Tripod Head

[XJ75]

Didn't want to hi-jack the other thread, but I have a couple of questions about tripod heads.

We bought a Sony mirrorless a few years back and we bought a compact Manfrotto tripod, it's served us perfectly for very occasional use.

The wife has since bought a full frame Nikon D750, which weighs a ton, and the tripod head won't support it. I have a couple of questions:

1) I'm happy to keep the existing tripod legs and just buying a new head. Is this wise?
2) Depending on the answer to question 1, do you have any recommendations? We really don't want to spend much as we hardly ever use the tripod. Really wanted to spend £100 absolute max, ideally even less. Is this unrealistic?

TIA.

[C&C]

Regarding question 1 - it depends on the exact model of the legs.

Question 2 re. heads - I've been using a Redsnapper tripod and head for a few years now and am very happy with it.

Redsnapper Heads

In terms of head, I've got the RSH-12 (cost £60) which is very capable of dealing with a heavy camera - no problems with it handling a Canon 5d mark 3 with Sigma 120-300 f2.8 zoom (total weight around 4Kg).

In case the answer to question 1 is that the legs are not suitable, you could always got for something like the RSF-284M legs with RSH-12 head for total of £120.

Alternatively, you could get the head, see how it goes with your legs, and then if needed, purchase the Redsnapper legs later.

Feedback from various photo forums seems to indicate that the quality of Redsnapper is up there with the likes of Manfrotto, but at considerably lower cost. I can't comment personally as I've never used a large Manfrotto tripod/head, but I can say that the Redsnapper more than meets my needs.

[Simpo Two]

XJ75 said:

1) I'm happy to keep the existing tripod legs and just buying a new head. Is this wise?
2) Depending on the answer to question 1, do you have any recommendations? We really don't want to spend much as we hardly ever use the tripod. Really wanted to spend £100 absolute max, ideally even less. Is this unrealistic?

I can't envisage your legs (!) but if they are sturdy enough then yes, just change the head. I like 3-way pan/tilt heads and have a Manfrotto 141RC. Some people like ball heads but they just fall over like a broken neck when you loosen them.

£50 s/h: https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/253245181777?chn=ps&d...

[C&C]

Simpo Two said:

I can't envisage your legs (!) but if they are sturdy enough then yes, just change the head. I like 3-way pan/tilt heads and have a Manfrotto 141RC. Some people like ball heads but they just fall over like a broken neck when you loosen them.

I would venture that it depends on the type and quality of ball heads.
Some (like the RHS-12 I linked to above) have an asymmetric ball that when loosened a little allows free movement, but as the angle forwards/backwards or side to side is increased, the ball is slightly wider so causing the fit to tighten up in the socket. This basically helps prevent the kit mounted on the head from falling uncontrollably as if attached to the head of a goose whose neck has just broken! (Good analogy and I know what you mean from having used some simpler ball heads in the past, and am more than aware of the danger these can pose to expensive kit mounted on them).

They also have 2 adjusters - a larger "lock" dial that locks the head in place, and a smaller drag dial that allows adjustment of the resistance to movement of the head when the lock dial is released. It actually means that even with heavy kit attached, you can smoothly adjust what you're looking at, then when in position, easily lock it securely in place.

I have no problem with pan and tilt heads - in fact I'm hoping to get one for Christmas to use for playing with DSLR video. It's just I've found the simplicity of a decent ball head very effective, and simpler to use than pan/tilt when positioning still shots as it's just a case of pointing the camera where you want and locking it there, rather than adjusting/locking each plane separately.