Manfrotto 128 head (1 Viewer)

graham catley · Feb 10, 2007

just a quick comment on th eperformance of this fluid video head in cold weather--in Finland last weekend with temps of -12 to -25C the head was just about useless as it just seized up in the cold---the same occurred to a 128 on a colleague's tripod so it was not just mine--worth bearing in mind if you are going somewhere cold

stbear · Feb 11, 2007

Thanks for the report. I was just considering this head, mainly for spotting scope use but occasional camera use while doing both. Now I will have to reconsider.

gmax · Feb 12, 2007

graham catley said:
just a quick comment on th eperformance of this fluid video head in cold weather--in Finland last weekend with temps of -12 to -25C the head was just about useless as it just seized up in the cold---the same occurred to a 128 on a colleague's tripod so it was not just mine--worth bearing in mind if you are going somewhere cold

Good to know!
I just wonder whether that would have happened with any other similar head; I guess a very cold environment would worsen its effects on fluid heads as well, where the viscous oil would thicken in its housing.
I faced no problems up to now with my 128RC2 down to temperatures of -8/-10°C, below that I would worry more about problems with my camera and lens: last December I found myself using my gear at -25/-30°C and AF seized up at times, although I tried to keep it close to the body under my jacket.
So, what gear will be surely safe from the effects of cold?

graham catley · Feb 13, 2007

gmax said:
Good to know!
I just wonder whether that would have happened with any other similar head; I guess a very cold environment would worsen its effects on fluid heads as well, where the viscous oil would thicken in its housing.
I faced no problems up to now with my 128RC2 down to temperatures of -8/-10°C, below that I would worry more about problems with my camera and lens: last December I found myself using my gear at -25/-30°C and AF seized up at times, although I tried to keep it close to the body under my jacket.
So, what gear will be surely safe from the effects of cold?

In the same conditions I had no problems with my 1dMkIIN and 300f4 with AF working as usual and the camera battery holding up as normal even when exposed to the cold for several hours---a colleague who had a Gitzo 2380? fluid head on the same trip had no problems with it in the cold so it maybe pays to buy a better quality head

Sc0tty · Feb 14, 2007

graham catley said:
just a quick comment on th eperformance of this fluid video head in cold weather--in Finland last weekend with temps of -12 to -25C the head was just about useless as it just seized up in the cold---the same occurred to a 128 on a colleague's tripod so it was not just mine--worth bearing in mind if you are going somewhere cold

Graham,

I was wondering if the cold weather had any effect on the focus wheel smoothness of anyone's bins.

Rich.

graham catley · Feb 14, 2007

Richard Scott said:
Graham,

I was wondering if the cold weather had any effect on the focus wheel smoothness of anyone's bins.

Rich.

Zeiss 7x42's were very stiff my Swaro 8x32's and a pair of Zeis 8x32's were fine but my Swaro 80mm scope focus wheel went a bit stiff although it often does when I fly with it anyway for a few days after landing due to pressure?

Manfrotto 128 head (1 Viewer)

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