I have a Velbon EL Carmagne 530 tripod. I wasn't satisfied with the head that came with it for digiscoping (altho it works acceptably well for scoping without a camera attached), so I got a Manfrotto 701rc2 head after reading Andy Bright's review and a statement on one of the threads here that it was stable in windy conditions. The head did not come with a 3/8-1/4 adapter and the adapter that came with the tripod is either a little too long for the Manfrotto head or has a flared or otherwise built-up head on it so that it sticks up out of the tripod head, preventing the tripod head from properly seating on the tripod, and providing a fulcrum for the head to pivot on in a breeze. I've attached two photos showing the condition and my attempt to remedy the problem by taping some folded pieces of paper to take up the space between the tripod head and tripod.
The local hardware store doesn't have a 3/8-1/4 adapter, nor does the closest camera store. Does anyone know if all the 3/8-1/4 adapters are standard? If so, I'll stick with my make-do solution. If there is another adapter that would fit so that the 701 head would sit flush on the tripod, who makes it and where can I get it?
Thanks,
Bob
P.S. I don't find that the slidng plate on the 701 prevents my Kowa 823 scope with a camera attached (either a CP4500 or a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10) from tilting back when not tightened down. However, the panning action of the 701 is far better (smoother and more precise) than the Velbon PH-250B head that came with the tripod. Nevertheless, it's still difficult to get the subject exactly in the center of the lcd so it's within the focus brackets. Almost invariably, when I think I've got it, however lightly I'm holding or touching the panning handle in centering the subject on the lcd, when I release the handle, the scope moves ever so slightly and the subject goes off-center. Would a ball head be better than a pan head in that regard?
The local hardware store doesn't have a 3/8-1/4 adapter, nor does the closest camera store. Does anyone know if all the 3/8-1/4 adapters are standard? If so, I'll stick with my make-do solution. If there is another adapter that would fit so that the 701 head would sit flush on the tripod, who makes it and where can I get it?
Thanks,
Bob
P.S. I don't find that the slidng plate on the 701 prevents my Kowa 823 scope with a camera attached (either a CP4500 or a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10) from tilting back when not tightened down. However, the panning action of the 701 is far better (smoother and more precise) than the Velbon PH-250B head that came with the tripod. Nevertheless, it's still difficult to get the subject exactly in the center of the lcd so it's within the focus brackets. Almost invariably, when I think I've got it, however lightly I'm holding or touching the panning handle in centering the subject on the lcd, when I release the handle, the scope moves ever so slightly and the subject goes off-center. Would a ball head be better than a pan head in that regard?