Video or non-video head?

[smpaul991]

Hi

I am starting digiscoping with my husband. I read a lot about video head like the 128rc and 700rc head BUT I am wondering if the head like the 308 or 486RC could be suitable for digiscoping. I need good arguments to convince him to get a 128 or 700 instead of a 308 or 486

Any information would be appreciated

Thanks

Sandra
Tango991

[iporali]

...I need good arguments to convince him to get a 128 or 700 instead of a 308 or 486

Hi Sandra,

I have no experience on Manfrotto 308 or 486 heads, but I warmly recommend video heads for any use with a birding scope. I have a 501, which is nice but heavy. The field-of-view of a scope is usually so narrow that a smooth movement of a fluid head is a big advantage in finding and following the targets. I think many digiscopers just continued to use the same head which worked well with their scope. Non-video heads may be more versatile for nature photography with a camera, but if you plan to use the head mainly for digiscoping a video head is IMO a safe bet.
Good luck!

Ilkka

[Andy Bright]

Hi

I am starting digiscoping with my husband. I read a lot about video head like the 128rc and 700rc head BUT I am wondering if the head like the 308 or 486RC could be suitable for digiscoping. I need good arguments to convince him to get a 128 or 700 instead of a 308 or 486

Any information would be appreciated

Thanks

Sandra
Tango991Hi Sandra,
A video type head suits many people (though heads can be a very personal matter). Ball heads are not very digiscoping friendly and will slow down the whole procedure of finding the birds and getting off a shot. You will often need to be holding the camera at the time of the shot which will cause a lot of camera shake... ideally you want your hands off the camera as much as possible to get a sharp image.

The 128rc is extremely popular but Manfrotto are poised to release a new video head called the 701rc2 which has many of the benefits of the excelllent 501pro but at less cost and weight (in fact lighter than the 128rc).
I have a brief review on it here http://www.digiscoped.com/manfrotto701RC2.html

Regards,
Andy

[galt_57]

I have a 501, which is nice but heavy.

I have been considering a 501 for extra solidness but I did notice a conversation where someone complained about the placement of the pan locks. What do you think of that?

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/153672/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

[Andy Bright]

I have been considering a 501 for extra solidness but I did notice a conversation where someone complained about the placement of the pan locks. What do you think of that?

The reality is that you never have to touch the pan lock, and even the tilt lock won't be much problem as the main drag controls are so good...and leave the pan drag control fully open. Once you have this head set-up properly, you shouldn't need to touch anything... for the digiscoper, the sliding top plate alleviates any poor balance problems as well.

[iporali]

I have been considering a 501 for extra solidness but I did notice a conversation where someone complained about the placement of the pan locks. What do you think of that?

I can confirm that keeping the pan handle on the left hand side, the tilt lock can not be tightened completely. But as Andy said, in digiscoping the joy of using the 501 head is that you don't *need* to lock the head - and it works very well for me. OTOH if you are prepared to pay more, I think the Gitzo 2380 head is almost perfectly designed.

Ilkka

[Andy Bright]

I can confirm that keeping the pan handle on the left hand side, the tilt lock can not be tightened completely.

Ilkka
I have no restrictions with the tilt lock on my lefthanded 501... Just don't poke the handle through the mounting tube so far?
Regards,
Andy

[BobM]

Hi Sandra,
A video type head suits many people (though heads can be a very personal matter). Ball heads are not very digiscoping friendly and will slow down the whole procedure of finding the birds and getting off a shot. You will often need to be holding the camera at the time of the shot which will cause a lot of camera shake... ideally you want your hands off the camera as much as possible to get a sharp image.

The 128rc is extremely popular but Manfrotto are poised to release a new video head called the 701rc2 which has many of the benefits of the excelllent 501pro but at less cost and weight (in fact lighter than the 128rc).
I have a brief review on it here http://www.digiscoped.com/manfrotto701RC2.html

Regards,
Andy

Andy,

From your review, the 701RC2 head looks very promising, but I don't see anything about vibration dampening. How does the head perform in a breeze? I just got a Kowa Prominar TSN-823M scope, along with the Kowa camera adapter for the Nikon Coolpix 4500 and the Kowa TSN-VA1 Photo&Video Adapter, which I use with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 camera. I have a Velbon EL Carmagne 530 tripod with the PH-250B head. The PH-250B head is quite prone to vibration and I have great difficulty positioning the subject in the camera LCD/EVF, regardless of which camera and adapter I use, so I'm looking to get a new head. Thanks for your help.

Bob

[conronicus]

Not sure what the 308 or 486 are but I looked at the 128 and 700 and was not impressed, they are too lightweight. I spent a bit extra and bought the Manfrotto 501 instead and have not regretted it. It is heavier than both the 128 and 700 but is so easy and incredibly comfortable to use. I'm just waiting for the Nikon FSA-L1 Fieldscope Attachment to arrive on these shores so I can use my DSLR with it.

Conronicus

[tallgrass]

Hi Sandra,

The 128rc is extremely popular but Manfrotto are poised to release a new video head called the 701rc2 which has many of the benefits of the excelllent 501pro but at less cost and weight (in fact lighter than the 128rc).
I have a brief review on it here http://www.digiscoped.com/manfrotto701RC2.html

Regards,
Andy

I recently bought a 701RC2 head to go with my Manfrotto 055 tripod to support a new Nikon FS III. I can testify to the build quality and fluid movement of this head. And the ability to alter the centre of gravity via the adjustable sliding plate is a real boon as the FS III is a little back heavy 'au naturel' let alone adding digiscope attachments! Today I was out in some quite heavy winds and with the 055 tripod at its unextended position and the centre post only up by about 4" whilst I sat on a nearby rock. I was very happy with the 30x image I was getting (very litttle shake). At just 800grms and a reasonable price tag I can thoroughly recommend this head.