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G'day guys,

Since you've already provided me with a depth of knowledge with regards to my photography, I was just chasing some knowledge with regards to tripod heads.

I'll be purchasing a set of Manfrotto 190 series legs (either the 190D or 190CL, I'm on a really tight budget), and was just wondering the difference between something like the 141RC head vs. a 484 RC ball head, like the one Deano has for sale in the forums...

It appears the ball head is a fair bit lighter, which would be good in my case as I do a fair bit of walking around when shooting. That being said, I'm still after an opinion of someone who has used both, or even better someone who has used these models!

Cheers,

spartikus

Whilst I have the same legs that you mentioned I much prefer the head that I have as it has the sqeeze grip and is thus instantly and fully adjustable. I have not noticed any lack of stability. I'll look up the model number tommorow but I think that it is the 322R

I got a tripod and head today....

190 legs (second hand)
and 488 ball head...

the legs are second hand so I got them for 70
and the head was new so it was 130...

I like how it is light but sturdy....

not used it yet seriously but i will let you know how I go

Cheers for the comments guys, the 322RC head looks pretty practical and easy to use, I'll have a read up on your 488, olrac.

Another question guys, with ball heads how do people go with pivoting about the vertical axis for taking panoramics shots to stitch?
i may be missing something (probably), is a 3-way head better in this situation or is there a way that you can independently select each axis with a ball head.

bouyant_clown wrote:Another question guys, with ball heads how do people go with pivoting about the vertical axis for taking panoramics shots to stitch?
i may be missing something (probably), is a 3-way head better in this situation or is there a way that you can independently select each axis with a ball head.

What brand of ballhead? Most decent ballhead has the index scale at its base, try to work out the nodal point on your lens.
RRS and Manfrotto, both have the excellent pano package kit but they're costly once you combined all the gears to work with it.
The other way is play guessing game, taking photo in portrait mode.

with ball heads how do people go with pivoting about the vertical axis for taking panoramics shots to stitch?

the middle of the range manfrotto (the 488) and up have two sets of controls the ball head (obviously) and there is a rotating base to pan around the vertical axis this is why I opted for this head above others.

I think this is what Birddog was saying but nodal points, scales all over my newbie head.....

bouyant_clown wrote:Another question guys, with ball heads how do people go with pivoting about the vertical axis for taking panoramics shots to stitch?
i may be missing something (probably), is a 3-way head better in this situation or is there a way that you can independently select each axis with a ball head.

This is where an L-bracket comes into play.

If you just use, say, a pan-tilt head, throwing the head into a portrait mode will most likely relocate the central point of your image plane on a plane other than the one about which your tripod head will pivot.

Using an L-bracket (or other tools to relocate the relative position of the camera) permits you to adjust the camera's position and compensate for this anomaly.

I have the 190C legs and a 488RC2 head and love them. Pano's work fine with one exception and that's when the subject is quite close and your in portrait mode. That's when having the pivot point to the right of your focal plane really becomes noticeable. I did a beach pano which worked a treat and lined up perfectly but in our small courtyard at home there were a few issues with overlaps.

As gstark mentioned, that's where your going to need an L bracked.

Anyhoo, I'd recommend this setup without hesitation as it's serverd me well.

Bootros.

Cool, thanks for the replies, makes sense that the higher end models have features that take care of this issue. Never had the chance to see one so didn't realise this.

buoyant clown,

bouyant_clown wrote:Cool, thanks for the replies, makes sense that the higher end models have features that take care of this issue. Never had the chance to see one so didn't realise this.

If you would like to come along to a 'Adelaide Meet', I can show you a 'GITZO' G1327 tripod (Carbon Fibre), Markins M-20 (Ballhead) + TB30 and also 'RRS' L-Bracket. I do not have any pano equipment 'RRS - Pano Elements Package' as I am not really interested at the moment.

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/mpr/index.html

Everything is here, except for the 'RRS - L Bracket'



The 'L' bracket (Part # BD70-L) is the same as this:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/body_pl ... index.html

fozzie,
I thought you ditched the Markins 20
Your setup will look good and top line if you arm with the RRS BH-55PRO.
It's now perfect but not a "top gun"

Birddog114,

It took you seven minutes to swallow the bait, your getting slow

Yes: I am only a 'Gun' and not a 'Top Gun'. But I do have a BH-25 Pro which is junior to the BH-55 Pro. So I can gain entry to the 'RRS BH Club'.

fozzie wrote:Birddog114,

It took you seven minutes to swallow the bait, your getting slow

Yes: I am only a 'Gun' and not a 'Top Gun'. But I do have a BH-25 Pro which is junior to the BH-55 Pro. So I can gain entry to the 'RRS BH Club'.

So you're going to part the Markins 20 soon?

Birddog114,

Birddog114 wrote:

fozzie wrote:Birddog114,

It took you seven minutes to swallow the bait, your getting slow

Yes: I am only a 'Gun' and not a 'Top Gun'. But I do have a BH-25 Pro which is junior to the BH-55 Pro. So I can gain entry to the 'RRS BH Club'.

So you're going to part the Markins 20 soon?

'NO'.

You know that the BH-25 Pro is for the G-1588 (Monopod) hopefully leaving HKSupplies at the end of this week, or may be early next week. Then later on with the G-1027.

fozzie wrote:Birddog114,

Birddog114 wrote:

fozzie wrote:Birddog114,

It took you seven minutes to swallow the bait, your getting slow

Yes: I am only a 'Gun' and not a 'Top Gun'. But I do have a BH-25 Pro which is junior to the BH-55 Pro. So I can gain entry to the 'RRS BH Club'.

So you're going to part the Markins 20 soon?

'NO'.

You now that the BH-25 Pro is for the G-1588 (Monopod) hopefully leaving HKSupplies at the end of this week, or may be early next week. Then later on with the G-1027.

Then you don't need the G1327 and the Markins 20, gathering dust somewhere in the cupboard . With your style of shooting and lenses, I'm sure you'll use the G1588 and the 1027 + BH-25 more often.

Birddog114,

Birddog114 wrote:

fozzie wrote:Birddog114,

Birddog114 wrote:

fozzie wrote:Birddog114,

It took you seven minutes to swallow the bait, your getting slow

Yes: I am only a 'Gun' and not a 'Top Gun'. But I do have a BH-25 Pro which is junior to the BH-55 Pro. So I can gain entry to the 'RRS BH Club'.

So you're going to part the Markins 20 soon?

'NO'.

You now that the BH-25 Pro is for the G-1588 (Monopod) hopefully leaving HKSupplies at the end of this week, or may be early next week. Then later on with the G-1027.

Then you don't need the G1327 and the Markins 20, gathering dust somewhere in the cupboard . With your style of shooting and lenses, I'm sure you'll use the G1588 and the 1027 + BH-25 more often.

Each will have there turn .

When travelling interstate the G-1327 will stay home, as the others are easier to carry around.

Fozzie,
You have to say:
The G1327 is now reserved for the new release Nikkor 400 AF-S VR

Birddog,

Birddog114 wrote:Fozzie,
You have to say:
The G1327 is now reserved for the new release Nikkor 400 AF-S VR

May be 2-3 years down the track

Might need to get another camera body (D2x) before that

fozzie wrote:Birddog,

Birddog114 wrote:Fozzie,
You have to say:
The G1327 is now reserved for the new release Nikkor 400 AF-S VR

May be 2-3 years down the track

Might need to get another camera body (D2x) before that

NO D2x at that time, perhaps a new D3X

Thankyou Fozzie for the offer, one day i hope to come to one of the sa meets, they do seem to be getting further and further away from the centre of town though.

bouyant_clown,

bouyant_clown wrote:Thankyou Fozzie for the offer, one day i hope to come to one of the sa meets, they do seem to be getting further and further away from the centre of town though.

If transport is a problem, please let me know

Next outing is Sunday 31 Jul 2005 - Adelaide Meet #5, Fleurieu Peninsula (South Coast).

bouyant_clown

fozzie owns a small chopper so he can fly you to the LZ.

Birddog,

Birddog114 wrote:bouyant_clown

fozzie owns a small chopper so he can fly you to the LZ.

Funny man

I am ROTFL, I have enough trouble driving a car.