A question about a Manfrotto tripod

<p>Hi friends: I got a Manfrotto 190XPRROB as a gift for my birthday. But I got just the legs. I need a head for it. My camera is a D700 and my longest lens is a 80-400. This is my first tripod and I do not have a clue about what head (ballhead?) is the best for me. Any advice please</p>

<p>I have a 168 which ive used for ages with 35mm, medium format and large format cameras. It has been great and now use with my D700. The equivalent these days is something like a 498.<br>

The only time I wished I had something different was when I was using large format when i used to spend ages framing a shot and a geared head would have been better.<br>

Ball sockets are definitely my suggested type for most photography - if you are going to specialise in macro then maybe consider a small geared head or focussing rail. Ive never figured out pan and tilt designs - manfrotto do some nice ones but nowhere near as easy and fluent to use as a ballhead. £50-£70 should get you a nice one new. They are so well built its possible to pickup used.<br>

Manfrotto build is also good enough to make the quick release plates work OK - not mandatory but if you like the look of a QR model then it adds some flexibility without any trade-offs apart from a bit of extra weight.<br>

One bit of advice - if you get saltwater on it (and mine has spent ages in the sea) then rinse it off when you get back or a couple of years later you can get corrosion problems.</p>

<p>I use A Kirk ballhead (BH-3) w/quick release . A friend has a manfrotto pistol grip head. I tried it. NO THANKS!!! Heavy lenses causes it to slip. He needs it because of a hand disability & I fully understand & respect his reasoning for liking it. Purchasing a high quality ballhead or whatever type of head you prefer, the first time will ultimately save you money because if you don't buy quality the first time, you'll end up buying it later anyways & will then have spent $ on 2 heads. Buy a good one & you'll only have to buy it once. Most professional photographers prefer & use a ballhead for a reason. The best ones are by, & in no particular order: Kirk, Really Right Stuff, Arca Swiss, Markins, Burzynski & Acratech. Here's a link to some good info on all of them: <a href="http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/ballhead/">http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/ballhead/</a></p>

<p>Knowing your budget would be nice...<br /> If you intend to use the tripod regularly and often, I suggest to invest in a Arca-Swiss-type Quick Release clamp and to get an L-bracket for your camera (as well as plates for each of your lenses that have a tripod collar). This won't be cheap but well worth the investment IMO. I went through the scenario that Ron described with one Manfrotto ballhead and one pan-tilt, then a Manfrotto pistol grip and now I am on a Giottos ball (which is sufficient for what I use it for). Would have saved money had I purchased a good ballhead to begin with. But expect to spend, with QR clamp, around $400 for a good one. Personally, I would pick one of the Acratechs.<br /> With regard to the 80-400 - if this is the Nikon version, then you might want to consider replacing the tripod collar with one from Kirk or RRS. For that lens on a D700, I consider the 190 leg set to be borderline already...</p>

<p>I will second Dieter's recommendation. Get a big high-quality ball head. Yes it they are expensive, but consider that your ball-head will last a lot longer than your camera will (I am on my 4th camera body using my Arca-Swiss ballhead and I don't upgrade cameras often). Get a high-quality quick-release like Really-Right-Stuff or Kirk. I put together a tripod and quick release presentation for my local club. Some of it might be out-of-date, but the concepts still apply.<br /><a href="http://www.suncoastcameraclub.org/Tips/Tripods.pdf">http://www.suncoastcameraclub.org/Tips/Tripods.pdf</a></p>

<p>Certainly one must at least<em> consider</em> the ball heads from Really Right Stuff. Anyway, read up to get better informed about your questions from their web site. They are a well known as the most trusted tripod support people and can get you fixed up wherever you live.<br>

Their products allow considerable tailoring and customizing as you will see. Give a look anyway.<br>

<em>Not the only game in town,</em> as noted above, I hasten to add my affirmation of that point. Top dollar,no bargain basement place. Made in California, good alloys, thoughtful designs..<br>

But then you cry at outset and enjoy the stuff a long time with heads and plates. You got nice 'pod legs, friend, so you are lucky starter..<br>

The new catalog below is informative.<br>

http://reallyrightstuff.com/Index.aspx?code=46&key=fr</p>

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<p>I have the Manfrotto 190 and use a Really Right Stuff BH-40 for D700 and lenses as heavy as yours. Works very well.</p>

<p>I would recomend the acratech GV Ballhead. It's what I've got and I've got no complaints.</p>