Yeah... Yeah... I should know better... but I'll ask anyway.

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skene

Senior Member
I'm looking to pick up a new head to share between a Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods that I just picked up (my thought is only using one head to swap between them, because the Gitzo is a bit too bulky (long legged systematic) to lug around on my backpack for everyday use). Now I know that I'll be needing the 3/8th threading on it. However the question that I have would be should I be going QR or Arca for the head? Now I understand that an Arca would be more realistic if I had heavier lenses, and while I currently do not have anything that would justify the weight currently... would it be better thinking ahead (just in case). Or do I just stick with a QR head that would end up fitting my needs within weight specs? Now mind you the largest lens that I could probably ever see using would be a 70-200 as I'm not much into shooting wildlife where I would need anything any larger.

So with that said... would there be any head that one would recommend using? I have been looking at Manfrotto and Gitzo heads currently, but if there are any other brands that I should look into, recommendations would be appreciated.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
The Manfrotto QD is really popular but I found it unreliable -- as did my girlfriend who had hers "let go" in the middle of a night shoot we were doing and sending her camera a--es over elbows and onto the concrete. I'd had similar experiences with my Manfrotto QD plate/head but always managed to prevent catastrophe. Her camera came through it okay, and while our experience's are probably quite outside the norm... We're an Arca Swiss household now, across the board.

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Bill16

Senior Member
I love my ARCA swiss Z1 ball head, and it should cover any future heavy weight lenses you might pick up too! It's an awesome ball head for sure! :D
 
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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
The Manfrotto QD is really popular but I found it unreliable -- as did my girlfriend who had hers "let go" in the middle of a night shoot we were doing and sending her camera a--es over elbows and onto the concrete. I'd had similar experiences with my Manfrotto QD plate/head but always managed to prevent catastrophe. Her camera came through it okay, and while our experience's are probably quite outside the norm... We're an Arca Swiss household now, across the board.

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HF, which Manfrotto head are you using for Arca Swiss compatibility? The head I just got for the Manfrotto does not seem to like older Arca plates that I already had.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
RocketCowboy said:
HF, which Manfrotto head are you using for Arca Swiss compatibility? The head I just got for the Manfrotto does not seem to like older Arca plates that I already had.
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Sorry for the late reply, I just ran across this...

Sorry if I wasn't clear but we don't have any Manfrotto heads anymore, we're currently using Three Legged Thing Airhed II ball-heads on our Manfrotto 055X PROB's. On the monopods we have a couple cheap ($40 I think) Arca Swiss-style XSOURCE ballheads. When I get around to it we'll switch those over to Airhed 0's but that's for another day.

Finding compatible plates has been an issue for us too... Three Legged Thing wants a lot of money for additional plates and I've found that many plates labeled "Arca Swiss compatible" aren't compatible because they deviate from the standard dimensions as set forth by Arca Swiss. Further, when you do find a cheap replacement plate, sometimes the retaining screws (that keep the plate from sliding out of the head laterally) are set in the plate such that the plate does not sit deeply enough for the clamps to grab it properly. You can remove the retaining screws but then there's nothing preventing the plate (and whatever is attached to it) from sliding off the head once you've loosened the clamp. Of course the simple solution is to keep one hand on your camera as you're loosening the clamp, and that's what we do, but still... It's enough to make you want to strangle someone. Rant over now.

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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
All good info, HF. Mirrors what I found pretty much exactly. I noticed Manfrotto's Arca Swiss plate doesn't have the retaining screws either. The replacement plate that I found to work with the Manfrotto head also does not have the retaining screws. The Arca plate with the MeFoto series tripods does have the retaining screws, but is too deep/tall to be used with the Manfrotto head. The Manfrotto plate does work in the MeFoto's head.

I didn't expect finding compatible Arca plates to be a challenge. :)
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Bill16 said:
I love my ARCA swiss Z1 ball head, and it should cover any future heavy weight lenses you might pick up too! It's an awesome ball head for sure! :D
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How's your Arca swiss Z1 treating you Bill?

skene said:
So with that said... would there be any head that one would recommend using? I have been looking at Manfrotto and Gitzo heads currently, but if there are any other brands that I should look into, recommendations would be appreciated.
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For sturdy ballheads, I personaly have the Arca Swiss Z1. Other popular heavy duty ballheads are: Really Right Stuff BH55, Markins, or Kirk BH1.

Some good and more updated article.

Ron Martinsen's Photography Blog: Tripod Ball Heads–Alternatives to the RRS BH-55
 
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