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Photography Question 

Irene Troy
 

Tripod head suggestions?


I currently use a Gitzo center ball head on my Gitzo tripod. I am growing to strongly dislike this head! Even though it is rated to carry the weight, every time I attach my Sigma Zoom the head migrates while shooting. Actually, it migrates whenever I attach anything heavier than my Canon 100mm lens. I don’t have the $500-600 for the head I would love to own – the Arca gimble head, so, does anyone have a suggestion as to a sturdier head? Please keep in mind that I concentrate on nature/wildlife photography and often hike several miles in order to photograph a subject. I really need a lightweight setup, but also one that does not move when I am shooting. Any ideas? Thanks!

Irene


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June 22, 2007

 

John Rhodes
  Irene, Wow, I have always thought Gitzo was the top of the line. I have been using a Bogen-Manfrotto midi ball head for some time with at least one relatively heavy, long lens. I've never had any problem with it holding steady. Are you ensuring you tighten the knob down sufficiently when you position the ball? That may be part of the problem.

ood shooting,

John


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June 22, 2007

 

Irene Troy
  Hi John – yes, I also think of Gitzo as top of the line and bought my current tripod and head because they were both light weight and reasonably sturdy – or at least this is what I thought. The tripod is fine; it’s the head that causes me problems. I suspect that the head may not be truly able to hold the combined weight of camera plus long lens. I am very careful to ensure that the knob is as tight as I can get it when the lens is attached. Of-course, it is possible that I am doing something wrong, but if so, I have no idea what. One suggestion, another photographer made, was to stop using the quick release plate. I hate doing this because I tend to switch lenses quickly when trying to photograph wildlife and the quick release plate makes this much easier. At any rate, thank you for your ideas.

Irene
P.S. I always do "odd shooting" - is that what you meant? LOL!


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June 22, 2007

 

Mary Iacofano
  Hi Irene, I use a ball head from REally Right Stuff. (reallyrightstuff.com). I love it. I use a canon 30D and very often use the canon 100-400 IS lens. The guy at RRS hooked me up with a rotating ball head on a gitzo tripod. I also shoot nature landscapes and hike. I also needed a very lightweight set up. I have a very bad arthritic shoulder, another reason for very lightweight option. Check them out on the web. I bought from them when I did not know anything about the set ups. They were very helpful and friendly. Set me up over the phone to match my needs. Jim Zuckerman, instructor here, had recomended them and I also recomend them. They are out of California.
Hope this helps.
Mary


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June 23, 2007

 

Suzanne Colson
  I have an older model (G1575M) offset ball head from Gitzo that I love. It is rated for 22 lbs and I can say for sure that it holds quite a bit. I had a 30D and a Sigma 50-500mm mounted and it didn't move. I wasn't sure about the benefits of it being offset initially, but really like this feature. I can get in basically any psition quickly; Landscape or portrait. I was told by someone to make sure the head and tripod is rated for at least twice what it will carry to be safe.


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June 23, 2007

 

Bob Cammarata
  I recently upgraded my head to accommodate a heavy super-telephoto/teleconverter assembly.
This heavy-duty Bogen pan and tilt head is easy to adjust and works well with my heavy lenses.

Bob


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June 23, 2007

 

Irene Troy
  Hi everyone and thank you for all the great responses! Mary, I will certainly check out Really Right Stuff. I have heard good things about them, but forgot their existence until now.

Suzanne – I really like my Gitzo tripod, but not the head. I will take a look at the head that you are using and perhaps it would work for me. I use a Canon 5D, which is a fairly light camera, but my Sigma zoom at 4.5 lbs. is heavy, but certainly not as heavy as some other lenses.

Bob, welcome home from your adventure. I look forward to seeing your images. On several of you recent forum posts you included images of the homemade setup that you sometimes use with your long lenses. I suspect that these are fairly heavy and mostly used when you do not have to hike far. However, could you add some info on how you put them together? I was talking with a carpenter friend who would build me such a setup for when I use my car as a blind – something I frequently do. I did look at the Bogan head that you reference; however, I’m not wild about the pan/tilt type heads.

Thanks again, everyone!

Irene


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June 23, 2007

 

Bob Cammarata
 
 
  Nikkor 600 mm f-4, TC-301, TC-201 w/stablizer
Nikkor 600 mm f-4, TC-301, TC-201 w/stablizer

Yield...2400 mm

Bob Cammarata

 
  Nikkor 300 mm 2.8, TC-301, TC-201 w/stablizer
Nikkor 300 mm 2.8, TC-301, TC-201 w/stablizer

Yield...1200 mm

Bob Cammarata

 
 
Irene,
I'm still waiting (un-patiently) for my slides to return from the lab (...maybe Monday or Tuesday). :(

That support system was fairly easy to build and helps to drastically reduce the "jiggling" of the camera body that occurs when teleconverters and super-telephotos are matched.

A 1" X 4" board is cut to length...to reach from just beyond the tripod collar on the lens barrel to an inch or so beyond the camera body (when all intended lens extensions are attached).

Lay the lens/converter/body assembly onto the board and add flat wooden spacers under the body (if required) until the lens mounting collar lies flat and even with the board.
Attach the spacers with wood glue and flathead screws.

Next, measure where the threaded tripod mount on the camera body will contact the board and drill a 1/4" hole.
Insert a 1/4" eye bolt through the hole from the bottom of the board and, with the entire assembly in place, screw the bolt loosely into the tripod mount of the camera body.
(Note: Eye bolts are easier than conventional bolts to attach and remove in the field...especially when you are in a hurry.Position the assembly back and forth until the lens collar is in the center of the width of the board and mark where the mounting hole (or holes) for the lens collar will contact the support.
Drill the hole (or holes if your lens collar has two) with a 3/8" bit.
(Note: The slightly oversized 3/8" holes will allow for some "play" and wiggle room in case your measurements aren't exactly perfect.)

Next, affix the tripod collar to the support with 1/4" eye bolts and tighten all bolts securely.
Note: For greater stability, 1/4" fender washers should be positioned onto the eye bolts before installing.

OK,...Now that you have the entire lens/converter/body assembly attached to a stable platform, how do you attach it to your tripod head?

The way I tackled this challenge was to estimate the center of gravity (with everything attached). I marked a spot I estimated to be a balance point on the underside of the board. After removing the lens assembly and putting it aside, I drilled a 3/8" hole through the board at that point.
A 1" threaded rod connector(with 1/4" thread) was then pounded into the hole until it was flush with the bottom.
(Note: I found the connectors displayed at Home Depot at the hardware section, near the threaded rods.)
The threaded connector accepts the 1/4" thread of the quick-disconnect plate for my Bogen head. A 1/2" long screw and washer secures the connector firmly from the top of the board.

Once the quick-disconnect plate is tightened securely, re-attach the camera/lens assembly with the eye bolts, tighten securely, attach it to the tripod and start shooting.
(Note: Once built, the stablizing platform fits easily into a tripod bag for transport into the field and the whole assembly can be made operational in under a minute.)

Bob


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June 23, 2007

 
- Carlton Ward

BetterPhoto Member
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  Thank for starting this thread Irene, I am also looking for a sturdier ballhead for my 100-400 lens.


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June 23, 2007

 

Stan Lubach
  You might also take a look at kirkphoto.com. Their heads have been getting good reviews as well. I've been leaning toward getting my next head from them.


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June 24, 2007

 
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