The great tripod & head thread!

[MGrayson]

Vieri,

I expect that I'll find that you are right and that the full size Novoflex is the minimum I can get away with. But I've also discovered that a tripod that stays at home is useless

Best,

Matt

 

[jotloob]

Yes, definately , it is Vieri . Mine will be here on Thusday as well .

 

[vieri]

OK, I'm in too. It'll be here next Tuesday. Yes Vieri, you're to blame. :ROTFL:

Joe

Yes, definately , it is Vieri . Mine will be here on Thusday as well .

Damn, I did it all wrong - I should have talked to Arca beforehand and got commissions! :banghead::ROTFL::ROTFL:

Seriously, I hope you'll enjoy it - it's a great little head, and works great to keep your bag light while keeping your camera rock solid :thumbup: What I really like, on top of all that, is the one-hand operation - makes working in the field so much easier!

Best,

Vieri

 

[vjbelle]

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

 

[thrice]

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

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

 

[dchew]

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

 

[Shashin]

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

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.

 

[D&A]

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)

 

[Geoff]

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

Yep - am interested to hear! Good luck!

 

[MGrayson]

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

Dan,

The fit and finish of the Novoflex tripods, panning heads, and plates is first rate, with many clever ideas dedicated to ease of use. But then I've never had a Gitzo failure, either. If I'd seen the Gitzo Series 1 Traveler before yesterday, I probably would have done that instead. I liked the idea of Novoflex's modular system, and it was - I keep using this word - an indulgence. But I needed something lighter than my 5 lb. Gitzo, and, the Novoflex system lets me put together a 3 lb. tripod that feels comparable to similar weight Gitzo or RRS, and a 2.5 lb. tripod with head that isn't as tall (no center column, although Novoflex makes a weird 4 inch extension), but has about the same flex as the Gitzo Traveler above. The monopod conversion for a single leg and the 5 inch legs for low shots or up-against-the-wall positioning are actually useful.

I'm not sure I answered your question, as I don't have enough hard usage with either system to make a judgement.

Best,

Matt

 

[MGrayson]

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

 

[Shashin]

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)

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.

 

[D&A]

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.

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.

As an aside, they always run this commercial on the radio for adoption of shelter pets and in this one advertisement they have a cat talking in a human voice saying " humans have all these cool toys...adopt a shelter pet".
Yep, this thread about this interesting head does reinforce the notion that we do indeed have cool toys .

Dave (D&A)

 

[dave.gt]

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

Matt,

Using the PO, which L-Plate works best with the H5D? Thanks!

 

[MGrayson]

Matt,

Using the PO, which L-Plate works best with the H5D? Thanks!

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

 

[jotloob]

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

:thumbup: Lucky you . My P0 will arrive mid next week .
I will then mount my minicube 60 (the aluminium one) and call the result : "jotloob's hybrid mini 60" .
Hahaha , can't wait .

 

[dave.gt]

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

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.

 

[MGrayson]

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.

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.gt]

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

Great tip, thank you so much!:thumbup:

 

[Shashin]

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 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.

But if you want one, I would hurry. I think we have sold half a dozen p0's on this thread in about a week already...and I ain't sellin' mine!