Tripod head

On rare occasions I want to be able to point my lens high up, sometimes almost vertically. My three-way Manfrotto head just won't tilt back that far. The problem is also complicated by often needing a longish lens such as my DA* 50-135 or DA* 60-250.

Any recommendations? I'm worried that most ball-heads might not be too solid with the 60-250 mounted on it and tipped right back. Would some form of gimbal mount work? I've never used one. Ideally, I'd be using a low ISO and a moderate aperture to ensure good image quality, so the shutter speed would be low and thus need a good solid mount (often 1 second or slower).

For the curious, I am wanting to photograph details inside historic buildings such as churches, which are occasionally right up in the roof or at the top of the piers.

Thanks, Kris.

I reckon a gimbal would do it, have a look below, mine's a cheapish Neweer one ( iro £50 - £60 ), you can slide the mount bracket upwards from the base, therefore max'ing the angle you'd need for the camera, its an Arca-Swiss mount so pretty secure for the cam+lens

I've got a Benro G something that is rock solid, even for lenses more substantial than the DA*60-250 (The D-FA*70-200/2.8 and Nikkor 80-400 and 200-500). Used it for star trails in the Kalahari 10 days ago.

Sounds like you need a geared head. I got a used Manfrotto 410 and am very pleased with it (other brands and models are available :wink. Rock solid and precise control. See below with K3 + DA300mm + 1.4TC (my heaviest lens) - not that I've actually used it like that for birds in flight! You would need a very solid tripod, that's quite a weight being slung to one side of the centre column.




Steve

I use a Manfrotto 468MGQ6. It's a ball head with a stunning locking mechanism. It is sturdy enough to support my cameras with a DA*60-250 mounted on a Gigapan Pro with absolute rigidity. That combination must weight around ten pounds, and it takes it all. And it can be tilted all the way up to 180 degrees when I tilt the ball in the "vertical" slot and use the swivel to orien it where I want.

My input here would not be to look at the tripod head . But the tripod itself. Surely one where the centre coloum can be adjusted to a horizontal postion would do the trick ?

My tripod will do that, but it puts all the weight of tripod head plus long lens away from the central point of the tripod making it a bit unstable. I've dangled camera bags off the centre to help compensate in the past.

Thanks to everyone with your suggestions. I will mull a little. My gut feeling is the gimbal, partly because I can see it having other uses as well.

Best wishes, Kris/

Kris, if you'd like a play with a gimbal before making a purchase, I get to Watford fairly often and other parts of Hertfordshire, happy to lend you mine for a while.

PM me if you'd like to accept the offer

I use my 60-250mm with my B3 Benro head and there no issues with to be fair I don't point it directly up.

I also have the Benro B5 bead and that's a monster in size and weight BUT it does have a load capacity of 48lb or 22kg depending on how you prefer to measure weight!

I so miss my Slik 88 black diamond, never found a position I couldn't place the camera in.. Plastic oxidised after many years use, and never ever found a decent replacement..

I was in Photographic retail when the Slik 88 range debuted - they were an instant hit, so flexible and stylish - sold more of them than any other tripod of that time. Had one myself for many years

STILL got my Slick 88.
Handle broke - my fault
Got a complete replacement via a local Gumtree site of another Slick 88 tripod in a bag for £10
Can't complain

I use a Platyball head. Rock-solid and does not drift.

This.... 15 quid on ebay....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393626719541?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0...

Oh... it's solidly built, simple and does the job. Even with my K5, battery grip and Sigma 150-500 on it.