Xmas pressy .................. advice?

[chazza]

Parents in law have asked what I wanted for max £150.00 ..... which is very nice of them ...

As that can't get me the 911 turbo I was after, I am looking at a new tripod head possibly, so thought of
the manfrotto 410 junior geared head maybe?
Anyone got one of these? Good/Bad ?
Or any other ideas within the budget as I am stumped at the moment? :bonk:

 

[squishy]

what do you plan to use it for?

I've had a play with one at a show, and it's fantastic for what it is.

super precise

But useless for anything other than landscape or macro (or anything else that is still). I know people using these with an MPE-65mm, and it really is golden for something like that where incredibly precise framing is critical.

As a mostly macro photographer, I really want one of these.

 

[woof woof]

I have one of these.

It's heavy and bulky and not too well designed or made IMVHO. The knobs are a pain to use and seem to be poorly designed and positioned and they can be stiff in use and then release all of a sudden so get ready to stub your fingers and swear at it a lot in cold weather.

On the positive side it is possible to get the precise positioning that you just can not get with a ball head so if that's what you want to do I don't think there's a lot of choice.

 

[antc]

what do you plan to use it for?

I've had a play with one at a show, and it's fantastic for what it is.

super precise

But useless for anything other than landscape or macro (or anything else that is still). I know people using these with an MPE-65mm, and it really is golden for something like that where incredibly precise framing is critical.

As a mostly macro photographer, I really want one of these.

I totally agree with the above. I just purchased the 410 back in October and have used it a couple of times for landscape work and also once or twice for macro work. In my opinion its well made, easy to use and incredibly precise. I love the fact you can disengage the gear, roughly position it then fine tune using one of the adjust knobs.

I will concede its quite bulky/heavy but for me thats not an issue. It is however the best tripod head I have owned and definately the most well made.

 

[woof woof]

No awkwardly positioned sticky controls and stubbed fingers then? Guess mine is a one off.