Does Manfrotto underrate its tripods? A 475 question...

eumenius · Jan 11, 2006

Hello friends,

today I managed an another lucky deal - bought this (http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/itemalone.php3?itemid=268) head in almost unused state for $35 only. So it looks like I need a good tripod to support this behemoth head and my 4x5 monorail Omega camera, with geared column of course - I'm so tired of adjusting legs! My 055B is way too flimsy for it, I tried it When I looked at Manfrotto site, I found a strange thing - though the 475 tripod (http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/2283?livid=69|70&idx=71) is rated for up to 12 kg, it's not explicitly recommended for LF! I have seen it in person, and it's very very sturdy and massive. So my question is: may I use 475 as a tripod for my LF system in studio and outdoors despite the recommendations of Manfrotto, and will it work with my super-duper ball head? In my mind comes "affirmative" on both topics, but maybe there's a hidden trap? Or maybe Manfrotto wants all LFers to buy their 161MKII huuuuge very expensive tripods, that can support up to 20 kg? Oh.

Cheers from Moscow,
Zhenya

bobfowler · Jan 11, 2006

I have a 3036 (discontinued, but replaced by the 475, and very much like it) and it can hold a 5X7 or 8X10 with NO problem. When you get into sticks that big, the choice of head is the limiting factor.

colrehogan · Jan 11, 2006

I have a 475 that I use outdoors all the time with a 3047 head and mount my Ansco 8x10 on it (camera = 12 lbs alone) plus whatever lens I happen to be using at the time. I use a 4 inch square QR plate with the 8x10.

eumenius · Jan 11, 2006

Bob, that's my own feelings about it - the 475 tripod looks like it can carry a small-sized elephant, at last And those Manfrotto guys rate it as a MF tripod... what MF camera do they have in mind, a loved by Ole Russian 30x40 wooden doghouse with 6x7 rollfilm back attached? The head is nice, though someone gives it a rap for its weight and some ball-stickiness they found. At least in my case it works fine, can be adjusted freely and easily under load, and I see no other alternatives for $35 around

bobfowler said:
I have a 3036 (discontinued, but replaced by the 475, and very much like it) and it can hold a 5X7 or 8X10 with NO problem. When you get into sticks that big, the choice of head is the limiting factor.

eumenius · Jan 11, 2006

Diane, that's the best proof of Manfrotto's indecent marketing - first they make a tripod that's able to support 8x10 with no problem, then they write it's for up to MF! Nice people, know their profit

colrehogan said:
I have a 475 that I use outdoors all the time with a 3047 head and mount my Ansco 8x10 on it (camera = 12 lbs alone) plus whatever lens I happen to be using at the time. I use a 4 inch square QR plate with the 8x10.

Kerik · Jan 11, 2006

My suggestion is to be very careful using a cheap ball head with a LF camera. I speak from (a bad) experience and I have that exact head. I much prefer geared heads now, like the Majestic for example.

eumenius · Jan 11, 2006

Thanks fo your precaution, Kerik - I understand what are you talking about, of course The geared head has its strong sides, of course - but currently my budget doesn't allow me to get one... I am so used to old Soviet tripods and heads, and that was a real nightmare - teaching me much about stability and fragility, so to say So if I use this head with just a reasonable caution (and it's not really all this cheap, today's price of Bogen for it is $235), I am sure to get nice pictures and keep my camera... er... in the air, not flopped over on hard stones

Ole · Jan 12, 2006

I use a ball head all the time. Mine is the biggest UniLoc head, which came into my posession by mistake: I bought a tripod, and had discussed heads with the salesman over the telephone. When I opened the packet there was a head in it too, although I only paid for the tripod. I'm honest, but not that honest!

It even holds the "doghouse" safely, I'm more afraid of the tripod breaking than the head slipping.

Donald Miller · Jan 12, 2006

Kerik said:
My suggestion is to be very careful using a cheap ball head with a LF camera. I speak from (a bad) experience and I have that exact head. I much prefer geared heads now, like the Majestic for example.

I second Kerik on this. I bought a Majestic when I went to 12X20. I use it on everything now. I just wouldn't feel real comfortable hanging everything on a ball head.

The Majestics show up on Ebay from time to time and are not unreasonably priced.

colrehogan · Jan 12, 2006

Donald,
What is the model number for this head?

Lee Shively · Jan 12, 2006

I used to have a 3036 that is the same as the 475. It was actually too massive for use with the relatively lightweight 4x5 field camera I was using at the time so I sold it. It will support a lot of weight.

I also currently have the ballhead you gave the link to although I don't have a large format camera currently. The head is also massive and should support just about any camera you're willing to lift to attach. The only thing I dislike about this head is that it uses lubricant on that bigass ball. That makes it kind of messy and not as smooth in operation as some of the more expensive heads. I do like the handle better than the knobs on other heads.

eumenius · Jan 12, 2006

Oh Lee, today I was in the shop, finally buying a 475 tripod... guess what I've seen there? The same ballhead as I have, the same controls, the very same catalogue numbers, but... the ball is made from something like a phenolic resin! And my head's ball is full metal, very nicely chromed and polished. Is it an another example of Manfrotto's cowardice? Really, I can't get it when the same catalogue # products are sold in two fashions, with a completely different working part - of course I'd never buy a ballhead with plastic ball! The store managers don't know if this head was available in metal-ball variety, they said they were selling only the ones with plastic ball. Now I understand why my head lacks this stick-start quality described in many reviews around the net...

Does Manfrotto underrate its tripods? A 475 question...

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