Manfrotto 410 head with gripped 5D3 and 70-200 2.8 II

[Number45]

Hmm, I'm hoping I'm doing something stupid here. I had the 410 geared head delivered today (needed something sturdy, my ball head "settles" after tightening), and I've just tried to mount the above lens/camera combo with the plate on the tripod mount of the lens.

Problem is the grip on the camera prevents means that it won't sit on the plate at all with the plate attached to the lens. Anyone else have this combo that can confirm I'm being stupid? The lens, grip and head are all pretty new additions. In this case would it be OK to attach the plate to the camera instead of the lens?

EDIT: Mounting on the camera is out for obvious (stability) reasons. It's bouts of stupidity like that make me hope I've missed something obvious.

I guess the only likely alternative then is to remove the grip when I'm using that combo.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

For landscape or architectural work you don't really need grip (I suppose this is why you bought this head...)

Its a heavy and long lens. I wouldn't advise mounting on camera.

 

[dinners]

I had a similar problem with another manfrotto head and gripped body when mounting by the tripod collar.

I couldn't mount in landscape but if I twisted the lens collar so the camera was portrait, it would click into place and I'd then turn the camera and lens to landscape before tightening the collar.

With the 410 I assume it's the rubber knobs that are in the way of the grip so I suspect that wouldn't really help.

Could you not introduce a plate between the head and lens foot so the combo could sit further back ?

 

[LostInSpace]

I converted my 410 to Acra-Swiss with a Hejnar plate. In combination with a Hejnar AS plate on a MK1 70-200 2.8 and gripped 7D it can be mounted to the converted 410. Granted not a cheap solution, but works like a charm.

 

[Nod]

I've seen a spacer that screws into a tripod thread and sets the whole rig high enough to clear the knobs, screws etc. for use with a grip. Personally, I would simply remove the grip as suggested above!

 

[Number45]

Thanks for the answers and suggestions, folks. For now I think I'll have to just make sure the grip is removed when I need to tripod mount this combo, longer term I'll look at seeing if I can convert or raise it as suggested.

It also occurred to me that a monopod might be a viable solution - I guess I'll have to see how often (and for what purposes) I use the combo. I expect most of the time this head will be used with a wider lens anyway.