Tripod head/legs compatibility

[RyanLilly]

Well With a new camera and a few lenses hopefully in my near future, I was considering Tripod heads. Now to begin with I have a few tripods that are probably overkill, But I have them so I would like to use them.

Right Now I have 2 Bogen 3068 legs. Like these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5324-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3068_3068_Universal_Video_Tripod.html

with 2 116 heads(same as the 3066 heads)
http://www.blackswampaudio.com/Inventory/Full_Description.php?recordID=303

An One 3068 Dolly.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5323-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3067_3067_Heavy_Duty_Cine_Video.html
Now I got all of this stuff in a trade for next to nothing, Really I traded cash value of $8.25, so a real good deal. The Camera mounting plates were missing from the tripod heads when I got them so I have mounted a smaller quickrelease plate mechanism to one of the heads. Seen as these tripods are for full size pro video or 16mm film cameras the original plates would have been way to huge to leave mounted to an SLR anyway.

The one limitation to these is pan/tilt only with no axis to move to a portrait mode, I have to mount the camera sideways and utilize the tilt.

I was thingking of putting a new ball head on one, I like the grip action ones, but I need to know I these heads will work on my 3068 legs. And the combination of a 40d and 70-200 f2.8L Is getting close to the rated weight limits of the grip action ball heads I have seen, are there some heavier duty models?

This I the Grip action head I was looking at:
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N
Thanks for and advice or info, If all else fails I guess I can call Bogen.

 

[soylentgreen]

I have the 322RC2 grip ballhead on my 190XPROB. I went with it over the 3265 for the weight issue. You can re-arrange the mount so it is vertical and it can support up to 11lbs. Holds my 40D and 70-200 f/2.8 L IS which weighs in at just shy of 6lbs.

 

[RyanLilly]

Sweet, thats what I was looking for. I'm glad to here that you can use the grip veridically, I didn't want to be stuck with horizontal. Vertical seemed more convenient. Do you know what size the thread size for the head mount is, The 3068 legs I have use a 3/8" it did not specify thread count though.

Damn, I just looked on B&H, the Tripod/Legs set that I have. cost $800 new, and I have 2 of each.(granted mine are well used and the head is a discontinued model, replaced with the 516)
And My dolly brings another couple hundred!

 

[soylentgreen]

It uses the standard 3/8 thread. You can get an additional mounting bracket to have both options on the ball-head at the same time if you do not want to unscrew it everytime. It's like $30 bucks with the QR plate.

 

[RyanLilly]

Great, Thanks for the info. I think that I will add that to my list. It will be nice to keep one regular pan tilt and one ball head. And my dolly will be great to roll around when using a 50mm, As if I have any room to roll around in! :lmao:

 

[kundalini]

I have the Bogen 055XPRO legs and the 488RC4 Ball Head. Apart from the weight I had not anticipated for on the trails, couldn't be happier,

 

[RyanLilly]

I just looked up the 488rc4 as well as the grip head I was thinking about; both look good. The 488RC4 has a much higher weight rating, but the grip seems so convenient, but actually I have never used a ball head before, so I'll stroll down to the local camera shop as see what they have on the display floor, so I can see what I like.

Yeah I don't think I'll be doing much hiking with the monster tripods I have. Although I do have a really light crappy one that I gave to my brother if I needed it.