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Hi, I'm in the UK and looking at tripods and heads while I'm here and the price difference is reasonable to what Birddog offers. I'd love to wait until I'm back in Australia but I want to capture some things in low light conditions. So I'm willing to pay a bit more instead of saving a few $$ and kicking myself over it. What I'm looking at getting is the Gitzo 1227LVL but the problem is finding the right head. What seems to be easy to get is Gitzo, Kirk and Manfrotto heads. I'll settle for Gitzo or Kirk, haven't seen a Markin or Arachtech (sp?). So which Gitzo or Kirk head should I buy? I want something to support about 8kg of weight as I'm looking at getting the 70-200VR at some stage. So combined with a TC and SB-800 I'll need something fairly stirdy. So can somebody please give me some options. Don't have a lot of net time to do the research at the moment. So any help would be muchly appreciated.


Also I've also looked at Manfrotto legs, such as the Neotech 458B? which is suppose to support 8kg of weight. Are these legs anygood?

Hi kipper,

If you are going to get the Gitzo 1227LVL and deciding between a Gitzo and Kirk ball head then I'll be leaning more towards the Kirk BH-1. Especially if you are intending to mount a 70-200VR one day. I dont think that you can go wrong with the Kirk BH-1, Markins M10, RRS BH-55 or the Arca Swiss B-1. The main attribute of these ballheads is the inclusion of the friction knob which a joy to use.

I have also tried the Aractech, but did not like it much myself.

I can assure you that that if you buy anything lesser you'll end up upgrading in future.

hope this helps

Well I have recently bought the Manfrotto 322R ball head. It has a trigger like action and adjustable friction, and seens as solid as a rock. I bought it locally because the shop owed me credits.

huynhie
kipper is one of our Aussie guy and now is wondering around Europe for a short time, he'll come back soon.

kipper
We have many discussion on these "tripods & heads" over our forum since it started and perhaps you read them before you left Australia. So wait until you backed home and start your research.
You won't get any good price of photography equipments from European Countries and I knew you want to get them once you're backed.

Oneputt wrote:Well I have recently bought the Manfrotto 322R ball head. It has a trigger like action and adjustable friction, and seens as solid as a rock. I bought it locally because the shop owed me credits.

This is the head i'll be getting "some day???"

i'd like to hear your thoughts on this after you to use the head on a day out???

Cheers
Ray

Raydar wrote:

Oneputt wrote:Well I have recently bought the Manfrotto 322R ball head. It has a trigger like action and adjustable friction, and seens as solid as a rock. I bought it locally because the shop owed me credits.

This is the head i'll be getting "some day???"

i'd like to hear your thoughts on this after you to use the head on a day out???

Cheers
Ray

You better return it, the 80-400Vr won't like it much.

Birddog114 wrote:

Raydar wrote:

Oneputt wrote:Well I have recently bought the Manfrotto 322R ball head. It has a trigger like action and adjustable friction, and seens as solid as a rock. I bought it locally because the shop owed me credits.

This is the head i'll be getting "some day???"

i'd like to hear your thoughts on this after you to use the head on a day out???

Cheers
Ray

You better return it, the 80-400Vr won't like it much.

To heavy mate?????

Cheers
Ray

Birddog I am interested in your thinking why will it not like it (not that I have one )

Oneputt wrote:Birddog I am interested in your thinking why will it not like it (not that I have one )

Ok, the 80-400Vr is not heavy as your thoughts.

The Man322RC2 is not flexi in using long lens with it and create vibration, not sturdy cos its extended arm, and same as the zoom lenses with collar mount on its QRP, the height of the lens collar + the fancy stuff of it, contributes the vibration at any degree.
Look at it, it's like a joystick type and once you have a big lens, you'll want a simple ball head with your left hand in control all the knobs as tension etc.. and your right hand will have index finger on the shutter release.
Its extended arm will obstruct your right/ left hand and won't help you much more effective in control the camera or adjusting level, index of the camera.
If the lens mounted on this head, your left hand always work with the zoom ring and your right hand will do the same thing as above.
It looks as a modern gadgets but won't fit in any bag of the shooters.

http://www.manfrotto.com/product/search_result.php3

I like my Acratech head

All good points Birdy
Thanks for that

Cheers
Ray

Fair enough, I will be interested in seeing if the arm does get in the way. Currently I have been in the habit of leaving the head on the tripod in the vertical position to make carrying it easier.

I guess that time will tell.

Oneputt,
Please look at the simple AUB pics from MHD and you will know what I meant. Simple head and simple control.

more here:
http://potofgrass.ath.cx/gallery/tri

Nice head!!!!!!

Cheers
Ray

Ok I have to admit I can see how good that would be, but and it is a big one, I have arthritis in my hands and fingers and small knobs can be difficult to use in certain conditions, whereas the trigger type head is a breeze.

In that case mate I think you've made the right choice.
From what I experienced with the grip when I had a play with one down at John’s shop it felt all right to me.

Cheers
Ray

Oneputt wrote:Ok I have to admit I can see how good that would be, but and it is a big one, I have arthritis in my hands and fingers and small knobs can be difficult to use in certain conditions, whereas the trigger type head is a breeze.

Oneputt,
It's not big as you seen and thought, once you seen it you'll surprise with its size and control, and you'll never part it.

I've seen the Manfrotto 322RC here, and the Kirk BH-1 and BH-3, along with a variety of Arca Swiss heads. Which would be the best one to get. As for prices, legs aren't overly expensive. The 1227LVL is about $900 so it's $120 then what Birddy offers. Heads seem a bit expensive but then again I haven't really shopped around.

kipper wrote:I've seen the Manfrotto 322RC here, and the Kirk BH-1 and BH-3, along with a variety of Arca Swiss heads. Which would be the best one to get. As for prices, legs aren't overly expensive. The 1227LVL is about $900 so it's $120 then what Birddy offers. Heads seem a bit expensive but then again I haven't really shopped around.

kipper,
The real price of the 1227LVL is AU$200.00 cheaper than what you have seen in the other side of the globe, and heads are mainly manufactured from the US as Arca Swiss and Kirk, S. Korea as Markins. When you back home you can buy them cheaper than your thoughts, unless you need them URGENTLY, then it's your decision.
Europe is not a place to swing your hard earned cash in these gears, baguette and cheese may be cheap and fresh. I've been in France and Nothern Europe, it's cost me more to buy a bottle of XO Martell than what I can buy from Australia.

Yeah I've decided to hold back on buying the legs and head. Will get it when I return as the savings will go towards my next trip. Which will most likely be my trip to come over here to live. So the cost of expensive photography gear is something I will have to get used to eventually.