency to want to tilt. I have to adjust the legs to balance it out.

Once that is done, it is just fine.

Adrian

I just bought a manfrotto 441 tripod and a grip action ball head
Has anyone used it?
How do others find the grip action ball head ?

I retired my grip action head for use with a spotting scope. It's
tall and relatively heavy for your 441. It is fast to use, but it
throws the center of gravity off if you use it for vertical
shooting. Since the 441 has a narrow stance anyway, the off-center
CG is a bigger problem with that tripod.

The small quick release plate allows twisting with heavier lenses
and bodies. The Arca-type plate system is a better solution. You
can get custom plates with anti-twist and the plates are slim
enough to leave them on all the time.

Since you got a nice lightweight tripod, I'd suggest a quality
compact ballhead to go with it. Check out these options:

http://acratech.net/prod01.htm

http://www.markins.com

http://www.kirkphoto.com/ballheadbh3.html

BJN

--
Adrian H.

 

[gsalmon]

I just bought a manfrotto 441 tripod and a grip action ball head

I have had a Bogen 3021 tripod for more than 10 years. A collegue of mine has been using the same tripod (although his has even more battle scars than mine) along with the ball grip head. I decided to replace my old three axis head with the ball grip this past spring. I wished I had not waited so long.

It's absolutely one of the best things I have done. One side effect of having the ball grip is that I can drop my tripod on uneven ground and use the head to almost instantly level the camera. I no longer have to try to level the tripod or fiddle with the head.

I find the ball grip has no difficulty holding an S1 or S2, along with a long lens. It's rock solid in normal or vertical orientation.

 

[Jeff Simpson]

George,

I have been using both for over a year know (well even longer with the ballgrip head).

I have just ordered a Manfrotto/Bogen Pro ballhead (468RC) because, although the ballgrip is fast and convenient, it does tend to slip with longer lenses and it is difficult to make fine adjustments with it.

I also find that the tripod's centerpost is too long for low-level shooting (something a hacksaw might fix) but the tripod is a little short in general.

Nevertheless I really enjoy using it most of the time.

Here's my take on the tripod:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/carbon_one.shtml

Jeff