[kathgarveyuk]

Hi Everyone

I am looking for a pan and tilt head to hold my Canon 20D and Canon 100-400L IS lens.
I have been reading about the Manfrotto 701 RC-2, and the Manfrotto 501 head
Does anyone have any experience, as to whether either of these heads would be stable enough to hold my stuff.
From what I can see the 701 RC-2, does not have a secondary security latch for the quick release plate. (I would prefer to have one with a secondary security latch )
Can someone tell me if the 501 has a secondary security latch for the quick release plate, as I cannot find any info on this.
Also does anyone know what the difference are between the Standard Manfrotto 501 head, and the Manfrotto 501AT head with anti-theft QR plate.
Which would you choose ?
Thanks you in advance for your reply's
Regards
Kath

[PWG]

I have recently got a normal 501 which does have a button to stop your camera falling off as well as the clamp. The reason I bought it was because of the length of travel on the plate which helps balance my setup. As far as carrying the weight of your camera the 501 would have few problems. Not having tried the 701 I can't comment as to relative merits however looking at the design the 701 I guess would win on weight.

My suggestion would be to find a local stockist and have a look and feel. It wins every time over the web and going to the shop dosen't commit you to buy if it is cheaper on the web, they might even give you a deal if you go with an idea of the prices.

I haven't heard of the anti-theft version so can't comment.

[kathgarveyuk]

Hi Paul

Thanks for your reply. I think I am edging towards the 501. I would like to buy it local, but my town is very poor. The Jessops we have does not keep much at all, and there is only one other Photography shop, and they seem mainly to keep point P&S cameras in stock, the next nearest town is not much better.
I tried the Manfrotto MN322RC2 Heavy Duty Grip, but had to return that as i just could not get away it .


PS The anti theft version is advertised below the Stanard 501, at Warehouseexpress.com

Regards
Kath

[jobkjoseph]

I own a Canon EOS50 & the sigma 170-500.

I use a manfrotto 055CLB & the 141RC 3-way pan-tilt head. The max weight they talk about is 6.5 pounds..ie nearly 3Kg. My cam+lens weigh 1.3Kg + 0.4kg = 1.7Kg. IT has a secondary lock as well.

The 141RC is a little difficult to use, considering that u have to manipulate 3 knobs, but i feel it is okay for normal use. The only drawback i faced is that with the knobs towards me, i cant raise the lens beyond around 45% from the horizontal. For that i would have to turn the head and make the knobs face away from me.

For my 6ft height, the 055 is just the right height, but a bit heavy. Thank god i have strong shoulders....this tripod weighs more than 2 Kg.

[kabsetz]

Somewhat more expensive but more elegant and slightly more stable is the Gitzo 2380 fluid head, which weighs 100g:s less. It uses the same sliding plate as the Manfrotto 501.

Foto Fennica, a shop here in Helsinki (www.fotofennica.fi), sells their own attachment plate for these heads. The plate is about twice as long as the original, allowing for even better balancing of your rig. It is machined aluminum, and just as solid as the original version.

Kimmo

[Hermann]

Originally Posted by kabsetz

Somewhat more expensive but more elegant and slightly more stable is the Gitzo 2380 fluid head, which weighs 100g:s less. It uses the same sliding plate as the Manfrotto 501.

Foto Fennica, a shop here in Helsinki (www.fotofennica.fi), sells their own attachment plate for these heads. The plate is about twice as long as the original, allowing for even better balancing of your rig. It is machined aluminum, and just as solid as the original version.

Another solution is to buy a head with an old-fashioned screw and use one of the quick release systems that have a sliding plate, like the Arca Swiss. I use an old Gitzo quick release system with sliding plates that I bought more than a decade ago on my old Gitzo video head. Works just fine.

Hermann