Manfrotto Tripod and Head

Hi,

I've just rec'd my latest serious buy - a New Old Stock Manfrotto 190QCB Troiod with 325RC Ball Head probably pre 1997.

I'm as much blown away by the engineering and quality of these components as anything I've ever handled - including fine fire arms and Pentax equipment. (And this is low end Manfrotto).

Wow.

Now I've got to get a membership at the local fitness center so I can be prepared to pack this gear of mine (Spotmatics and Super Taks) plus the Italian black beauty into the country side come Spring.

That's the thing about collecting older gear (and old photographers) - weight.

Anyone familiar with neat slings etc to carry tripods through the bush? There is certainly a ton of stuff out there, I'm just wondering what has worked best in practice.

Thanks and Cheers

Mac,
Can't agree more about the Manfrotto.

I picked up a mail-order return carbon fibre monopod with 484RC2 head - I was blown away! Incredibly light and extremely useful. Just can't believe how solid the thing is!

Have just recently added a Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod and that's a real gem too! Now just thinking about the 460MG head...

Regarding carrying - the monopod has a wrist strap that's quite good. The tripod can have a strap... might need to get one. Let me know what you end up deciding!

Matt

Hi, Matt!

Funny how the lighter our cameras and lenses get, the more we need solid support to ensure crystal sharp exposures at meduim to slow speeds, in the wind etc.

Years ago, I used a Rolliflex 120 format that weighed like a brick, and I could get away with some pretty wimpy tripods (those TLR's also had no mirrors to vibrate). Today's gear with huge light telephoto's are seriously affected by wind buffeting, and need serious anchoring. My brother-in-law actually drapes a sandbag over his 500mm at the pivot point. (Now, imagine the weight HE lugs around!)

I also have a Manfrotto monopod that I use as much as a hiking stick as camera support - wonderfully sturdy for these old pins - it has saved me from many a nasty tumble in our Laurentian mountains.

Bottom line, we've traded camera and lens weight for support weight. In my case, with my older gear, I should go the other way and get lighter carbon fiber support. You make me jealous with your pods.

Maybe I sould just hire a porter.

Bwana Mac says Cheers

LOL!
There is something very "aaahh" about the Manfrottos
...or maybe I should get out more!
When I took this: http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=333645 - there was a gale blowing. Had to borrow some of the hefty stones to stop the Velbon tripod blowing over... wish I'd had the Manfrotto then

Matt

You should try the manfrotto pistol grip....

Anyways here's my usual two cents:

Get thee to the hardware (Canadian Tire) store.

1) Buy a foldable (umbrella type) chair, toss the chair in your car trunk and admire the zip up case it came in- your new tripod case....zips up and has a carry strap!
2) Buy some foamtype pipe insulation and duct tape. Cut the foam to short lengths and clip them onto the top sections of your tripos legs...use way too many pieces (short pieces- 6 inches or so long) of duct tape to secure them in place.

your hands won't freeze to the 'pod legs if you carry it in the cold, your shoulders will thank you if you carry it over your shoulder, and little pieces of duct tape will always come in handy if you need to secure a branch, or flower or squirrell in place while shooting.

That's not very sporting, securing a squirrel in place with duct tape before shooting it

Ever go camping in Canada? those squirrells are like the campsite mafia...."Hand over all your goodies or we'll get our buddy Bruno the Bear to come and trash this place!"...Psychotic twitchy little things if you ask me.
You'd probably not approve of my idea for a camp golf game with those squirrells...You start by gluing a peanut to a golf tee.....

Don,

Good outdoorsy tips re padding the tripod! I actually have / had / maybe lost / an Optex tripod bag. Your camp chair idea made me think of it.

And good ol' Duct Tape! Most essential accessory for camping, hiking, surviving the wilderness. How DID this wild country ever get conquered without it?

Now, Don, regarding offending our more sensitive members - squirrell golf indeed!

Our most recent camping invasion was sea gulls. We soaked some bread crusts in Newfie Screech (really cheap navy rum). You just toss 'em in the air and swoop, these amazing fliers just pick 'em off. Now, our gulls are greedy little beggars and the most aggressive rewarded us with manouvers even the Snow Birds wouldn't try.

Fortunately we left the same day. I can't imagine a bunch of hung-over gulls squawking at us over breakfast - and the morning breath would be enough to peel paint!

How's the site comming?

"Fired many shots and didn't kill anything" - except a few squirrels then

Just follow the trail of drunk gulls and unconcious squirrels to Don and Mac's campsite...javascript:emoticon('')

oops that last post was me...

This:

http://www.scopac.co.uk/

is very neat, but designed more for telescope use. Still, it's an original solution if you want to travel light and have your tripod permanently at the ready. Not much good if you need to carry lots of other stuff though. I tend just to hang the tripod off my rucksack with a caribena.

Steve

http://www.siblog.co.uk/
http://www.siblingmedia.com/

Thank's for the tip, Steve!

I may very well follow up on that. (I do more and more bird watching as years go by, and I've noticed that the Manfrotto tripods at full extension, are high enough to hold a good scope (next purchase?))

Oh Boy, Pentax scope anyone?

All the Best

Just taken delivery of a Manfrotto 322RC2 HEAVY DUTY GRIP BALL HEAD...WOW!!!!...what a piece of kit.

I dithered for ages wondering if I should get one, wasn't sure if it would be any good but a little flurry of all things that aint being used on eBay got me the neccessary funds.

You can rotate, pan or elevate to practically any postion you like, truly amazing thing. Feels rock steady with the D+Battery Grip AND the SIGMA70-200 f2.8 EX DG.

Oh! and you can configure it for right or left hand.

You want to try something bizzare?
grab your slr with telephoto (best if your lens has a tripod mount), or your camcorder.
Set your tripod up with the legs approx waist high, with the grip and lens pointing straight down. (keep the lens in line with one tripod leg.)
Pick it up by the grip and fold the other two legs in line with the center column(leave them extended).
Hold the one leg (in-line with the lens (which can be collapsed)) with your left hand (if right handed), and find the center of balance. You are now holding it like a rifle. The weight of the other two legs act like a ballast forming an improvised steadycam rig. Extra 2-3 stops on your new image stabilized camera.