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Tripod ball heads

johnboy-22
Posted 27/05/2012 - 16:27 Link
I have a giotto tripod with a 3 way pan & tilt head. When I change it to portrait mode I quite often find that the camera needs to point either up or down and the only way to do this is to alter one of the legs which can be quite precarious.

Would a ball head solve this problem.
Pentax K5, Kx, DA15 ltd,18-135, 18-55, 50-200, M100 f4 macro, M135 f3.5 A28 F2.5
gartmore
Posted 27/05/2012 - 17:33 Link
Do you have the camera attached to the QR plate in the right direction? I cant see how changing from landscape to portrait needs a leg to be adjusted.
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
tyronet2000
Posted 27/05/2012 - 18:41 Link
I have a giottos tripod with a pan and tilt head. Going from landscape to portrait was simple, found it a puzzle when I wanted to be in portrait but with the lens tilted up or down, equivalent to pan left or right in landscape, don't ask why I'd want this I've bought a ball head which simplifies things in that respect. So what I want now is one of those tripods with a movable center column, just to polish off what is left of my sanity
Regards
Stan

PPG
Gwyn
Posted 27/05/2012 - 19:05 Link
A ball head may make it easier, tough it could depend on the ball head - some have two notches to tilt the camera into, some only one.

I've only had a ball head so am not familiar with pan & tilt heads.

An L plate would make it easier still.
johnboy-22
Posted 27/05/2012 - 19:11 Link
When I put the tripod head into portrait mode the camera lens is parallel to the ground. I am then unable to tilt it up or down.
Pentax K5, Kx, DA15 ltd,18-135, 18-55, 50-200, M100 f4 macro, M135 f3.5 A28 F2.5
johnboy-22
Posted 27/05/2012 - 19:12 Link
Don't think there is a L plate for the K5
Pentax K5, Kx, DA15 ltd,18-135, 18-55, 50-200, M100 f4 macro, M135 f3.5 A28 F2.5
Gwyn
Posted 27/05/2012 - 19:35 Link
johnboy-22 wrote:
Don't think there is a L plate for the K5

RRS make one, Kirk make a universal one and there are a few on flea bay I believe.
Algernon
Posted 27/05/2012 - 19:56 Link
johnboy-22 wrote:
Would a ball head solve this problem.

I doubt it .... a thinking head might!
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi
tyronet2000
Posted 27/05/2012 - 22:13 Link
Trust Algernon to hit the nail on the head as ususal
Regards
Stan

PPG
gartmore
Posted 28/05/2012 - 07:05 Link
johnboy-22 wrote:
When I put the tripod head into portrait mode the camera lens is parallel to the ground. I am then unable to tilt it up or down.

Is there something still locked?
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
johnboy-22
Posted 28/05/2012 - 07:20 Link
No, one handle rotates the head into portrait mode. The other one then works the same as the bottom lever to rotate the head for a panorama etc,
Pentax K5, Kx, DA15 ltd,18-135, 18-55, 50-200, M100 f4 macro, M135 f3.5 A28 F2.5
redbusa99
Posted 28/05/2012 - 10:44 Link
i have a giottos MTL 9361B tripod with MH5001 pan/tilt head and there is no problem moving up and down in portrait position with this. it may be your head is not 3 way pan/tilt
odd lens or 2

Flickr
Frogherder
Posted 28/05/2012 - 12:43 Link
I don't have Giotto kit (all Manfrotto) but don't have a problem with my 3way head. I don't suppose that there is much difference.

Do you have a model number or photo of your head to show the problem

regards
Bernard
johnboy-22
Posted 28/05/2012 - 17:47 Link
redbusa99 wrote:
i have a giottos MTL 9361B tripod with MH5001 pan/tilt head and there is no problem moving up and down in portrait position with this. it may be your head is not 3 way pan/tilt

Problem solved. I had put the quick release plate onto my camera 90deg out. It now works the way it should. Put yours on like mine just to see what I happens.
Pentax K5, Kx, DA15 ltd,18-135, 18-55, 50-200, M100 f4 macro, M135 f3.5 A28 F2.5
johnboy-22
Posted 28/05/2012 - 18:04 Link
gartmore wrote:
Do you have the camera attached to the QR plate in the right direction? I cant see how changing from landscape to portrait needs a leg to be adjusted.

If only I had understood what you were meaning Ken. It is now blindingly obvious.
Pentax K5, Kx, DA15 ltd,18-135, 18-55, 50-200, M100 f4 macro, M135 f3.5 A28 F2.5

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