Great to see you here. Join our insightful photographic forum today and start tapping into a huge wealth of photographic knowledge. Completing our simple registration process will allow you to gain access to exclusive content, add your own topics and posts, share your work and connect with other members through your own private inbox! And don’t forget to say hi!
OK, I'm in too. It'll be here next Tuesday. Yes Vieri, you're to blame. :ROTFL:
Joe
Damn, I did it all wrong - I should have talked to Arca beforehand and got commissions! :banghead::ROTFL::ROTFL:Yes, definately , it is Vieri . Mine will be here on Thusday as well .
Dan,
I have the same Gitzo and use it with a cube. The Novoflex setups are half the weight, and not as stiff. But I've not had a single frame ruined due to tripod movement. My use has not been that extensive, and didn't include long lenses, but a Leica S isn't a tiny camera and its lenses are heavy.
I'm taking the 5 section travel legs and a P0 head on a walking trip. I'll let you know how it works out.
Matt
Have you had any reason to suspect that the p0 is not well designed? I have had my p0 for six years. I carry my camera on top of it and the head has taken a few spills. I am not sure a 6lb load is significant for a head rated at 44lb. I have found no reviews indicating this is anything but a well designed ball head. I do not understand your caution.I've already commented very positively about this head as I use it almost exclusively with my 'new' Gitzo series 2 traveler. My only slight concern is the longevity of the tightening mechanism. My camera/lens/back combination weighs about 6 lbs and for short excursions I like to leave the camera on the tripod and rest it on my shoulder. I'm careful to keep the camera/tripod assembly fairly vertical but even so I have to keep the ball tightening mechanism fairly tight to keep the camera from inadvertently moving. Lots of camera/lens combinations weigh in at 6 lbs or more so this caution should be of interest to many. Time will tell.....
Victor
Yep - am interested to hear! Good luck!I pick up my P0 Hybrid this afternoon. Thank you all for the info. It will be interesting to see how I bond with this thing.
Dave
Dan,Hi Matt,
Thank you very much for your insights!
How does the fit & finish compare? Do you have any reason to believe the longevity of the Novoflex would be less than the ocean systematic?
Cheers,
Dan
Dave, I shoot with a Pentax 645D. That second tripod socket for portrait orientation takes care of that.I recall reading somewhere that a few reported some minor issues using the p0 in portrait mode with certain camera/lens combinations in conjunction with interference near where the head attaches to the tripod and/or top of the legs. Unfortunately I don't recall the specifics, so if anyone has any feedbacks or concerns regarding this, would love to know more. Also looking forward to those newly purchasing the p0 and their experience with difference camera bodies & lenses. Vieri, very nice write-up, thank you! :thumbs:
Dave (D&A)
Thanks for all the info Will, greatly appreciated. What? You shoot with a 645D? No kidding? LOL (as if I didn't know). In all seriousness, I use two seperate RRS dovetail plates for the 646Z as many do, so the p0 head shouldn't be an issue but with some lighter cameras like of the Leica M series or a Nikon DSLR, where I sometimes leave off their L bracket (for a variety of reasons), and just use a single Arca Swiss plate under the body, I wonder in those situations if I might run into some difficulty putting camera/lens into portrait mode by tilting head as a few other described. I guess it all depends on the camera body and lens being used.Dave, I shoot with a Pentax 645D. That second tripod socket for portrait orientation takes care of that.
But it is a compact head. Yes, I can see moving a camera to a portrait orientation might have a problem depending on the tripod design and camera size. However, when I mount the 645D with the head tilted 90 degrees to take vertical panoramas, the camera rotates 180 degrees without interference. I also have no problem with a Fuji X Pro2 or a Nikon D800 with TS lenses. But as Matt points out, an L plate is an option, especially if you are going to take advantage of the panning head.
I'm going to ask the mods to move this camera pornography image to the NSFW forum :ROTFL:
My Cube has taken more damage from falls than the P0 has. The Cube has exposed knobs whose axles get bent and have to be hammered straight with a rock to keep turning.
One great feature of the P0 is that when you loosen the ball, you are naturally supporting the camera, so it never flops dangerously.
For portrait mode, I always use an L plate. I hate cameras hanging off the side of the head.
-- Matt
I'm sorry, I have no experience with the big Hasselblads. The three RRS L-plates I've used - Leica SL, Canon 1DsII, Leica S, have positioned the beasts securely in both orientations, so I would trust them first.Matt,
Using the PO, which L-Plate works best with the H5D? Thanks!
:thumbup: Lucky you . My P0 will arrive mid next week .I pick up my P0 Hybrid this afternoon. Thank you all for the info. It will be interesting to see how I bond with this thing.
Dave
Thanks, Matt, apologies for phrasing the question incorrectly, actually that was the answer I was looking for... RRS L-Plates on the PO. I had one once before on my Nikon D bodies and I know they work fine with the H5D, I just didn't want to be stuck with only using the Arca one, although it may be as good or better.I'm sorry, I have no experience with the big Hasselblads. The three RRS L-plates I've used - Leica SL, Canon 1DsII, Leica S, have positioned the beasts securely in both orientations, so I would trust them first.
--Matt
Just make sure you have the old-style Arca clamp and not the new mini one. Or replace it with a Novoflex or RRS clamp. Then you'll be fine with RRS L-plates.Thanks, Matt, apologies for phrasing the question incorrectly, actually that was the answer I was looking for... RRS L-Plates on the PO. I had one once before on my Nikon D bodies and I know they work fine with the H5D, I just didn't want to be stuck with only using the Arca one, although it may be as good or better.
Great tip, thank you so much!:thumbup:Just make sure you have the old-style Arca clamp and not the new mini one. Or replace it with a Novoflex or RRS clamp. Then you'll be fine with RRS L-plates.
--Matt
Dave, I think it is more to do with the tripod design. The p0 is a very compact head. If you look at Veiri's image, you can see how a very broad tripod platform could interfere with a camera if the head is tilted 90 degrees. My Manfrotto, which you can see page 2 of this thread, has a much more compact platform (it also has that legendary 645D you have heard so much about ). I have used a D800 with a 45mm T/S lens on that in portrait with no problems. My X Pro2 is about the size of a Leica M, and I have not problems mounting that in portrait. If you are thinking about the hybrid version with the two goniometers on top, it would be even less of a problem, as the camera would be further from the ball.In all seriousness, I use two seperate RRS dovetail plates for the 646Z as many do, so the p0 head shouldn't be an issue but with some lighter cameras like of the Leica M series or a Nikon DSLR, where I sometimes leave off their L bracket (for a variety of reasons), and just use a single Arca Swiss plate under the body, I wonder in those situations if I might run into some difficulty putting camera/lens into portrait mode by tilting head as a few other described. I guess it all depends on the camera body and lens being used.