advice on Tripod Head?
 

I'm thinking of getting a decent tripod. i've been using this crappy £15 one, so i decided to upgrade. Currently, I have a 40D, plus a few sigma lenses (10-20mm, 18-50mm), plus, i'm thinking of getting a 70-200 f4L in the future, so it's decent weight on the tripod, but no the heaviest load.

looking to get the Manfrotto 190XPROB tripod, but i'm looking to get a decent head to go with it. I think i'm leaning towards a ball head, just seems easier to use. I like taking mostly landscapes, and shots around the city, but I would like to do some macro work and stuff in the house as well.

I was looking at the Giottos MH1302, but i read somewhere that it's not good to put a big head on a lighter tripod... is it too big for the tripod? the tripod has max 5kg, while the head is 8kg...

any other recommendations? or reasons why i should get a 3-way head?

thanks in advance!!

Standard manfrotto combo is the 190xproB w/ 486RC2 ball head. You can find these combos pretty cheap online. I think I bought mine last year from Henry's Ebay store for $220. I use it with a 80-200 2.8 lens on my D200 and it's strong enough to hold that. If it's in your budget, those joystick/grip style heads are pretty nice. Was looking at the 322RC2, but that's like almost the price of my tripod setup.

^Second the recommendation on that combo - I have it myself (well, an older version of the tripod, since I've had it a few years, but the same head) and it's a champ. I think it ran me $280 at Kerrisdale Cameras.

BTW, Kerrisdale has this combo for $250... better to buy local!

Or you could keep replacing your $15 XS Cargo tripod every six months for the next 8 years and end up spending the same amount :)

the head doesn't allow panning tho right? like i can't lock the head in all directions but just allow it to rotate? i also want to be able to do panoramas....

btw, i'm in London right now, so kerrisdale (which woulda been like a 5 min drive) is a little far away....

The 488RC2 will allow you to do panos.

thanks for your help guys! i think i'll go with that - 190xprob + 488rc2...

If you can swing it, get the 190CXPRO3. The weight savings is worth the extra cost for me.

i dunno... i really should put that extra £100 towards a new lens... 70-200 f4L maybe? don't go telling me to get the f2.8 now... i can't afford it....

You need the f2.8, but wait until the new version comes out this Fall with that hybrid IS. You'll regret it until the day you die!!! Muaahahhaa.

hybrid IS? what's that.^

It's canon's new IS system. It compensates for a small degree of forward and back movements in addition to the side to side, up and down movements of the current IS. Pentax (and possibly Sony) has had it with their in-body stabilization for years though.

Special system designed for shooting from a Prius - it compensates for the lack of engine vibration.

i think i'll like the lighter lens as well, that's why i want the F4... maybe when the new hybrid IS comes out, the older version (which is fine enough for us common folks) will go on sale :D

Like this! :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...I/DSC05050.jpg

l.oooool

so the new hybrid is, it just compensates for xyz, thats what you mean right?

does any of the recommended manfrotto heads tilt down? my cheap slik ones doesn't

AFAIK, all Manfrotto heads will tilt down 90 degrees.

My 486RC ball head goes down further than 90 degrees...

That's what she said :D

since this thread is on tripods and heads, i wanted to ask for recommendations between two tripods.

1. Manfrotto 055Xprob + 488rc ball head.

2. Giottos 9351B + Giottos 1300-652 ball head.

i'm also thinking if using the giottos head with the manfrotto legs would be a good idea.
i sort of like the giottos ballhead more, but i like the manfrotto legs' build quality better.

it's going to support a 40d+grip + either a 24-105 or 70-200, or a 5d2 and the same lenses. either way im looking for something that would hold maybe 5-6 kilos?

tia!

I'd stay away from Giottos, as the plate screws tend to be weak. Two of my clients have had Giottos screws fail on them when carrying a slightly heavy camera and lens combo over their shoulder. What camera & lens are using that would weigh 5-6 Kg?

thanks for chiming in senna!

well it's not really 5-6kg as of now, but im just thinking that a year down the line, i wouldn't want to change tripods again if i get new and heavier lenses.

my gear is a 40d + grip, and the usual lens i use is a 24-105, or a 70-200.
the other one is a 5d2 (and a grip soon) and the same lenses.

i was just checking the weight of the cameras and the lenses and a 5d2+grip+70-200 would be around 4kg (?).

hey, i've been tryin to find out which models they're releasing with the new hybrid IS. is it only the 70-200 f2.8? or will the f4 get it as well?

i really should stop spending money....

I think the announcement will be made September 1.

What, is my Hybrid IS lens not good enough for you??? :p

Your Hybrid IS is too big :p