Manfrotto Compact Advanced Tripod Ball Head Replacement?

[CTA]

Having owned the Manfrotto Compact Advanced for a few months, I am finding the handle head an annoyance and would like to get the ball head as a replacement, yet I am finding it difficult to find a website or store that sells the ball head separately. Is it possible to purchase just the ball head in which I can attach to the tripod as a replacement for the handle head I have?

Why did I buy this tripod? Because I travel a lot and its compact, light weight and I like the quick release, its also a cheap tripod so if it gets broken or lost I don't lose out on much. As well as that I do a lot of long exposure photography and its a sturdy tripod for that. This is my primary tripod for travel for the reasons above.

 

[ernstbk]

Having owned the Manfrotto Compact Advanced for a few months, I am finding the handle head an annoyance and would like to get the ball head as a replacement, yet I am finding it difficult to find a website or store that sells the ball head separately. Is it possible to purchase just the ball head in which I can attach to the tripod as a replacement for the handle head I have?

What ball head ?

Why did I buy this tripod? Because I travel a lot and its compact, light weight and I like the quick release, its also a cheap tripod so if it gets broken or lost I don't lose out on much. As well as that I do a lot of long exposure photography and its a sturdy tripod for that. This is my primary tripod for travel for the reasons above.

If I understand correctly the head on this tripod can not be removed, meaning you can not replace it with a ball head. https://www.manfrottospares.com/pdfs/MKCOMPACTADV-BK/MKCOMPACTADVBK_20140403.PDF

 

[925eefd]

The short answer is that the head can be removed without damaging the centre column. To do so you tighten the levers until the head cannot be turned about the column. Then turn the head counter-clockwise relative to the column, it may be very tight. Once it is loosened from the column it should pull straight out. This head tightens to the centre column using a method similar in a way to the method used to secure the handlebar stem to the forks of a bicycle, ie as it is tightened, the part inside the centre column is spread outwards to the sides of the column.

If you want to use a different head with this centre column then it would be necessary to make a standard end to the centre column. A one or two inch piece of hardwood might be epoxied into the end of the column and then an inch or two of 1/4 X 20 threaded rod could be threaded and epoxied into the centre of the hardwood. It must be a fully threaded piece without a head, not a bolt with either a smooth section or with the head left on or you many never get the tripod head off when you want to.




Base of head (cone shaped) plus part that spreads outwards as it is tightened.

As far as the 3-way head being annoying to use, I've seen a number of posts online about this and it turns out many people, including myself when I first tried using it, haven't undone the right handle far enough to enable it to be put in the correct position and although it seems to tighten the head, the handles end up on top of each other in the "compact" arrangement. They should be at about 90 deg to each other! I like this tripod and may make another centre column so I can use different heads or modify the centre column as described and the base of the head to work with it. Good luck.

 

[QICflair]

I have the Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod with the pistol grip ball head.



As I found myself doing more video, the stock head sucks for panning, but I love the height and weight of this tripod.

Since removing the head just leaves a empty hollow center column, I did a bit of searching around and found this: Kupo 1/4-20 Threaded mounting plate.







While it fits in the shaft, it needed a few things to properly secure it. Not wanting to epoxy it in and I don’t have access to a drill press, I removed the pin and used a 6-32 tap to thread the holes.

I picked up some 6-32 set screws, a 16mm fiber washer and a rubber grommet from the local hardware store. The grommet helps to keep the neck centered and provides additional snugness against the column.



I ground down the round parts of the plate where the holes would be and made two recessions where the set screws would go.



After a bit of adjustments, the modifications worked great! The plate is a bit heavier than I would like but it is still lighter than my vanguard veo travel tripod (I stole the head from it and put it on the manfrotto, which i thinks suits it well). This is more of a travel/emergency/edc tripod as I have better ones for serious work.

 

[Joe SoCal]

I am interested in just the pistol style head that you removed. Can you explain how it attaches to the shaft adapter?

I want to use it with my monopod for filming my son’s hockey games with my iPhone.

thanks!

 

[Padi2]

Hi, on mine (Manfrotto Advanced Compact) a bit of the plastic claw holding one of the levers broke out, and now it's even more fiddly. And I don't have access to any of the mechanical procedures described. So, I'm asking if it's possible to just replace the entire column and put a different head on it? Which Manfrotto column would I need to look for that will fit? I love the tripod for its stability and ease of handling, except for the levers ...

 

[harlequin2]

Manfrotto list a replacement centre column with a 3/8" threaded stud if you want to use a different head eg a ball. Its $43 plus postage.

 

[Padi2]

Thank you for this. I thought I checked their website and couldn't find one! Will have a thorough look later, thanks again, that would be fabulous!

 

[harlequin2]

Here's a link:

https://www.manfrottospares.com/mkcompactadv-bk-parts.html

Its the R150,23

 

[Padi2]

Thanks, found it easily! Just have to see now if they have it in Australia, or if it has to come from overseas. Thanks heaps for your help! To be honest, I had given up since the email I sent to them was never replied to. Cheers,

 

[harlequin2]

You're welcome! I have ordered one myself and I started researching this for the same reasons you did, I just got annoyed with the levers. I've also ordered a ball head (not Manfrotto) that has a panning lock so you can do panning without the thing wobbling up and down as you do it. I might never use the pan/tilt head ever again!!

 

[harlequin2]

My replacement centre column arrived this morning, posted from Britain on 22 March. It is perfect!

 

[Padi2]

Thanks, good to hear! - am keeping the old one as well since I started to use a star tracker, and the levers are actually quite advantageous for that purpose!

 

[Bob]

Thank you for this. I thought I checked their website and couldn't find one! Will have a thorough look later, thanks again, that would be fabulous!

By the time you pay for a new column and ball head, you'd end up spending more than just buying a new Manfrotto tripod. If it was me, I'd buy a new tripod and keep the old one for use with a flash.