> There are also variations under the same product number. A
> good example is the 3047 head. It has been around for a
> couple decades. Handle length and materials have changed
> numerous times as have the contours. Later ones feature a
> level or two. The basic design stays the same with a LOT of
> variations.
For some odd reason the oldest 3047 and the newest 3047 heads
seem to me to be the best. Mine, which is around 17 years old
(yikes!) is a mid-run example which appears to be an improvement
over the original, but is questionably so. Probably a little
more solid, but definitely not as nice as the newest design. I
almost bought one recently until I realized that I don't NEED a
new 3-way tripod head.
And that probably grouses me as much as anything. When looking
for quality 'pods, the Bogens/Manfrottos were identified to me
as "career tripods". As in, they'll last my entire career.
Well, I've since been infatuated with the carbon-fibor tripods
as well as the camo-green and black tripods. But the problem
is, I have absolutely no need for them because the old ones work
perfectly well and show no signs of letting me (or my cameras)
down. Not that I've babied them either--Joel will attest to
that. I swing them around, let them fall down on rocks,
whatever. As hard as I try, I just can't kill them through use
and moderate abuse. We won't even mention the destroyed
bulkhead in the overhead bin of a MD-11 from my 3001 during a
hard landing.
> Some of us old farts will remember advertisements featuring
> ol' Les sitting on top of a tripod. But I digress . . .
Thanks a lot. I was just starting to come to grips with
middle-age. :( I remember those advertisements well--probably
one reason why I ended up getting Bogens. When the camera store
owner demonstrated the same thing with a 3021 I was convinced.
> Bogen rep told me the guy who runs Manfrotto prides himself
> offering innovative products and believes in constant
> improvement of everything they sell, hence the plethora of
> choices and ongoing variations.
The problem with Bogen/Manfrotto is that they've been TOO
successful through the years. The products are common as dirt.
As such, there's a lack of respect to the actual quality level.
People think that Arca-Swiss or Gitzo is the cat's meow, but at
a certain point the improvements are incremental. My Manfrotto
ball-head is actually quite outstanding. I know the Arca-Swiss
is "better", but I also know that my Manfrotto is less
susceptable to problems with dirt, grime, grit and sand. If
(when) I get sand in the head, I don't freak out, I just go on
my merry way and once every few years a squirt some silicone
lubricant in things. Eventually the sand works itself out. :)
Just like my lenses with sand in the focusing helicoid. Would
you be comfortable with setting your $600 A-S ballhead down on
beachsand? I am with my Manfrottos.
What has really suprised me about Manfrotto products is the much
lower cost now than they were back around 1990 when I was
bulking up on supports. I spent a goodly amount on my Bogens.
Probably twice what I can buy any of the stuff for today--even
from bricks and morter stores where everything is inflated in
price. I think the Manfrottos provide the best
price/performance out there.
Yet, everytime I go into the camera store and look at that sweet
Arca-Swiss ballhead, I drool. Yes, I've got a serious case of
equipment envy when it comes to those things. Recently, when
Joel and I went did our Porcupines Zuikofest, we encountered a
couple other photographers that wore the uniform of the
"fine-art landscape photographer" crowd. They hauled around the
biggest and heaviest Gitzos with the fanciest Arca-Swiss heads.
They had more investment in their tripods than I did in my
entire camera bag. I waited until they left before I got out my
Manfrotto. :(
Some days I still feel like the kid in the school playground the
bullies pick on.
AG
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