mano?beny?pano?bally?

[olympuse620]

Wanted to see what (type and model) tripod/head set up people use and what is their main focus. Do people use different heads for different types of photography or is it just a personal choice?

Please write down your: tripod model: head type: type of photography
please add your opinions

[kwokask]

Gitzo 1531 + Markins Q3 - landscape/seascape/everything else
Manfrotto 190MF4 + Manfrotto 486RC2 - travel

Both heads are ballheads. I don't like the Manfrotto heads that I have used (486RC2 and 322RC2) - they don't hold well with any reasonable weight (i.e. they slowly slip in vertical orientation or when not close to being level). The Gitzo setup is light enough for travel, so I only really keep the Manfrotto setup for when/if my wife picks up photography again.

[davidd]

Velbon Sherpa 450 tripod (on wish list to be replaced with a Gitzo!) :o
Markins M10 Ball-head :th3:
Kirk L-bracket :th3:
RRS MPR-CL2 slide plate for panoramas (used with the L-Bracket) :th3:

[glenwood]

Feisol 3401 Manfrotto 498RC2 were ever required

[Mary Anne]

Tripod I have a Slik pro 813 CF 11 with a 705E Pan Head.. Only used it a couple of times I hate tripods.
Had to use it for taking pics of the moon that all.

I use a Monopod for everything almost every day.

[dmdigital]

Manfrotto 055MF3
RRS BH-55 + Quick release clamp and L-Brackets
RRS Ultimate-Pro Omni-Pivot for pano's

[James Axford]

this is my main setup. mostly use it for architecture and landscapes.
gitzo 3541xls and a RSS bh55
http://jaxford.smugmug.com/Other/Bokeh/IMG0118/709978453_yWjU2-O.jpg

this is when I want it a little lighter. say for travel
gitzo 1197 basalt, and a RSS bh40

http://jaxford.smugmug.com/Other/Bokeh/IMG2026/791743945_ZKeTN-O.jpg

[peterking]

Tripod and head, Manfrotto 055XPROB with a 808RC4 head.
Genre, Sports.
Never use the tripod for sports. Everythings hand held. The tripod is for the little nature flowers I do and architectural and night.
Opinion. It's big, Heavy Cumbersome but perfect for me as I am none too gentle and my camera plus lens plus battery grip is just too much for anything less.

[olympuse620]

Thanks to those that have contributed so far. I think I am liking the bh55 as a head.

[MajorPanic]

I use a Manfrotto MF3 with a Really Right Stuff BH55 & the B2 AS II quick clamp. I also use the pano setup - the PCL base & bar.

It's great not having to level the tripod for a pano, you just level the pano bar. The camera rotates above the ball with the PCL1 base ;)

[olympuse620]

I use a Manfrotto MF3 with a Really Right Stuff BH55 & the B2 AS II quick clamp. I also use the pano setup - the PCL base & bar.

It's great not having to level the tripod for a pano, you just level the pano bar. The camera rotates above the ball with the PCL1 base ;)
Do you have a pic of your setup?

[MajorPanic]

Not at the moment but this is as close as I could find for you. I'll see if I can get a pic tomorrow.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/pano/Step3and4.gif

This photo shows the camera in landscape orientation & without the "L" bracket.
The "L" bracket allows the camera to be mounted in the proper vertical orientation which is what you need for panos. It does show the ball head, panning clamp & the nodal bar.

[Buggles]

Hi,
I have a gitzo 0531 tripod with RRS BH25 ballhead as my light weight setup.
I have a gitzo 2541 explorer on which I use either the RRS BH55 ballhead or the gitzo G1375 off centre ball head.
Used mainly for macro (along with a Manfroto macro slide) and landscape photography. I use RRS quick release clamps or change to screw on mount if I want to go really light weight.
RRS pano setup is on my wish list.
Cheers,
Craig

[olympuse620]

Hi,
I have a gitzo 0531 tripod with RRS BH25 ballhead as my light weight setup.
I have a gitzo 2541 explorer on which I use either the RRS BH55 ballhead or the gitzo G1375 off centre ball head.
Used mainly for macro (along with a Manfroto macro slide) and landscape photography. I use RRS quick release clamps or change to screw on mount if I want to go really light weight.
RRS pano setup is on my wish list.
Cheers,
Craig
Do you prefer the bh55 or the g1375? Do you find the bh55 smooth in operation of is it notchy?

[dmdigital]

RRS Pano setup (as previously mentioned - sorry about the image quality)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3524/4036088465_69028a7de9_o.jpg

This shot has the lower PCL-1 with a dovetail base slotted in to the quick release clamp. I normally don't do this and actually run with the PCL-1 directly on the BH-55 unless I'm shooting single row shots.

BH-55 is very smooth. BH-30 is next on list for a lighter weight kit I think.