I have the bogen 3021B tripod. with the 3047 head, been replaced by 808rc4. however, all one has to do is look at the bogen pics and you will see that the 3039 looks like the 3047. b&h lists the 3039 at $196. my 3047 is as solid as a rock. it support my *istD with the bigma and either a sigma 1.4 or 2.0 converter with no shake at all.



Also, for your intended photographic purposes I would advise getting a macro lens and a 12-24 wide angle zoom...

Zeroset wrote:I.

Want something relatively cheap..

Good ball heads exist and are very stable - but they can cost more. Depends what you mean by cheap..

I intend to do more landscape and macro pictures using the tripodthan anything else..

This is not demanding use, so a 3-way head will suffice..

The tilt/pan heads.

Seem more stable and professional to me, but also more cumbersome,and I want convenience too..

You have to make up your mind. I cannot see why you regard them as too cumbersome, but if you do then move on to a ball head..

Also if it makes any difference, in terms of lenses, I currentlyhave the kit lens and a Tamron 70-300mm..

For your size and weight of kit both types will suffice..

Any recommendations? Specific brand or model names would help.Would appreciate any advice, thank you..

Manfrotto...

ChrisI have something very similar to this:.

Http://www.amvona.com/.../?page=shop/flypage&view=1&product_id=2012.

...which came with my tripod of the same namebrand. It's a ball grip head (like a flight stick for an airplane if you don't know), and it has a rock solid grip on that ball. I use it with my Olympus E-500 and a 40-150mm kit lens, which isn't exactly light. I also will frequently use it tilted 45-degrees with a rather heavy setup including a Stroboframe camera flip flash bracket, the Olympus E-500, and a rather heavy and big Vivitar 285hv for taking photos of eBay items, etc. It doesn't budge even when tilted at such an angle..

I know there's a Bogen-Manfrotto 322RC2, which is a bit unusual in that it's a ball grip head, but it has a horizontal grip so that it's sort of between the grip ball heads and the standard pan and tilt heads. There's also the Bogen 3265 ball grip head, which looks almost identical to the Dynatran head I linked to above..

I really like the grip ball heads (in case you can't tell), and I'm a convert from the standard pan/tilt heads and the smaller ball heads. They're very good for following the action quickly, but they're rock solid when you can't have jiggle..

Chris..

Effzeeone wrote:.

I know there's a Bogen-Manfrotto 322RC2, which is a bit unusual inthat it's a ball grip head, but it has a horizontal grip so thatit's sort of between the grip ball heads and the standard pan andtilt heads..

I've tried the 322rc2 and was astonished at how solid it is when the grip is released, but I don't know if you can adjust the friction with it in it's locked position, and if you can't you couldn't pan with it. (I know the OP said he didn't want to pan, but you never know what you are going to be asked to photograph in all those years ahead...).

Trevorhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/trevor-dennis/..

AdrianGB wrote:.

Zeroset wrote:I.

Want something relatively cheap..

Good ball heads exist and are very stable - but they can cost more.Depends what you mean by cheap..

I intend to do more landscape and macro pictures using the tripodthan anything else..

This is not demanding use, so a 3-way head will suffice..

The tilt/pan heads.

Seem more stable and professional to me, but also more cumbersome,and I want convenience too..

You have to make up your mind. I cannot see why you regard them astoo cumbersome, but if you do then move on to a ball head..

Also if it makes any difference, in terms of lenses, I currentlyhave the kit lens and a Tamron 70-300mm..

For your size and weight of kit both types will suffice..

Any recommendations? Specific brand or model names would help.Would appreciate any advice, thank you..

Manfrotto..

A three-way head, I think that's what I meant by tilt/pan. The three-way heads are the ones I'm more inclined to lean towards. Any particular model I should look at for a three-way?.

I also forgot to mention in my original post that being able to make fine adjustments is important to me. I don't crop my images, and I'm a perfectionist with how I frame them when taking the shot. Ball heads seem to me to be more difficult for making pinpoint adjustments with. Am I right?..

The Dynatran grip ball head that I have is slightly easier to pan than angle when you squeeze the trigger. I can't think of a better way to describe it other than when you squeeze the trigger it's easy to pan with very little effort, but to angle the head you have to use a little more force..

I hope that makes sense..

Not sure if this is something that's true with all grip ball heads, but it's definitely true with mine..

Also, one could always just loosen the center column grip to allow for panning. My tripod is rather tall, and even though I'm tall as well (6'3"), when I have the legs fully extended, I typically do not raise the center column at all as the camera on top of the grip ball head is basically at eye level. I can then easily loosen the center column and pan that way..

Chris..

Can you use both hands on the camera - one for shutter release, and the other for zoom etc - or do you need to keep one on the grip release?.

In actual fact I don't own a ball head at all, which is probably an omission as they are probably the best soloution for panning on a tripod. I used make do with my Manfrotto video head, but it seems to me that if you want to pan, then a monopod makes more sense..

I arrived at an airshow a while ago, and tried to follow the aircraft with the tripod and fluid head, but immediately gave it up as impossible, and shot the whole thing hand held. Although there were one or two issues with focus, every shot was frozen thanks to IS and shutter speed..

Trevorhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/trevor-dennis/..

Ball heads and especially grip ball heads are great for speed. They are the clear choice for shooting wildlife, sports, or any other fast moving target. I do birds and nus a grip ballhead. The tilt/panhead is slower but offers more precise adjustment. It is good for landscape, architectural, and similar types of static subjects where fine adjustment in a single direction might be needed. Since you say that you are interested in landscape an macro, I would stick with the tilt/panhead.Joel Orlinsky..

Zeroset wrote:.

A three-way head, I think that's what I meant by tilt/pan. Thethree-way heads are the ones I'm more inclined to lean towards. Anyparticular model I should look at for a three-way?.

Because your kit is not heavy I think you can use the basic 3-way head. look on the manfrotto website and it will show all the heads with the maximum weight loads. Your kit is light so you will be fine..

I also forgot to mention in my original post that being able tomake fine adjustments is important to me. I don't crop my images,and I'm a perfectionist with how I frame them when taking the shot.Ball heads seem to me to be more difficult for making pinpointadjustments with. Am I right?.

Providing you have okay hands then the 3 way head allows you to be very precise..

Consider whether you need a quick release head. It is more convenient and quicker to take camera on and off, but it is more expensive and (ever so slightly) less stable..

I use the trigger ball head mentioned above - it is good but will cost 3 or 4 times the price, and is not so good for precise adjustment. (it does have friction adjustment as well) UK price approx 100. I take pics of people and do not care so much for precision...

Thank you, that's the advice I was looking for. And thanks to AdrianGB too. I think I'll be going with a three-way tilt/pan head. Now I just have to figure out which one to get, but I can do that on my own..

And thanks again to everybody for your responses to this topic...

AdrianGB wrote:.

Providing you have okay hands then the 3 way head allows you to bevery precise..

The problem is that it is a multi-step adjustment to get to precisely where you want. A good ball head can be very precise, and the adjustment is one step and very obvious..

But if you want the ultimate in precision, don't go for a plain old 3-way head, get a gear head, like this:.

Http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...ogen_Manfrotto_3275_3275_Mini_Geared_Head.html.

Seen in a fortune cookie:Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed..

My advice Manfrotto or Gitzo, they are high class, which means you will pay little more but they are definetly worth it....

I have Manfrotto 804RC2 (Basic pan tilt head with quick lock) and I'm really happy with it......

Read this. It may help..

Http://www.bythom.com/support.htm.

Rob.

If you're bored...http://braveulysses.deviantart.com/gallery.

'Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.' Sydney Smith (1771-1845)..

No, you definitely need one hand for the trigger and the other on the camera shutter, but wouldn't that be the same for any tripod?.

Chris..

Good advice Joel. It's all about 'horses for courses', and what suites one person might not suit another..

Answering several posts in one:.

With action shots where you need to pan, then it seems to me that you really need both hands on the camera. To have any chance of a full frame shot, you need to zoom back as the subject approaches, for instance. To overcome any stiction in the tripod head you need to apply force either side of the pivot. It just feels better IMO..

The problem with the above set-up is that a long lens will be mounted on it's collar a good few inches from your eye at the viewfinder, so as you rotate the camera you have to move your head, and it just doesnt work (again IMO). So I prefer to rely on IS and a monopod, but if I were to use a tripod for such a purpose, a slightly loosened ball head would be my choice..

Another poster mentioned that he is a perfectionist and never crops (hell be in the next series of the Heroes TV program with super-powers like that). He is lucky to get so much time to frame his shots, but it's a different type of photography, so he would find different gear worked best for him. Personally I would go with a grip-lock head for that, because they are so quick, and surprisingly stable..

Trevorhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/trevor-dennis/..

Effzeeone wrote:.

No, you definitely need one hand for the trigger and the other onthe camera shutter, but wouldn't that be the same for any tripod?.

Nope, not with a decent non-grip ballhead..

Seen in a fortune cookie:Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed..

...but if any tripod head is loose enough that you can follow a subject around at whatever angle, what's the purpose of having it on a tripod? Some stabiity and support may remain, but with both hands on the camera (causing the usual shake), you might as well be handholding or at best putting it on a monopod..

Chris..

Effzeeone wrote:.

...but if any tripod head is loose enough that you can follow asubject around at whatever angle, what's the purpose of having iton a tripod?.

Stability, of course. With a decent ballhead you can adjust the tension for the camera/lens you've got on it..

Some stabiity and support may remain, but with bothhands on the camera (causing the usual shake), you might as well behandholding or at best putting it on a monopod..

If you aren't tracking, just swing the camera around to where you want, lock down the ball and use a remote release..

But if you are tracking, let it float and follow the subject, then fire when ready. Not as stable, but better than hand holding. Monopods are good in some situations, too. As are gimbal heads..

Seen in a fortune cookie:Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed..

Oh, I see what you're talking about now. I kept thinking grip ball head instead of just ball head, and I was wondering thinking that it probably wouldn't be a good idea for a grip ball head to have adjustbable tension or could wear down the usefulness of the trigger brake..

I actually have a small ball head on my cheapo monopod, and I've used that technique that you're decribing with it. It does provide a just enough extra stability over handheld, while allowing you to track and remain relatively mobile..

Sorry I was being so dense!.

Chris..

Effzeeone wrote:.

I actually have a small ball head on my cheapo monopod, and I'veused that technique that you're decribing with it. It does providea just enough extra stability over handheld, while allowing you totrack and remain relatively mobile..

Generally speaking, bigger ballheads will have finer control over tension and be able to track and hold better. I think it gives a lot more stability over handheld. With the right head, of course....

Sorry I was being so dense!.

No problem, I suffer from that problem often enough!.

Seen in a fortune cookie:Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed..