Manfrotto - first thoughts
Discussion
Well the long-awaited 055 ProB arrived today with 141RC head. Hmm.
First impressions - smaller and lighter than I expected, but of course that's without the head! Leg locking lever, as expected. Leg angling (it has four angles) - awkward, and odd as they don't lock but flop down when you pick it up. It's very tall and stable at full stretch, which is the main reason why I chose it.
Spirit level - cool! - but it's on the legs, not the head, so not too helpful!
Centre column detaches and mounts horizontally - takes a while to achieve but is sturdy and handy to have. My Cullmann macro rail head is not as rigid, but can be angled as well.
141RC head - chunky but not a great design IMHO. Stumpy little levers give poor control and the pan movement is stiff. Tilt movement is jerky when the camera is mounted - maybe these will get better with use?
QR plate is good as it doesn't need a coin to fasten it to the camera, but the safety-locking pin seems to be a needless complication. The camera release lever seems designed for a left-hander, and the combination of the three axis levers sticking out at all angles make it bulky to stow.
Overall finish is not 100% as I'd expected from Manfrotto.
So - a sturdy bastard but not as user-friendly as the Cullmann and slower to use. I will keep it for studio work and fixed location work like conferences, but for speed and ease of use when I have to run around - like the wedding this Saturday - the Cullmann wins.
First impressions - smaller and lighter than I expected, but of course that's without the head! Leg locking lever, as expected. Leg angling (it has four angles) - awkward, and odd as they don't lock but flop down when you pick it up. It's very tall and stable at full stretch, which is the main reason why I chose it.
Spirit level - cool! - but it's on the legs, not the head, so not too helpful!
Centre column detaches and mounts horizontally - takes a while to achieve but is sturdy and handy to have. My Cullmann macro rail head is not as rigid, but can be angled as well.
141RC head - chunky but not a great design IMHO. Stumpy little levers give poor control and the pan movement is stiff. Tilt movement is jerky when the camera is mounted - maybe these will get better with use?
QR plate is good as it doesn't need a coin to fasten it to the camera, but the safety-locking pin seems to be a needless complication. The camera release lever seems designed for a left-hander, and the combination of the three axis levers sticking out at all angles make it bulky to stow.
Overall finish is not 100% as I'd expected from Manfrotto.
So - a sturdy bastard but not as user-friendly as the Cullmann and slower to use. I will keep it for studio work and fixed location work like conferences, but for speed and ease of use when I have to run around - like the wedding this Saturday - the Cullmann wins.
'If this tripod was a car, it'd be a C-Class Merc'www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=208879&f=109&h=0
Told you so
but did you listen to your other half ? :affectsBrian'smotherMandy'svoice: No, of course not ! Here I am, slaving over a hot keyboard, pouring my heart out and giving you the benefits of my experience - all free, gratis and for nothing. Do you listen ? Do you care ? Hah !! Well now see where its got you Mr. Nikon knows best ! :OKrantoverreturnstocomparativesanity:
Seriously though, it shouldn't be stiff or jerky in operation even when new so it might be worth checking and seeing about a replacement if you've got a faulty one. Legs shouldn't flop down either but stay in position unless moved by gentle pressure. A tool is supplied that will tighten up the various nuts and bolts so maybe you need to tweak it a bit ? Finish should not be flawed, I'm now starting to wonder if you've been sold something of second quality pretending to be the real thing...
>> Edited by te51cle on Monday 10th October 20:34
The Evil half said:
I'd avoid the 141RC head as although its virtually a standard I found it a bit awkward to use, the 390RC2 would be better.
Told you so
but did you listen to your other half ? :affectsBrian'smotherMandy'svoice: No, of course not ! Here I am, slaving over a hot keyboard, pouring my heart out and giving you the benefits of my experience - all free, gratis and for nothing. Do you listen ? Do you care ? Hah !! Well now see where its got you Mr. Nikon knows best ! :OKrantoverreturnstocomparativesanity: Seriously though, it shouldn't be stiff or jerky in operation even when new so it might be worth checking and seeing about a replacement if you've got a faulty one. Legs shouldn't flop down either but stay in position unless moved by gentle pressure. A tool is supplied that will tighten up the various nuts and bolts so maybe you need to tweak it a bit ? Finish should not be flawed, I'm now starting to wonder if you've been sold something of second quality pretending to be the real thing...
>> Edited by te51cle on Monday 10th October 20:34
The Evil half said:
I'd avoid the 141RC head as although its virtually a standard I found it a bit awkward to use, the 390RC2 would be better.
You'll be surprised to learn that I did read your post
but the 390RC is a video head so as far as I can discern it doesn't have a 3-way (portrait) function. So whilst I like the long arm aspect of said head, I'll be a bit bolloxed if I want to tip the camera on its side for those funky vertical-shaped shots. I've been through every Manfrotto head and there's nothing that fits the bill. Clearly I will have to get my research boys on the job at 6.00am tomorrow to perfect the 'Simpo Head' - carbon fibre, 5-way action with fly-by-wire controls, sculptured thumb grip and HUD linked to visor display... 'Think in Russian'...
The Evil half said:
Finish should not be flawed, I'm now starting to wonder if you've been sold something of second quality pretending to be the real thing...
No, it's real but the finish on the metal castings is not what I was expecting from a top maker, and quite a few bits of the head are plastic. The Cullman is not as robust or steady, but IMHO shows more thoughtful design.
Maybe I need one of those 'Cube' heads...
The 390RC2 is a 3-way head. There's a little knob on the head to lock it in horizontal, vertical or anywhere in a 90 degree arc between them. Its not quite as flexible as the 141RC but suitable for most things. Picture from the apallingly slow Manfrotto site.
Interesting about the plastic bits, my 141RC is all metal and rubber. Must have reduced production costs recently.
I'll go and put my head in a bucket now. Would you like me to do that ? No, don't answer...
Interesting about the plastic bits, my 141RC is all metal and rubber. Must have reduced production costs recently.
I'll go and put my head in a bucket now. Would you like me to do that ? No, don't answer...
te51cle said:
The 390RC2 is a 3-way head. There's a little knob on the head
Hmm, you're right - yet the Warehouse Express site just calls it 'pan and tilt'. I think Manfrotto suffer from too many overlapping products and inadequate differentiation.
te51cle said:
Interesting about the plastic bits, my 141RC is all metal and rubber. Must have reduced production costs recently.
I'm interested too - I've just re-examined it and it all seems to be metal now. Evidently plastic-effect metal
or possibly the wine... but the base of the head and the leg-angle locking jobbies could be more nicely finished. I've just removed the locking lever for the pan action - I can't think I'll ever need to lock it - and it looks a bit less like an over-armed Dalek. Now I need to make the tilt lever twice as long, and the flip one can be a knob... bloody Italians!
>> Edited by simpo two on Monday 10th October 22:21
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