Bill Caulfeild-Browne
Well-known member
Glad it's not the Fraternal Union of the Cube....
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!
IMO for such a small view camera like the WRS the cube is the last head I would think about. What is such a camera for? To be leveled. You don't need to turn the camera for vertical composition as you just turn the back. You don't need to tilt the camera as you use shift. You may need a pano base, of course. The perfect head for the WRS IMO is Cambo's new leveling base that fits to the camera as a consecutive extension. It's small, light, rock solid and a real joy to work with as it is easy and fast to level the camera. Using the cube with the WRS is like using a crane to put on a hat.I really liked the idea behind the cube but decided I would try the Manfrotto 410 first. At $165 on amazon with overnight shipping for another $4 it seemed like a no brainer. If it didn't work I would return it and ante up for the cube.
Jack, this is a manifesto for the WRS leveling base to use with the WRS ;-)Guys, as Tim Ashley can tell you after I pounded the point home, if you want the absolute sharpest images possible it's all about RIGIDITY of the ENTIRE imaging system...
1) The higher you are above the top plate of your tripod, the less rigid you are due to increased load moment on the imaging system;
2) The weaker or more wobbly your tripod legs are, the less rigid the entire imaging system will be, and the greater the effect of #1 will be;
3) The slightest bit of play, slop or "sponge" (as with cork or rubber based plates) in how the plates mate to the camera or clamps mate to the tripod head, the less rigid the entire imaging system will be and the greater the effect #1 will have on the overall system.
None of this is saying the 405/410 are not good solutions, they are decent alternatives, especially for those that use a tripod less often. But FWIW, I went there BEFORE I bought the Cube too and also because of cost --- and take it from me, the Cube is in a entirely different league on overall rigidity.
Cheers,
In this case you still can use the tripod legs (but why not use shift - this is what it is all about). That's - in this case - a bit more fiddly, but you won't do it often... more often you'd like to have the camera leveled (why than buy a WRS?).Thomas:
A leveling base is super if you never need to point your camera up or down -- but in landscape, you are often aiming a camera at a significant downward (and sometimes even a moderately upward) angle depending on subject.
Try bothIn this case you still can use the tripod legs (but why not use shift - this is what it is all about).
What Jack says is true, and that's the bad news because it is expensive news.Guys, as Tim Ashley can tell you after I pounded the point home on him, if you want the absolute sharpest images possible it's all about RIGIDITY of the ENTIRE imaging system...
1) The higher you are above the top plate of your tripod, the less rigid you are due to increased load moment on the imaging system;
2) The weaker or more wobbly your tripod legs are, the less rigid the entire imaging system will be, and the greater the deleterious effects of #1 above will be;
3) The slightest bit of play, slop or "sponge" (as with cork or rubber based plates) in how the plates mate to the camera or clamps mate to the tripod head, the less rigid the entire imaging system will be and the greater the negative effect #1 will have on the overall system.
None of this is saying the 405/410 are not good solutions, they are decent alternatives, especially for those that use a tripod infrequently. But FWIW, I went there BEFORE I bought the Cube too and also because of cost --- and take it from me, the Cube (and possibly the Chinese knock-off) is a full step ahead for overall system rigidity.
Cheers,
30°?? Motivs like this I actually shoot with my Contax on a Gitzo 3series head... the WRS is virtually always leveled.Try both
If you try to use your tripod legs to point your camera at a downward angle of say 30 degrees, all of a sudden you no longer have a tripod, but a monopod with two rear arms -- try it out and you'll see immediately it won't work.
well, as to leveling this is what a leveling base is all about. You'll certainly have no advantage with the cube over the WRS leveling base regarding leveling. I don't have to worry about tripod legs as well... only in the very rare cases I'd like to point the camera slightly.I use a Cube for my WRS and couldn't think of a more friendly head. I don't have to worry about my tripod legs, all I do is place the WRS on the Cube and within a very short couple of seconds I'm completely leveled.
are you closer to the center with the cube or with the WRS leveling base? ->Also remember the higher you are from the center of the tripod the less stable you're apt to be and this is the primary reason I don't have and dislike any type of center column.
the contrary! don't forget that you don't use ANY clamp with the leveling base. You mount the "whole" camera directly on the tripod!!The Cube is about the same height as the Cambo leveling base and probably just as rigid when zeroed -- so I'd agree there is no advantage to the Cube if always shooting in a leveled or zeroed position...
agreed:thumbup: whenever I am near your region I am going to Email you ;-)Howeverbut -- and not that it's particularly important -- I am willing to bet you a steak dinner that I can level my camera on my Cube to dead zero faster than you can do it with your Cambo leveling head
Bill, that's fine! Question is (initially brought up by "etrump") is there anything else that works for the WRS if you don't want or don't have to spend the money? The cube is certainly not the answer to all questions and the very best solution for all purposes (but I know what you are going to reply )Well, I'm so in love with THE CUBE that my comments need to be censored.
well done pleaseYou are on for the steak!