I am probably going to buy a tripod soon, a decent one, to replace the atrocious one I have now, a Jessops TP327 believe it or not. With sales coming up for christmas hopefully I can clinch a deal.
So I am decided that I am going to get 'frotto 055XPROB legs and the 468MG head, unless you can persuade me otherwise, but am confused as to which QR system would suit me best - I have been looking at the RC0 and the RC2
As far as I know the RC2 is the more common of the two and the RC0 system is quite large.
I am looking to spend around £300 in total and the tripod stands at around £125 at the moment, so both of these systems fall just in that budget, i.e. they both cost around £165 of my £175 limit.
I need a sturdy setup however as my gear isn't your D40 or your 1000D.
I will be using the system with the following,
Canon 40D/30D gripped sometimes with one of the following
70-200 2.8 IS
17-55 2.8 IS
10-20 HSM
and possibly my 580EX II or the ST-E2 I will probably buy soon also. I.E. the setup will weigh around 3kg when at the max.
The problem I have with the Jessops QR is that the camera is always twisting due to gravity, i.e. if in portrait orientation the lens will dip giving shake to shots slower than around 1/40th sec. Will the RC0 be better at minimising this because it is slightly larger? Are there other setups which would combat this better allowing me to do exposures of around 20 secs + without shake?
I tend to use my tripod for landscapes, lowlight shots, abstract stuff and will be using this one for macro because of its capability to get low to the ground - the jessops one only went down to 50cm!! because of the dolly type thingy in the middle.
I use it with a variety of QR systems, including (at the moment): RRS B2-Pro (for big lenses); Manfrotto RC2 (for most stuff); and, Manfrotto RC4 (for a heavy macro bellows/focus rail system). I suggest you start with RC2, and you can move to more capable (and more expensive) systems when the need arises.
I recommend neither. If I had to choose, the RC2 (rectangular model) would be my recommendation. I have the RC0 (hexagonal) and HATE it. It's annoying and bulky and tough to correctly mount and dismount without really paying attention to what you're doing, IMO. I've used it before with my 5D and 100-400L and when I went to tear down, I found the plate wasn't even locked onto the head. And this is from a paranoid (relative to expensive gear), analytical type of person.
I recognize I may just be considered inept for finding the thing so cumbersome, but you asked for opinions and that's mine. I'm looking into an arca swiss style QR system (likely Kirk or RRS) to replace the one I have...just haven't gotten around to making the choice. The current system annoys me every time I deal with it. Really.
EPSI wrote:
I recommend neither. If I had to choose, the RC2 (rectangular model) would be my recommendation. I have the RC0 (hexagonal) and HATE it. It's annoying and bulky and tough to correctly mount and dismount without really paying attention to what you're doing, IMO. I've used it before with my 5D and 100-400L and when I went to tear down, I found the plate wasn't even locked onto the head. And this is from a paranoid (relative to expensive gear), analytical type of person.
I recognize I may just be considered inept for finding the thing so cumbersome, but you asked for opinions and that's mine. I'm looking into an arca swiss style QR system (likely Kirk or RRS) to replace the one I have...just haven't gotten around to making the choice. The current system annoys me every time I deal with it. Really. ...Show more →
The A-S system if vastly superior to pretty much any of the proprietary plate systems (i.e. manfrotto). You can replace the clamp on the 468 with a A-S compatible clamp.
055XPROB - Do Gitzo or any other top quality manufacturer make a similar tripod with the same or better spec, the capability to go tall without centre column and for the tripod to be able to go as low to the ground as possible, as well as being as sturdy as possible?
468MG - Am I right in thinking that this will have the right thread for me to be able to screw in a RRS QR platform as I think this is a better bet in the long run than the 'frotto QR platforms? The 'frottos look weak and as if they will twist.
RRS B2 LR II/LLR II/PRO/PROL - Am I right to assume these are the only QR plates which will fit onto the 468MG thread? And which one would you recommend for my gear - I favour clamps and will probably use RRS L-plates?
L-Plates/Lens Feet - Do you recommend that I buy the L-Plates for my cameras - 30D/40D/G9 as they look as if they are better than planting the camera on its side with a ballhead? Are the 30D/40D L-plates interchangeable - I'd only have to buy one for without the grip and one for with the grip if this was the case?
Do you recommend I buy any of the RRS stuff from a different brand?
Of course Gitzo will make "better" tripods. Just look at the price--they *must* be better.
I tried the RCO hex plates and almost always got them wrong. Gave up and went with the RC2 when I picked up a bunch of plates at a garage sale really cheap. I even adapted my Dynatran pistol grip heads to accept them.
Arca Swiss plates are good, but I find them fiddly compared to the RC2. You have to have everything lined up perfectly for them to slide into the mount.
I have Bogen gear with the rc2. That's the one I'd suggest of the Bogens.
But if deciding to go with the Bogen 468 and retrofitting an Arca Swiss type locking plate, why not consider the mid-range heads with Arca Swiss type plates? It's going to add some cost but a Kirk BH-3 is comparable price wise, the BH-1 is quite competitive when you consider it has the AS plate and a universal plate as well. You are close price wise with the Acratechs and Markins as well if you take a $240 or so US $ head and spend $80 or more to add an AS type clamp. Plates will run more, of course.
Bogen/Manfrotto are quality tripods, If trying to go lighter than the 055xprob types, yopu'll pay more, otherwise, the Slik Pro 700dx is close but not quite there feature wise. Less expensive, perhaps a bit heavier.
Kirk and RRS make L plates, etc., and I'm not sure if there is a significant difference in the offerings, checking on specific plates for specific cameras may turn up some quirks.
The L plates are very popular and I'd think rightfully so if doing a lot of shooting with cameras/lenses without tripod collars. The maker sites will tell you if interchangeable or not. There are some universl plates which aren't as close fitting but look like they'd fit multiple cameras. Most people bite the bullet get one for the camera(s) of their choice and leave it on.
055XPROB - Do Gitzo or any other top quality manufacturer make a similar tripod with the same or better spec, the capability to go tall without centre column and for the tripod to be able to go as low to the ground as possible, as well as being as sturdy as possible?
Gitzo makes tripods that go higher. However, they are expensive - and very, very good. I've spent some time testing tripods and I've found the Gitzo ones to be top drawer in both price and performance (funny how that works).
468MG - Am I right in thinking that this will have the right thread for me to be able to screw in a RRS QR platform as I think this is a better bet in the long run than the 'frotto QR platforms? The 'frottos look weak and as if they will twist.
I'm not sure on this, but I'm pretty sure that RRS could answer that question for you. Give them a call, they are very helpful (email works too). Even if I was sure, I'd cross check that with them.
RRS B2 LR II/LLR II/PRO/PROL - Am I right to assume these are the only QR plates which will fit onto the 468MG thread? And which one would you recommend for my gear - I favour clamps and will probably use RRS L-plates?
For the lever clamps, you should use the RRS or Wimberly plates. Others work but there is apparently enough variation on thickness to potentially be a problem with the RRS lever clamps. The lever clamps are more sensitive to that dimension than the knob ones.
L-Plates/Lens Feet - Do you recommend that I buy the L-Plates for my cameras - 30D/40D/G9 as they look as if they are better than planting the camera on its side with a ballhead? Are the 30D/40D L-plates interchangeable - I'd only have to buy one for without the grip and one for with the grip if this was the case?
I consider an L plate part of the cost of a new body. They are wonderful. Dropping it over in the notch is not at all optimal. It puts the mass of the camera cantilevered out over the side which is less stable and you will need to adjust the ballhead if you switch from landscape to portrait.
Do you recommend I buy any of the RRS stuff from a different brand?
If you are going to but a QR lever clamp, IMO the RRS ones are the best - not even close. To be conservative, the best choice for clamps is then either Wimberly or RRS for reason mentioned above although many others use Kirk or others with no problems. I love the QR levers and think any tripod should have one. I've even gone over to them on my monopods. I'm a big fan of them.
Another quick question is the RRS stuff available from the UK!!!
I don't think anyone answered this yet--the answer is no, RRS is available direct from manufacturer only. They have a good reputation for service, I'm preparing an order myself at the moment.
A month ago i purchased the 055XPROB with 804RC2 head. The legs are pretty heave and stable but the head needs to be replaced IMO. I'm thinking about BH40 by RRS. Does anybody know if this head suits the 055XPROB legs?
Well according to a previous poster the BH40 suits the 055XPROB well being able to hold a 1d and 300 2.8 well
RRS bh40 with lever release nad the manfrotto 190CX its light and will support my 1D and 300 f2.8 in a pinch.
Thanks for your input. What the QR system like? I understand the 804 head may not be very good but the piece that attaches the camera to the head, the RC2 bit, whats that like - stable, does the camera twist on it at all?
Yes but generally one would order the 468mg with an installed plate, the 468mgrc0 comes with an rc0 base and plate, the 468mgrc2 comes with an rc2 system base and plate. Both basic plates come with a flat tip, there are "architectural" plates which include a lipped top to reduce or eliminate the twisting that might occur when placed in a portrait orientation.
The general complaints - which may or may not be exaggerated on the Bogen Rrc2 and rc0 systems are the way the dovetail sided plates fit into a base, then a lever is cammed in place squeezing them in. A second pin is then turned into place keeping the primary lever from backing off accidentally. It's not as precise as the typical Arca Swiss type system and it's a bit possible to have it tilted a bit so the wedging process may not correctly. (However, there are periodic stories of poorly fit AS placements as well and a tiny bit of attention to detail when clamping any multi-hundred or multi-thousand dollar camera system on a tripod seems worthwhile whichever system one uses.) The other concern is that the Bogen (and any number of other qr systems including some Arca Swiss type plates) use a rubber or cork top. This may allow a small amount of play or vibration whereas a metal camera base fit to a metal plate fit to a metal tripod head/legs should allow the legs to absorb any vibration that might be induced more effectively.
Lipped plates are used in various systems to reduce or eliminate twisting on the plate. An advantage to the lip is it might reduce the overall force needed to screw the plate to the camera base. It's not entirely impossible to apply too much force damaging a camera. Also if there is some "give" in the top due to a "soft" material, a mouinting screw that is too long might also inadvertently be turned too far into the camera. Not usually a problm.
The quality Arca Swiss systems are stronger and more effective at dealing with vibrations. They are noticeably more expensive than most proprietary QR systems like Bogens.
Many of the Bogen ball heads are offered with different series. The pan/tilts and the squeeze grips typically only have one plate type due the way the "head" is made. They don't have a post coming up off a ball. just a flat top of some sort. I use the rc2 - I ambled into it when I first went with the 3065 pistol grip. So I chose a pan/tilt that also uses it, and the light 725b I use also takes the same plate (although as it's a ball head, it could be fit with other bases).
The rc2 would likely be satisfactory but other's like the "0" and as noted above, it's kind of big and awkward. doesn't seem to fit the bottom of a cameras well/comfortably. It's rated for more weight but I don't think you are pushing past the rc2 capabilities.
!!!