I'll second Jay's recommendation of the Bogen 3021 Pro. I also bought
it because of its ability to get low to the ground and also have the
center column go horizontal. Mine also came with an extra center column
which is very stubby for use close to the ground. I don't know if
that's a standard item these days. Usually not needed though because of
the ability to run the normal length column horizontally. I don't
usually pack it around with me in the woods but after 10 years it still
looks and operates like new. Unlike the Bogen heads discussed below.
the tripod itself is a very nice piece of very rugged equipment.
After buying the tripod, money for heads was scarce. So, I bought a
Bogen 486RC2 ball head with QR plate and a Bogen 3030 3-way pan/tilt
head with the same QR system. Both of them work OK but are difficult to
position precisely. The 3-way head is not precision machined and has a
jerky sort of motion on at least one axis. The ball head doesn't have a
friction drag and also tends to shift position very slightly when the
ball is tightened. Not much but just enough to be exasperating if
you're trying to position the camera accurately. And the Bogen QR
system (one of many incompatible types they produce) is not a model of
exquisite engineering or machining. It will hold your gear if used
carefully. It might dump it on the ground if used carelessly.
My ideal would be to add a Bogen 3025 geared head which many on this
list have praised but that's $200 by itself. The other thing I'd like
is a high quality ball head such as AcraTech or Really Right Stuff or
similar. I'm stopped not only by the cost but also lack of knowledge of
which would be the best to buy and why.
So I struggle on with the two so-so heads that I have. But one of these
days I'll add a head or two that complements the tripod. I note that
some Chinese suppliers of (apparently good quality) tripods and heads
are showing up on ebay. Perhaps one of these can offer good performance
at a more affordable cost.
Chuck Norcutt
Jay Drew wrote:
>
> I use a Bogen 3021 pro and I got it because it could get very low to the
> ground and the center column can go horizontal, both features that are
> useful to macro. But the tripod itself will almost wipe out your 200
> budget. I use an Acratech ball head and it by itself takes more than your
> budget.
>
> I also obtained - by the wise advice of members of this band of sages and
> nitwits - a Bogen 410 geared head. It too by itself will decimate that
> limit. But it is great for macro work and works very well in dialing in a
> level horizon on wide angle.
>
> I'd say sell some blood or cut back on the Starbucks coffee to up your
> budget.
>
> And this is official OM content because I use an OM bodies on my tripod.
>
> Jay
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
|