Unfortunately looks a bit like a very small artefact from the size of image that's uploaded! Any chance of a 'blown-up' crop section to see more clearly?

Whether they call them innovative carrying solutions or whatever, I hope they keep some of the style of tamrac bags; I've found them to suit my needs best overtime - and keep them affordable!

Thanks for the link - great stuff. And I guess he chose the colour to tone it to - a good choice IMO

Absolutely - thanks for sharing!

I have a Giottos 9255. Came with a head but replaced it with the small RedSnapper ball head and plate - which is more substantial than the Giottos one and can be used with camera in portrait mode by using the leverage of the QR plate to tighten the plate to camera and not just the thumbscrew. I use it with a K5ii and 17-70DA. Not perfect but workable.
There is a version 8255 which is even lighter as it is CF.

The lower half of centre column can be removed to allow working at a bit lower level if needed. Centre column can also be inverted. Very short when folded as legs can fold upwards as well folded height approx. 32cm with redsnapper head attached

In answer to that, I don't tend to think about that; just try to get it looking right in the viewfinder. Its afterwards I sometimes wish I had thought about it at the point of exposure!

Interesting topic Andrew.
For my eye with your images above, the 16:9 and 1:1 crops work for me!

As above from Doc, we need to bear in mind the intended end use when framing/ cropping etc. I often don't re-crop to 16:9, but do a resize to 1080 for a full HD slideshow that leaves dark edges at left and right.

I have a Charlie Waite landscape book - full of square format prints which all work as well (crafted by a master!)

With other shots the end destination will determine the final ration and will often be 'none of the above' if, say, buying an off the shelf frame and mount (with a 10"x8" window for example). And then it really is a matter of whether or not the image suits that crop!

The red-snapper head is far better than the giottos one that came with the tripod IMHO

I have that small head and QR plate that you linked to Stan. It works fine with limitations. Basically when you put the camera in portrait mode on it, the QR grip isn't very good and so the camera starts to rotate; ie it doesn't hold it firm. I got round it by tightening the QR plate onto the camera using the screw underneath, but with the plate not quite aligned with the camera body. I then used the plate itself to finish tightening, so the plate was then aligned with the body and much tighter. It does mean that if you want to use portrait mode then it is best to have camera mounted with the shutter bottom at the lower end (and thus encouraging the turning action caused by the weight of the lens to further tighten the QR plate and reducing slip.

Once I sussed that out, I have found it a nice little head and I use it with one of the small Giotto's tripods.

I hope that makes sense!

PS - this is with a K5ii and DA17-70. I think its ok with a DA 55-300, but I wouldn't want to rely on it for stability with a big lens on though!

It does look that way doesn't it - which makes it a silly match with the tripod and even its own head!
(Unless perversely thinking - the QR plate weighs 3.5kg so it can only hold 1.5kg giving a max load of 5kg to the head :lol