Geared heads

[...Mole...]

Anyone use a geared head?
Id like the extra accuracy for landscapes and the 3-way tripod head thing on my redsnapper tripod is pretty frustrating.
Budget of about £200 might push a bit more for something really good but would rather keep it cheap.

[onomatopoeia]

I have a Manfrotto 410, very happy with it. It replaced the standard head that came on the £80ish Red Snapper tripod I use.

[...Mole...]

onomatopoeia said:

I have a Manfrotto 410, very happy with it. It replaced the standard head that came on the £80ish Red Snapper tripod I use.

Just ordered one!

will be going on top of my Redsnapper RS-324 looking forward to it arriving.

[markmullen]

I swear by them, I've got a 405 on my 055XProB legs with a 438 levelling base and a Novoflex panoramic 360 plate for my car tripod and a 410 on my Gitzo c/f Mountaineer for travelling and walking (the Manfrotto is a little heavy!).

The 410 I've got has a Hejnar Arca Swiss conversion which is worth doing, allows you to use Arca compatible plates and more importantly L brackets. On the 405 I've just put a Kirk 2 inch Arca clamp onto the existing QR plate until I can get a Hejnar conversion for that.

http://www.markmullenphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/3...

[...Mole...]

markmullen said:

The 410 I've got has a Hejnar Arca Swiss conversion which is worth doing, allows you to use Arca compatible plates and more importantly L brackets. On the 405 I've just put a Kirk 2 inch Arca clamp onto the existing QR plate until I can get a Hejnar conversion for that.

How did you go about doing this(pics?)

could do with a L bracket solution as i realise the 410 QR plate is not an Arca compatible one.

[markmullen]

...Mole... said:

How did you go about doing this(pics?)

could do with a L bracket solution as i realise the 410 QR plate is not an Arca compatible one.

The 410 plate is OK and was fine when I was using 1 series bodies and medium format, on a 5D3 though it is too big, it overhangs.

Arca is the way forward, makes it easier for nodal rails etc as well.

Here is the conversion, http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/index.php?main_pag...

[...Mole...]

markmullen said:

The 410 plate is OK and was fine when I was using 1 series bodies and medium format, on a 5D3 though it is too big, it overhangs.

Arca is the way forward, makes it easier for nodal rails etc as well.

Here is the conversion, http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/index.php?main_pag...

cheers!,
I'll probably go down that route once I'm used to the head (and have a bit more money again)

[markmullen]

Re L brackets, I've got the Kirk bracket for my 5D3 which is really well made and fits very well.

I got a Novoflex generic L plate as part of a bundle with a focussing rack, again superbly made (as always with Novoflex stuff) but doesn't allow access to the cable release socket which for me, like I am sure you, is essential.

If you go down the Arca route and use a Black Rapid get some Kirk 1 inch clamps (Wex do them) to attach to the BR fastener, allow you to use Arca with Black Rapid.

[LongQ]

markmullen said:

Re L brackets, I've got the Kirk bracket for my 5D3 which is really well made and fits very well.

I got a Novoflex generic L plate as part of a bundle with a focussing rack, again superbly made (as always with Novoflex stuff) but doesn't allow access to the cable release socket which for me, like I am sure you, is essential.

If you go down the Arca route and use a Black Rapid get some Kirk 1 inch clamps (Wex do them) to attach to the BR fastener, allow you to use Arca with Black Rapid.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, ...