Tripod/Head for Macro
 

Hi:)

I have just moved to Closeup/macro with the Nikon D70 and my new Sigma 150 lens. I have the Manfrotto 055MF3 tripod and the Head is a 701 RC2. This is a good setup for birding both for my scope and my main birding camera setup which is the D70+ Tamron 200-500, but the head is not very versitile for macro - the bar gets in the way for manual focus and it can't turn into a vertical plane.

Should I buy a new head only (?ball) or a smaller, more managable tripod setup

Recommendations please for a versitile macro tripod/head setup

Cheers

Stuart R

(Admin- Please move to "Equipment" if required)

Stuart: You have some quite demanding lenses, so you will need a decent support.

In my experience a ball head works well for macro photography. But you will need a reasonably large one, and I would guess at least a 30mm ball. I used a Slik 800 Pro ball head for years, and its decent enough, if a bit rough. I don't really like the quick release and I suspect you can find better for the same kind of money. FLM make some nice ball heads that get decent user feed back. See www.SpeedGraphic.com for details. There are also Chinese Benro ball heads that offer remarkable value for money but they seem to get mixed user feedback. You can get them from numerous places including Microglobe and ebay.

Regarding a tripod, I use a Uniloc 1600 and have done so for 8 years. It is a remarkable, well made and versatile tripod. However, this morning the locking handle sheared the threads on the bent bolt, so it is unuseable until I get replacement parts from Uniloc. I used to have a Benbo Trekker, and that failed for the same reason after 18 months. I still recommend the Uniloc 1600 as there is nothing like it and it only weighs 2.4Kg. It is also cheap compared to the alternatives. IMO the Benbo Trekker is too light and mine was not well made (a leg fell off after 1 year, and the handle sheared off 6 months later).

Even with a good support I suspect that you might have problems with vibration with the D70 as it does not have a mirror lock up.

Leif

Hi Leif

Thanks for your reply. I have had another idea on a setup that might allow me to use my existing tripod rather than purchase another. If I purchased a quality ball head, this could be used on the Manfrotto for macro and the other idea is to use a Wimberley "Sidekick" which would fit into the ballhead and allow the mounting of the D70+Tamron 200-500 for bird photography and perhaps also the mounting of my Zeiss scope for bird viewing.
That is. Sidekick off, use ball head+QR plate for the Sigma 150 - Sidekick on for Tamron and scope.
Comments from users of "Sidekick" would be useful
By the way, the link for "Speedgraphic" does not take me to FLM but to a Italian graphic company!

Many thanks

Stuart

Hello Stuart: The web site address is www.SpeedGraphic.co.uk. If you want a head for a large lens, take a look at the Manfrotto gimbal head. There is a review at www.Digiscoped.com. Today I was passing Jessops in London and took a look at a Manfrotto ball head costing about £70. It looked solid enough for a camera and macro lens, and was surprisingly smooth. I suspect it works as well as my expensive head for all but large lenses.

Leif

While the Wimberley gimble head is without doubt a very usefull head, unfortunately it costs an arm and a leg to purchase it at more than £400 and is not much use for close-up work. On the other hand, the Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head is a good buy at less than £70 from Warehouse Express. It's an extremely smooth and rugged head complete with a quick release plate, very good for close-up and more than sturdy enough to support a long lens setup. Details at the following web address.
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/2306?

nirofo.

Hi nirofo

Many thanks for the information. The 488RC2 was a head I was seriously considering and I am sure it would be most useful for closeup work. The Wimberley mount which looked interesting was the "Sidekick" (http://www.tripodhead.com/products/sidekick-main.cfm) not the full, and as you say, very expensive Wimberley head. I have asked Wimberley by email if the 488RC2 and the Sidekick are compatable. If so, it could be most useful for both macro (Sidekick off) and bird photography/viewing (Sidekick on with lens or scope). Thanks again

Stuart R

That's the head I saw in Jessops. It looks very good, and much better than my old Slik 800. Leif

The sidekick is compatible with the ‘Arca-Swiss’ style quick-release adapter, e.g. the Arca-Swiss B1 or the Kirk BH-1. I’m not familiar with the Manfrotto range, so I can’t comment. I remember ringing Warehouse Express and asking a salesperson if the Sidekick was suitable for my previous Gitzo ball-head and she said it was. It wasn’t.

I have the sidekick and have used it two or three times on my Kirk BH-1 (I shoot birds only), but I've gone back to using my ball-head on its own. Unless I’m doing something wrong with the Sidekick, the problem comes when panning. If the tripod is not on absolutely level ground (or if the legs aren’t adjusted to take account of ground that isn’t level), when I pan the lens rotates about its axis, so I’m taking pictures at 45 degrees! (exaggerating slightly perhaps). It’s a similar effect to using a 3-way head, except you haven’t got the adjustment in each plane. I would imagine it’s the same with the Gimbal head? If the lens collar allows for easy rotation of the lens while still remaining secure, it would solve the problem, but it doesn’t on my 400mm f5.6.

These are not issues with a ball-head, of course, as the ball can be moved in all three planes with one adjustment.

If you purchase the Sidekick to fit onto the Manfrotto ball head, it's going to cost you an extra arm and a leg for the quick release attachments for fitting to the lens and to the ball head. Don't think plates are available for the Tamron 200-500.

nirofo.

I have the The 488RC2 and the 322RC2, for macro work I much prefer the 322. I use this head with my Canon 10D and either the Canon 100mm macro lens or my Sigma 180mm usually with the Canon twinlight macro flash.

You can see the set-up here http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...?t=111&page=11
See post 101

Interesting that you prefer the Grip Ball head - have you used the 322RC2 with a long (ish) birding lens - I am looking for a head for my 400mm f5.6 + 1.4tc and was looking at the 488RC2.

Roy, on ocassions I use the 322RC2 with the 50-500mm Sigma and must say I'm very happy with it.

However before buying this head all I used was a basic pan & tilt one, so I was bound to see major improvements.

Harry

Hi to all

Just an update - Wimberley have confimed by email that the "Sidekick" will not fit on the 488RC2, and as "bpw" confirms, it appears to be difficult to pan with. It would appear that this is also the case with the 322RC2, which brings me back to the 488RC2. Out of interest, I decided to check the weights my various setups: -
D70+Sigma 150 = 1.7Kg
Zeiss 85TL = 1.9Kg
and
D50+ Tamron200 - 500 = 2.03Kg

Is the 488RC2 therefore a case of overkill?

Thanks for all the help and information

Stuart R

Hi Stuart R

I thought it was asking a bit much to find a Sidecick fitting for the Manfrotto head!

With regards to the 488RC2 being to much, I have to say no, if it wasn't for the price I would have an Arca ball and socket, for the price the 488RC2 is a good alternative. It has smooth friction lock controls with separate panning and is rock solid, it does not sag. I've fiddled about with lesser ball and sockets and generally been disappointed, with this head it's there first time.

nirofo.

Stuart: I agree with Nirofo. The 488 head is not expensive, or heavy and yet it has a good maximum weight rating, so it should last you. The larger the ball, the more weight it can carry, and the smoother the action. Do you intend to use a 300mm or 400mm lens in the future? The only criticism is that it does not use 'standard' Araca Swiss QR plates, but then again they are 30+ each compared to ~£10 for Manfrotto ones! Perhaps I should have bought one of those for my use. Leif

Thanks

Well there it is then- it's the 488RC2!!

I'm just off to WE to order it and I will let you all know how I get on with it.

Once again, thanks for all your hints and suggestions.

Cheers

Stuart

Head problem
 

Hi

Got my new 488RC2 ballhead from WE but I am having a little problem - I can't get the 701 head off the base of the 055MF3 Tripod. I have taken the three small screws off and I have held the base in a racket but I am worried about damaging the tripod base. It just keeps turning but doesn't appear to want to unscrew from the central retaining screw. Any advice please!

I have just registered the ballhead at Manfrotto and the UK agents appear to be a company called Daymen in Wolverhampton - if I need to send the base/head unit to be fixed, is this the place to send it to?

Thanks

Stuart R

Who said life was easy!!

You need to go in from the underside of the head platform after removing the short section of the centre column, you'll need an extension bar and a socket, (don't know the size). You need to access this if you want to change the thread from 3/8" whit to 1/4" whit, it was a double ended screw in my column.

nirofo.

As an owner and user of the 488RC2 . I can say it has been doing a fine job with my 100-400, occasional Tc and tubes and battery grip equipped 20D with no instabilty issues.. I also use it for macro work with a fully suited 180 with flash gear and once again find it very solid and smooth to move... It is probably at its comfortable limit with the 100-400 set up.... The true long and fast prime lenses probably do need more support....That's my take anyway....Take care....Alex