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Experienced 600 APO users, what tripod setup?
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waleskeg View Drop Down
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Posts: 1067 		Post Options Post Options   Quote waleskeg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Experienced 600 APO users, what tripod setup?
    Posted: 11 March 2010 at 01:51
I need some help from those that have experience using the 600mm APO or something similar in weight. This thing is in a different league in several areas, immense weight being one. I've read through some of the postings on many things, I have never been a tripod user hardly ever, with this lens I must change that thinking. The following is from another thread which I found valuable. Any suggestions would be helpful to me as I want to use this lens to the best of its potential and a tripod appears to be a must, I am not Superman and handheld stuff won't work. Will be using my A700 & grip, I forgot to mention.

Originally posted by roweraay

I think it may be worthwhile to go with a high quality tripod and a high quality head to go with it. Your camera, the tripod, the ballhead etc are all links in a chain and any weakness anywhere can affect your images. For instance, getting a quality tripod and then putting a cheap ballhead on it will not help your images much.

Also, it is not the weight of the lens that matters when it comes to obtaining critically sharp images. It is the "effective" FL (or view-angle) of the lens that is even more important than the weight of the gear. The longer the lens, the stabler needs to be the tripod/head combo.

Many manufacturers simply publish what kind of weight the tripod can support, which in turn is meaningless when it comes to getting sharp images. More important is what kind of maximum Focal length or view-angle is the Tripod engineered to support.....something that is missing from all of these spec-sheets, except for very few manufacturers.

I personally use a couple of Gitzos for my tripods and have a couple of Arca Swiss ballheads. Even though these are all pretty pricey products, I don't think I will need to replace them ever. I also like the Velbon Carmagne line in particular (640A etc), a lot, for their quality and portability while being significantly cheaper than the Gitzos. As far as ballheads, quality will cost money and there is unfortunately no getting away from that fact. But the good thing is that high quality products are silky smooth and rock stable during usage, with none of the instability or roughness that cheaper heads have and will maintain that silky smoothness for a lifetime of continuous usage. I like Arca-swiss products, RRS products, Markins products, Acra-tech products etc., all of whom are designed for a lifetime.


Edited by waleskeg - 11 March 2010 at 01:52
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Wayne09 View Drop Down
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Posts: 640 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Wayne09 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 02:34
I use a Benro C-457 m8 tripod and Jobu BWG Pro gimbal head Jobu. They work great. Very sturdy and smooth.
C & C always welcome,
Wayne
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waleskeg View Drop Down
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Posts: 1067 		Post Options Post Options   Quote waleskeg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 04:45
Appears so far from alot of reading this gimbal head design is the way to go also. Decisions decisions.
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dennismullen View Drop Down
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Posts: 156 		Post Options Post Options   Quote dennismullen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 04:54
A lot of people with big lenses use the Wimberley gimbal head.

Here is my setup with a Sigma 500/4.5 APO EX DG.

Cheers,



Edited by dennismullen - 11 March 2010 at 04:56
You can see my pictures at http://www.dennismullen.com.
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Pavel View Drop Down
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Posts: 1541 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Pavel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 08:37
I have Gitzo GT 3540 and Wimberley,basicly the same setup as on the picture above but M600 on it

@Dennismullen;can you tell me how do you align your flash and better beamer with the lens?I am not satisfied with the way I do
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DavidB View Drop Down
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Posts: 1878 		Post Options Post Options   Quote DavidB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 08:50
Gitzo 5 series tripod with an Arca Swiss B2 ball head, both from the early 1990's.
I think I would go with a Wimberley head now though.
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Vivec View Drop Down
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Posts: 697 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Vivec Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 09:41
With my Minolta 400mm, I use a Gitzo 3541 and a Linhof Profi III ballhead. This is a heavy but excellent ballhead, super smooth (and I prefer it over a RRS BH-55). I do use a RRS large quick release plate though as the Linhof quick release is not so great.

Most big lens users use a Wimberley head though but I personally find that a bit too cumbersome to carry around.

I would say that a (Gitzo 35xx series or Manfrotto 055 series) + (Linhof Profi III, Arca Swiss B2, RRS BH55, Wimberley, Jobu) is the minimum you need for solid support of a 600mm lens. A Gitzo 55xx series is probably even more appropiate.
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dennismullen View Drop Down
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Posts: 156 		Post Options Post Options   Quote dennismullen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 10:11
Originally posted by Pavel


@Dennismullen;can you tell me how do you align your flash and better beamer with the lens?I am not satisfied with the way I do


The Wimberley flash bracket I use allows the adjustment of the flash angle up or down. The adjustment of the flash focus is counter intuitive with the better beamer. It needs to be set at the widest setting (24mm) rather then the longest. I aligned it shooting at a wall in low light.

Cheers,
You can see my pictures at http://www.dennismullen.com.
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MichelvA View Drop Down
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Posts: 2265 		Post Options Post Options   Quote MichelvA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 10:31
I don't have a 600 but came across this video a few months ago.
Maybe it is helpful.
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Conny1 View Drop Down
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Posts: 592 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Conny1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 12:17
Our “family 600” is used with Gitzo tripods and a Wimberley head or a RRS BH-55 head.
An uncle also has this great head: http://www.dietmar-nill.de/content/index.php/content/stativkopf_neu
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mccrisler View Drop Down
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Posts: 98 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mccrisler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 13:51
I currently have mine mounted to a Bogen 3050 base with Manfrotto 393 head. Though the 393 isn't good from the perspective of portability, it is incredibly stable and smooth. It's also quite inexpensive compared to the lighter weight options available.

Manfrotto 393 @ Amazon

-Matt
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momech View Drop Down
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Posts: 1132 		Post Options Post Options   Quote momech Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 15:22
I'm using a Gitzo 3541 tripod with the Wimberley gimbal head. I had the Jobu Design gimbal until about a year ago. The action on mine wasn't as smooth as the Wimberley, but it does have a lock-out pin that helps prevent the camera/lens from "flopping" accidentally. Wish the Wimbereley had that feature.

For my flash mount, I'm using this rig:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/240879-REG/Wimberley_F_3_Combo_3_Telephoto_Macro.html

That gooseneck macro bracket gives you a lot more flexibility in positioning your flash, and gets it a bit farther off center, less chance of eye shine. I usually take a test shot or 2 (if possible) to make sure I've got everything aligned, but I'm finding less need for my Better Beamer than I used to. With brightly colored birds, it can result in oversaturation, especially if you're pretty close to them. I try to compensate for this by adjusting the power output on the flash, with or without the Beamer.

Edited by momech - 11 March 2010 at 15:31
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H_K_F View Drop Down
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Posts: 1126 		Post Options Post Options   Quote H_K_F Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 16:05
Gitzo GT5540LS + Acratech Leveling Bases + Acratech Ultimate Ballhead + Wimberley Sidekick

Quite versatile and can adopt to different situation (can use for a wide angle in both horizontal/vertical position, or panorama); easy to set up. The set up is smooth and sturdy. Acratech Ultimate Ballhead & Wimberley Sidekick are relatively lower price than a Wimberley Head - Version II.

Not as rock solid when the whole set up need to move around. Say if you want to change location; it's better to remove the camera & lens from the tripod, move and re-attach afterward. If a Wimberley Head is use, just tighten the screw, put on the shoulder and go.
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dennismullen View Drop Down
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Posts: 156 		Post Options Post Options   Quote dennismullen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2010 at 16:26
Originally posted by H_K_F


If a Wimberley Head is use, just tighten the screw, put on the shoulder and go.


That's a very big plus for the Wimberley II.

The balance on both axis can be adjusted precisely so you can point the camera in any direction, let go, and it will stay right there.

Cheers,
You can see my pictures at http://www.dennismullen.com.
“Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Ben Franklin.
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