Having a little trouble with tripod head

[Balego]

I just got my scope last week, and my husband picked out a 055 pro tripod, which is wonderful, but he got the 700rc2 head. My use is for digiscoping with a Nikon Fieldscope 78ED and CP990. He originally had bought a different head, which wouldnt work at all, so when he exchanged it I asked him to try to get the 701rc2, but it is not yet available. He got the 700rc2 instead. Money was indeed becoming an issue, due to purchase of scope, tripod, camera, adapter, etc, so going for something like the 501 pro was pushing things up there a little bit too high.

The head is fine for using the scope.. it pans and tilts very smoothly. However, when I add the camera it tips slowly back, no matter how tight I turn the locking mechanism. This makes for some frustrating fiddling trying to center a bird in the lcd screen! I center it, lock it, then add the camera and the bird is no longer in view (he hasnt moved, my unit has!) and I have to loosen things up again and try again.
Okay, what can I do now? I would like to change it for the 701 but I cant get one. Does anyone else cope with this slipping issue, and have you found a solution with your present head?
As an aside, I have the Nikon adapter and ring, which is indeed a nice unit, but it also likes to slip sideways, tipping the camera to the right slightly. The 990 is fairly heavy, so I'm fiddling with balance on both issues, the head and the adapter. Its leaving me a little bit frustrated.
Any ideas, besides trying to tell my husband his expensive gift isnt quite doing the job and he needs to spend some more money?

Bev

[Art Thorn]

What was the original head that he bought? I, and many others, use the 128RC, which seems to be half way to the 501 in weight capacity (5.5 vs 8.9 vs 13.3). I put a lot of heavy weight on the head (9 pound Televue plus 2 pound eyepieces) and never have a problem with slippage. I guess ability to tighten things varies from person to person too. My wife can never undo things that I tighten (even though I try to be careful).

[Andrew Rowlands]

It's a leverage and balance issue; can you fit a locking screw with a larger head for more leverage? Some people use a sliding mechanism between the head and 'scope to adjust the balance. Does it make any difference if you reverse the 'scope on the head - have the pan/tilt handle pointing away?

Andy.

[Balego]

Thanks for your responses, Andrew and Art.
It was the 486rc2 head that my husband originally bought, at the recommendation of the store clerk. The clerk was incorrect, as the head wasnt usable at all with the scope. It was a ball head with no panning handle, just one lever to adjust the tightness, and when tight you couldnt pan, when looser the scope would want to fall this way and that.
I called the store yesterday to see if the 701rc2 is available, and it wont be until Christmas. That puts me way past the time frame I would be allowed to exchange my 700rc2, and from what I understood I would only be given a credit note, not a refund. (I'll have to double check on that). I can, however, bring my equipment there and try it with the 128rc, and that sounds like my only option. If you say, Art, that it supports your heavy scope with no slipping, then that sounds like a good choice for me.

Andrew, my husband was thinking of adding some sort of sliding plate to balance it out, but if I can exchange the head now, that will be easier I guess.
If I can get a refund, I might try to see where I can order the 701rc2, and how fast I can get it. I would hate to miss fall migration waiting for a head to come in. If the 128 will work, then I'll go that route. Will go try it out today.

Bev

[jiminlondon99]

As you will see I have the 701 head and it is good but the adjustable plate cannot fully compensate for the already backend heavy Swaro 65 even without the camera. The picture is somewhat tongue in cheek but adding counter balance weight to the front does work to stop what I think is called "scope bounce". Before I get any light hearted comments, no it doesn't only work with diet drinks etc. I use this method for static digiscoping at home and normally have the drink bottle lower down for stability. Manfrotto do make at least 3 sliding plates (part no 577, 357plv or 357) but its more expense and more to carry.

Maybe Scope dealers should supply free bean bags or the makers vary the design? If anyone has a more elegant solution please share it.

[Balego]

Jim, I can clearly see how much more of the Swaro is at the back of the plate, compared to the front end! No wonder there is a balance problem!
The bottle must be awkward when panning? Or do you have to add that after locating the bird and adding the camera?
I wonder if you could sew up a felt tube, that has beans and maybe some added weights, such as maybe some bits of hardware such as small bolts and washers, even lead fishing weights. Sew velcro to the ends, and wrap the tubing around the end of the scope? That would eliminate the need for a bottle which must be a pain to contantly remove and replace, with it probably swinging against the legs each time.
With the velcro, you wouldnt even have to carry the tube as extra gear, you could wrap it around your arm, saving having to put it somewhere. If it needs to be removed between shots, you could just drape it around your neck. But yeah, a head that would compensate for unbalanced gear would be nice.. preferably not expensive.

Bev

[Balego]

Just an update.. I went and exchanged my 700rc2 today for the 128rc. I was able to try it out in the store, with my scope and camera, and it made a huge difference! The scope only slipped very slightly back at first when I attached the camera, but no more than that. I had focused on a small sign on a building across the street from the shop, and when attaching my camera the sign was still clearly in view, only slightly out of center from my original setting of the head. That made it easy to adjust the scope and it didnt move at all once I did that. Unlike the other head, which just kept slipping back, causing me to have to take off the camera, find the subject again, and reattach everything finding it still moved.

As an aside, but that might be an idea for anyone looking for a carry bag for scope and tripod.... we stopped by a local second hand store on the way home, and there we found a brand new golf bag.. not the kind to hold a complete set, but probably just for a couple of putters? It is lightweight rainproof nylon, padded inside, with 2 pockets on the outside, one being just a little longer than the scope length. My tripod slipped inside perfectly, and the scope fit nice and securely inside the side pocket. There is a very well padded shoulder strap, and also the one other pocket that will easily hold either the camera, or just a good place to put the lens caps and a field guide. It couldnt be more perfect for carrying my gear! And it only cost $2.99Canadian.

[christineredgate]

Bev,I use the 128 head on the 444 tripod,and for extra stability I sometimes pop a bean bag on the end of the scope,not too near the end,I find this does keep the scope balanced.I found out today,that it pays to tighten tripod (head ) screws BEFORE attaching the camera,once having focussed for the bird etc,otherwise the whole caboodle moves around and it can take ages to re align etc.

[Balego]

Hi Christine
Yes, that is what I was doing, tightening everything up, then attaching the camera. But it would slip, I'd try to lift it back and retighten, and it would just keep slipping. I was afraid that if I tightened the screw any more I would snap something. The 128 is much better, and to be fair, when it did slip down just slightly, we discovered we had put the quick-release plate on the scope foot backwards. I hope to try it out more this weekend, if we hopefully get a chance to go out birding. I'll certainly keep the beanbags in mind should I find I need extra stability. So far my 055pro tripod has proved to be very stable, but I havent yet been out in strong winds.

Bev

[Kevin Mac]

Jeez everyone, do what I did.. get a good ballhead!!! I'm sure you all shake your heads at me but I'll say it again.... A good panning ballhead is all you need. The one I have supports almost 100 pounds. Slippage? No way. Smooth? Absolutely. I used to have the Manfrotto 486 also, it was terrible for scoping. Now I'm a happy poor guy.

[Balego]

Well Kevin, I agree with you completely. Get the best you can afford. In my case, though, I wasnt the one paying for all the gear and gadgets. My dear hubby was, as a birthday gift for me (although I was the one doing all the research and tallying up the expected costs). I think if I had told him I required a $400-$500 head, it may have put him in intensive care! Seeing as I'd like to keep him around a little longer, I'll put up with a little less than perfect tripod head.
Besides, who else do I have to carry all this stuff for me? ;)

[Kevin Mac]

Good one! Because besides the cost of the head I also had to spring for a compensatory vacation. And cooking so many dinners! I'm still not that good at cleaning up though...