Tripod Tribulations #Not Really

BananaRepublic · Apr 1, 2015

Hi,

I have a quick question about my tripod, it's more of where should I be looking.

I have a Manfrotto 055XB pod with a 701HDV head, it's on extended lone from my brother whom used to use it.

Any who as the head is limited to landscape and its centre column limits the pods ground clearance I would like to get a head thats more versatile, i.e. portrait + clearance. I do a mix a photography, i'm not a pro and I do like astro.

So I would like to make use of the pod rather then buying another were should I begin, I want to stay away from the joystick type which tend to break in my experience. I've looked at the Manfrotto site but I'm not sure were to begin and I am not going to flush the HDV.

Thanks
BR

D-B-J · Apr 1, 2015

It sounds like you really need an arca-swiss compatible head and an L-Bracket. The l bracket allows you to go from portrait to landscape orientation in seconds. In terms of the center column, there's little you can do. I'm not sure, but have you checked to see if manfrotto makes a short center column? I know companies like Induro do, and allow you to get as low as possible.

Jake

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BananaRepublic · Apr 1, 2015

The bracket looks to be a cumbersum thing would you have unhook and re attach to make a plain change?

For instance I can't do something like this

Would this require a whole different pod? Or would I be better of with just a standard multi plain head.

D-B-J · Apr 1, 2015

You simply need an arca swiss compatible head.

Using a Really Right Stuff L-Bracket and an arca swiss Monoball. I was about 8" off the surface I was shooting on.

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KenC · Apr 1, 2015

I have a slightly different Manfrotto which has a reversible center column. I don't know if the one you have can do this, but if so, and if you really need to get lower than about a foot and a half, you can simply take the column out and put it back upside down.