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Horizon 8115 Tripod - Best Head Replacement (1 Viewer)

BadgerGirl

BadgerGirl

Active member
Hi there
I have this tripod & I'm not a fan of its quick release plate, or frankly its head. I can't see that any other quick release plate base is going to fit it as it has a non standard (4 screw) mounting screw setup so...
Have any of you got this tripod & replaced either the head or quick release plate?

Any head replacement suggestions please for heads suitable for a spotting scope weighing 1.6kgs.
 
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Binastro said:
I didn't know the head could be replaced on Horizon tripods. Interesting.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know that over on the stargazers forum they have mentioned it in passing. Also I dismantled it the other day it has a standard 1/4 screw.

Any suggestions on what head to go for?
 
A Manfrotto 700RC2 should fulfil your requirements with a small scope; reasonably cheap, simple to operate & lightweight but some have expressed QC issues so perhaps try before you buy? I have no problems with a Leica APO Televid 62 on this head - works like a dream!
 
Have a look at the Kingjoy heads on ebay. It's a direct ripoff of the Manfrotto but everything as good at 1/3 price. Plus it takes the Manfrotto plate so I got 3 one for scope 1 for telephoto lens and one for camera.
 
Hi,

I am a fan of the Mafrotto 500AH for my 1.6kg scope - mainly because it is more stable than the 128RC or 700RC2. Also it allows to vary the position of the scope so it can be properly balanced, which I think necessary. One can even get an extra long plate if that is needed for a heavy camera.

The Kingjoy video/birdwatching heads look nice on the site but I haven't used them and thus cannot really comment.

Joachim
 
Rotherbirder said:
A Manfrotto 700RC2 should fulfil your requirements with a small scope; reasonably cheap, simple to operate & lightweight but some have expressed QC issues so perhaps try before you buy? I have no problems with a Leica APO Televid 62 on this head - works like a dream!
Click to expand...

Proterra said:
Have a look at the Kingjoy heads on ebay. It's a direct ripoff of the Manfrotto but everything as good at 1/3 price. Plus it takes the Manfrotto plate so I got 3 one for scope 1 for telephoto lens and one for camera.
Click to expand...

jring said:
Hi,

I am a fan of the Mafrotto 500AH for my 1.6kg scope - mainly because it is more stable than the 128RC or 700RC2. Also it allows to vary the position of the scope so it can be properly balanced, which I think necessary. One can even get an extra long plate if that is needed for a heavy camera.

The Kingjoy video/birdwatching heads look nice on the site but I haven't used them and thus cannot really comment.

Joachim
Click to expand...
Genuinely appreciate these I'll be looking through all of them today. Also I'd much prefer a head without an integral quick release plate. I want the freedom to choose my own & change it if I want.
I'm hoping to be prepared with a list of *possibles* in time for the black Friday sale on Amazon two days from now (of course I also want a Panasonic Mirrorless G80)
Feel free to add more ideas. I'll be popping back regularly to see

Extra information I'm using the tripod for my bridge camera as well now & hopefully be upgrading to a mirrorless with a telephoto lens in the next year. The tripod I love the, head is a nightmare.
 
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I'm liking the Kingjoy very much indeed but it doesn't look like I can remove the QR base plate to replace it. Unless anyone knows differently. ....

And I've discovered that every dratted tripod head on the market now has an integral QR plate.....arghhhhh! That did not used to be the case 10 yrs ago.
As I'm not willing to attach a QR base plate to the top plate of the tripod's integral QR System to get the QR system I want. I'm now looking for any half decent pan & tilt/video head that doesn't have a QR base plate or has one that can be removed.
This chap understands
"Are QR systems getting mandatory on every tripod head?"
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4198326
 
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BadgerGirl said:
I'm liking the Kingjoy very much indeed but it doesn't look like I can remove the QR base plate to replace it. Unless anyone knows differently. ....

And I've discovered that every dratted tripod head on the market now has an integral QR plate.....arghhhhh! That did not used to be the case 10 yrs ago.
As I'm not willing to attach a QR base plate to the top plate of the tripod's integral QR System to get the QR system I want. I'm now looking for any half decent pan & tilt/video head that doesn't have a QR base plate or has one that can be removed.
This chap understands
"Are QR systems getting mandatory on every tripod head?"
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4198326
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean. The qr plate is identical to the Manfrotto
The Quick Release Plate is Compatible with for Manfrotto heads that use the RC5 quick release system (501, 503 & 701 NG Heads).
 
Proterra said:
Not sure what you mean. The qr plate is identical to the Manfrotto
The Quick Release Plate is Compatible with for Manfrotto heads that use the RC5 quick release system (501, 503 & 701 NG Heads).
Click to expand...
I don't want to use a QR system picked for me by the manufacturer I want the freedom to have none at all or one of my choosing. Doesn't make any difference if it is Manfrotto compatible or not.
pete_gamby said:
Berlebach has a pan head without QR plate but it's not priced like the Kingjoy:

https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=102&sprache=english

HTH

Cheers, Pete
Click to expand...

henry link said:
This version of the Manfrotto 128 is still available.

https://www.manfrotto.us/micro-fluid-two-way-video-head

It's cheap, doesn't have a built in QR plate and in my experience is quite stable, certainly the most stable of the 128 variants.
Click to expand...

Thanks both of you
That Manfrotto looks good I'll have to see if it is available here in the UK.

The other one that I've come across is the Slik Master Classic but I can't find videos to see it in action & think I may not be able to lock position easily or at all across the horizontal plane.
 
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