Geared Heads - Help Please

[oschebell]

Hi everyone, this is to all you architectural/interior photographers out there: I'm wanting to upgrade from my current PhotClam ballhead to a geared head for interiors/architectural work and need some advice or reviews.

As much as I would love something like the RRS or Arcaswiss cube I can not justify $1500+ for a head. Other options I know of are the Manfrotto 405 and cheaper smaller 410. Has anyone used or owned either of these?

Any other suggestions? Is it really worth spending triple the amount on the cube style ones?

Thankyou! -Owen

 

[Overread]

How much weight are you putting on the geared head? For most applications the weight of your system is going to determine which of the geared heads is best to go for as, whilst working within their weight tolerances, they are all very capable; however if you start putting much to heavy systems onto the lighter targeted heads like the Manfrotto Junior then you might well see problems that the more heavy duty heads won't experience.

 

[oschebell]

It will pretty much just be holding a Canon 1ds2 and a 24mm ts-e.

 

[Overread]

Manfrotto Junior Geared head should be more than enough to hold that stable without problems. Put a good set of legs underneath and you'll be fine.

The upper level cubes might have some slightly finer controls from what I recall reading, but they are overkill for what you have.