Tripod...but which head?

[RuthG]

Having recently bought a 50-500 sigma lens, I am looking at the MANFROTTO 055XPROB tripod. There is a kit available with a MN808RC4 3-way head; but is three way what I need or should I be looking at a ball and socket type?

I know it depends on what type of photography one does, but that's the problem. I like wildlife, but I also do landscapes and would like to start some serious macro work too.

Any tips?

Ruth

[Steven Gourlay]

Hi Ruth

You might want to look at what i recently purchased "Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 Tripod And 322RC2 Head"

For wildlife/macro i would recommend that setup as its so flexible, however if you are doing proper panorama then it might not be the best solution. I find the setup good for the photography i do, to get down low to subjects including my son who never sits still and for some landscapes.

[CertEdFriday]

With a weight of 4.06 lbs (1840g), the Sigma lens should be fine with the 322RC2 Head which has a rated load capacity of 11 lbs (4989.5g) should be fine for general photography and macro. The price for this head has increased lately by the way, £80-£90. You will need to shop around!
The Manfrotto 808RC4 Tripod Head I would expect to be a bit cumbersome for macro work as I find, in my opinion, getting the setting right for the shot, can be a bit fiddly...
Tripods I believe are a different matter. Price - weight - ajustment/height etc all come into play. As Steven has said, his setup works for him...

[Steven Gourlay]

I would have to agree that the 3 way tripod heads to be cumbersome, do you know anyone that has got either tripod heads you could try?

This is a photo of 500 lens on action grip head i found on the net.



Here is the same head with another grip



My setup example of macro setup

[Agger]

I use a Manfrotto 393 gimbal head, I have other heads and several tripods, but the 393 mounted on my Gitzo G500studex is rock steady and so easy to track or pan with, and a bargain at £100 get the wimberley if you want, but in all honesty I've seen that and would struggle to pay £450 / 500 on it even if it were made of platinum well over rated IMHO

[CertEdFriday]

If you want the rolls royce of gimbal heads, the Wimberley is the one to go for. It is built to a very high standard (Hence the cost). However, it is highly manoeuvrable and quickly locks down solidly wnen required. It comes into its own with a big lens and tracking birds in flight. Not a fan of the 393 as it think the build could be better - yes it's cheaper...

[Agger]

It does everything the 393 does but at a much higher cost, I'd hardly call even the Wimberley a Rolls Royce of engineering, everything you say about it I can do with the 393 and I've tried / used both with big lenses

Originally Posted by CertEdFriday

If you want the rolls royce of gimbal heads, the Wimberley is the one to go for. It is built to a very high standard (Hence the cost). However, it is highly manoeuvrable and quickly locks down solidly wnen required. It comes into its own with a big lens and tracking birds in flight. Not a fan of the 393 as it think the build could be better - yes it's cheaper...

[Steven Gourlay]

[Greywolf]

I use the Manfrotto 393 head with my Canon 400mm f5.6 and a 40D with a battery grip.

It works extremely well indeed and comes with a mounting plate.

I use it on my 055XproB tripod and on a hide bracket.

I actually bought the Manfrotto short column and have it permanently mounted on that so that I can easily swap it between the tripod and the hide bracket

[Steven Gourlay]

Hi did you make a decision on what setup to go for?