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ball head and centre column question (1 Viewer)

M

mansy_d

Manish
Hello

I am looking for a simple macro and landscape photography head. I have a 50D and a Canon 17-55 and a Sigma 90mm macro lens.
I am hoping to have a small form-factor ball head - any suggestions?
If the head has markings for stitched panaromas that will be helpful.

I have the manfrotto 055cxpro3 tripod.

One other question about this tripod, is there anyway I can reduce the centre column on this tripod - I know I can quickly make it horizontal but to begin with, if I had a shorter column - I could well live with it. For portrial shots, I could then move the camera to portriat by moving it on the ball head as most ball heads have a notch on the side to move it to that position.

PS: I also have the indian gimbal head but I cant see that working for macros/panaromas. Does anyone have any experience on the contrary?

Thanks
Manish
 
mansy_d said:
Hello

I am looking for a simple macro and landscape photography head. I have a 50D and a Canon 17-55 and a Sigma 90mm macro lens.
I am hoping to have a small form-factor ball head - any suggestions?
If the head has markings for stitched panaromas that will be helpful.

I have the manfrotto 055cxpro3 tripod.

One other question about this tripod, is there anyway I can reduce the centre column on this tripod - I know I can quickly make it horizontal but to begin with, if I had a shorter column - I could well live with it. For portrial shots, I could then move the camera to portriat by moving it on the ball head as most ball heads have a notch on the side to move it to that position.

PS: I also have the indian gimbal head but I cant see that working for macros/panaromas. Does anyone have any experience on the contrary?

Thanks
Manish
Click to expand...

Hi

Manfrotto do a short centre column, might be just what you're looking for.

See here.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-055xccsb-short-centre-column-black/p10998

nirofo.
 
I have the Giotto MH-1002 ballhead and love it. http://www.amazon.com/Giotto-MH-1002-Compact-Independent-Panning/dp/B0000BZLK7

I don't have any heavy lenses (my heaviest is my Sigma 105mm macro lens) so this works fine for me. I believe this ballhead is rated for 6.6 pounds, and my camera plus my macro lens is ~2.25 pounds.

For the tripod issue, someone makes an attachment for the manfrotto tripods that replaces the center column with something that has no real height. It's just a plastic piece about 3 inches tall that inserts where the center column goes and has a screw on it for attaching the ballhead.

I'll look at mine tonight and see if it has manufacturer/model info on it. If so, I'll post that here tomorrow.
 
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