Suggestions for a really nice but lightweight tripod head.

EdBray

EdBray

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Edward Bray
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I have got a few tripods, I have an old but very heavy Manfrotto 055B with large 3 way Manfrotto head, I have an old Slik 88 whuch is not so heavy but is showing its age now (came with it's own head), I have a Benbo Mk1 with a large Redsnapper ball head and a few other smaller tripods.

I have just bought (well actually my wife has bought it for me for Christmas) a Velbon Sherpa CF530 Tripod. I would like suggestions for a lightweight but really nice quality head to fit it.

It must be:

Three way,
Have a quick release plate,
Have a bubble level (or better still more than one)
Be very smooth in operation (important)
Reasonably lightweight (although strong enough for a 1DMk3 and 300L f4 IS possibly with a converter)

Price not the major consideration but would prefer it to be less than £100.

Suggestions please?
 
Beats me. A nice smooth three-way head does not seem to exist! All of them seem to be crudely made, creep when tightened, small adjustments are not possible due to binding, the quick-release plates are clumsy, always generic and do not prevent your equipment from turning, etc. There are three-way heads with gearing which may lack some of the drawbacks, but I doubt it. I have looked long and hard to find a decent three-way head, bought quite a few over the years and always been disappointed with the quality.

If you require something smooth, pay what it takes (=considerably more than £100) to get a really good ballhead and Arca-type quick release plates for your equipment! You will never look back. There are many really good ballheads from RRS, Markins, ArcaSwiss and others to choose from.
 
Manfrotto Jnr geared head. I think it's the 405.

Just replaced my old pig iron manfrotto 3 way with one and it's great.
 
Thanks gents, I did a bit of research on my own too and decided in the end to buy both the Manfrotto Junior Geared Head MN410 which cost me £118 and a MN222 pistol grip for £56 (both from Amazon) which also got good reviews and they will be here tomorrow!

I will put the pistolgrip on the Benbo and the MN410 on the CF530. I've never really got on with the ballhead on the Benbo even though the Redsnapper Ballhead is cery smooth and very well made.
 
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