what tripod?

Thats not too bad an idea!

Does need to be padded well though as apparently the 405 head, whilst it looks very solidly made, is quite vulnerable to knocks, which can kick the gears out of alignment and end up in an expensive repair!

Another couple of points I missed which may be appropriate to mention :-

1. The size of the Quick Release plate! The bigger the head, the bigger the plate, this makes quite a difference on stability.

2. Levelling bubbles are in the wrong place on the tripod and are unreliable! Because there are various types of centre columns, and various ways of gripping them to make them stable, the bubble that is placed on the tripod might be level, but the centre column might not be! The bubble really needs to be on the flat area you screw the head onto!

Whilst, to be fair, using photo heads this isn't too much of an issue, it is when you switch to a video head, and really has to go down as a design fault. My next tripod purchase is definately going to be one of the compact levelling heads such as the Manfrotto 438.

nope they're not padded (suppose you could improvise).
I usually buy snow boarders bags for my lightstands....they are padded, easlily long enough and can hold 4 light stands (3 manfroto stackers, and a manfrotto boomstand) plus a small tripod. the snow board bags cost about 1/3 of a soft case for lightstands.

capabilities
Just wondering why you have not read the PM that I sent you.

Seems that that Velbon Sherpa 600R that I mentioned has been lost amongst this post.
It is certainly worth considering as it comes with an excellent pan & tilt head (not a plastic one) and is less expensive than some models mentioned here.
Velbon Sherpa 600R




Thanks

I'm hoping to have a look at a Giotto's on Saturday. Many people don't like the look of them - maybe that's why I do?........................ We'll see on Saturday

I used to think the Velbon PH-157Q head was good, until I used a Manfrotto. To be fair, it's an ok head for lenses of less than 100mm, as long as you're not using it for macro. I have the Sherpa 600, which gets used primarily as a lighting stand these days. The Velbon Sherpa range is good entry level stuff, and a whole lot better than not having a tripod at all. The legs are good value for money, but the head really could be better.

Duncan

I won one from a magazine last year, and was very tempted to keep it and ditch my Manfrotto 055ProB, but I guessed I'd get more selling the brand new Giottos than I would a scruffy Manfrotto. It was a lovely tripod, very smooth action, taller than the 055, nice head too. I had the MT-9371 tripod (link is similar, but less sturdy one) and the MH7302-720 Fluid Ball Head.

I would recommend them both.

But then I like my 055ProB too. Good compromise on weight, features and cost. Would rather have the new style XproB though.

Dan

Keen2Learn
Sorry, I must have missed your email. I have just read it and will take a look at he 600R

I recently bought a Giotto's tripod & head, and am very very impressed with them. I know that Giotto's are currently changing UK distributor (now available through Daymen International who distributed Manfrotto until recently) so a new range should be available pretty soon. I got the MT9351, one of the discontinued range, at a very good price - the new version of this tripod is the MTL9351B (see www.giottos-tripods.co.uk)

Anyway, it's a fabulous tripod with great build quality, a centre column that can be used upside down, horizontally or at any other angle. If you remove the centre column it can be used without a head if necessary, plus it goes pretty low to the ground. It's probably closest to the Manfrotto 190XPROB, but feels sturdier. It has interchangeable 1/4" and 3/8" connections for mounting a head, plus it came with a padded strap & a bag included, & it has built in spikes if you remove the rubber feet - you have to pay extra for these things from some other manufacturers.

All in all I'm very pleased with it, and the head I bought (the MH7001-621)is also highly recommended.

Jonathan

The new batch of Giotto's came in earlier this week but my local dealer has the 9351 and I'm really after the 9350 - teamed with a 1302 series 2 ball head.

I use a Vanguard Tracker 3 tripod.
This is for me a great tripod, it is very stable. The only thing I would have liked are built in spirit levels. But that can be solved by a hotshoe mounted spirit level, allthough you can't use the flash then.

Does anyone have any experience of the Slik AF 2100 trigger style ballhead as shown on the SRS website :

In particular does anyone know if the base fitting is 1/4" :

Sorry, I hadn't really been following this thread, just noticed this.

I've been using one of these for many years (at least 15 - longer probably). It was £50 when I bought it, and it seemed very expensive at the time, but it's lasted brilliantly.

I think it's fantastic. It grips its ball as well now as it did when it was new, and it's very easy to use. The quick release isn't too intrusive when you're using the camera off the tripod.

It's a standard attachment - I bought a trekking pole recently which doubles as a monopod, and the AF2100 screws straight on.

I'd never go back to an ordinary pan/tilt head now - although I still have the original that came off the tripod, I've never used it since.

Edit: One thing to bear in mind - very, very important.

Locking the camera (with QR plate attached) on to the head is a two-stage process. You have to offer it up, oriented correctly, and then rotate a bit till it clicks. This is what locks the camera on to the head.

Then move the locking lever on the grip down. This stops the camera on its quick release plate from rotating relative to the rest of the head.

Do not confuse these functions.

Once (but only once), I did. I tried to be a bit too quick, pulled the lever on the grip down before the lock was properly engaged.

Fortunately I was close enough (just - imagine a slip fielder) to catch the camera as it fell off.

It's not a problem at all - just make sure you hear the first click when you attach the camera and it then can't fall off.

Hope this picture makes it clearer...




'A' is the lock release that lets you take the QR plate off the head.

'B' is the lock that stops the QR plate rotating relative to the head.

The risk of the camera falling off is if 'A' is not engaged properly.

As I say, however, it's extremely easy to make sure it is, and only if you're a muppet like me are you likely to have any problems.