Tripod head advice

Like it has been said, there is a friction controll wheel on it, have you tighten that one?
The wheel is in the grip parallel and near to the mount, so if you hold the grip your thumb and index finger will be close to it.

Yep the red bit of plastic and the wheel but it still slips a bit

I just tried this, link and it seems to work

Was that the greasy ball or allen key solution

Greasy ball

I'm off for the yellow gloves

I don't know where they get these load figures from for tripods? I once saw an advert for a tripod with a man actually standing on it... that's probably 75kg and it still hadn't collapsed

A 5kg Gitzo tripod is going to be very strong and should handle anything a Pentax digital camera's going to throw at it. The bigger and stronger the head the better your main problem with a 300mm lens is the overturning moment and a big head will resist that better than a small head. It will also absorb energy from the shutter better. I regularly use a 300mm + 2x TC on a 5 kg Manfrotto and it works OK.

Concerning loads I often use a K20D + 300mm F* f/4.5 + TC on a Minolta table top tripod (similar to the Leica one) and it handles it OK.

A 5kg Gitzo tripod is going to be very strong and should handle anything a Pentax digital camera's going to throw at it. The bigger and stronger the head the better your main problem with a 300mm lens is the overturning moment and a big head will resist that better than a small head. It will also absorb energy from the shutter better. I regularly use a 300mm + 2x TC on a 5 kg Manfrotto and it works OK.

Algi - you obviously don't have Brian's greasy ball problem

Brian!! Brian who?

I wouldn't worry about it Barrie, I've nearly called you Brian on several occasions.....amongst other things

Peter which tripod do you've and how do you find it?

Went to the photostore here and had the Basalt and the Carbon version in my hands, they both felt really good.

Stefan

I have a Gitzo Basalt G1298. I don't think it is part of current range. It is light, but very sturdy. There are 4 leg sections with 3 twist connectors. It is ideal for me as it is light and also folded length is only 50cm (without head), so I tend to use it a lot.

Brian - Just caught up with this - Don't worry Brian if it's not you it must be Barie with a greasy ball problem

I have hold that one or the newer version in my hand and the same one made out of carbon.
The carbon one felt slightly lighter, do you know there are more benefits to get carbon, I believe basalt is good enough.
I've also played with the composer, the one where you can angle the centre column anyway you want, that one looked very nice for macro or for products shots in the studio.