very nice looking and robust. It deserves the five stars. I would have liked the head to be lighter (810g is heavy). I would have liked the handling of the orange clutch rings to be less hard, because you have to exert a significant effort to overcome the return spring and pivot at the same time. If the tripod base is larger than the head base (52 mm diameter), it is impossible to put the camera in portrait position to have the spirit level above, but this is irrelevant with an L-bracket. Other remarks: the rotations are done without play. The settings are precise. A rotation of 1° corresponds to a rotation of approximately 270° of the micrometer knob.
09/11/2024
The product feels quality, like almost everything I have from this brand. Both products and after-sales service offer confidence. Although it is expensive, it is worth it if you can afford it. I bought it for astrophotography. as a starter, before going for an EQ mount with tracking, because it is an extra that you then have for landscape, macro, products, architecture... I bought 2, one to give as a gift, and although the customer service is 10 I ended up changing one because one of the quick action knobs was too stiff.
05/11/2024
use the head for landscape and macro photography. With this head you can fine tune vertical, pan horizontal shots and adjust the camera to a level position. I use a Sony A7 IV camera and use two Sony lenses that are heavy, 90mm Macro and the 70-200mm Macro (with the Sony 1.4 extender sometimes). Once you get your framing done and lock the head down there is movement of the camera like shifting downwards and then having to reframe the shot to allow head room for the camera dropping down. Using the Vanguard VEO + 72-inch camera tripod make for an awesome pairing. I recommend the head
01/11/2024
Most outstanding 3-axis geared head. Fully aluminum, including the knobs.
There is zero play, you cannot budge your camera's position with force. Motion is dampened, so you won't fly past the target. Even when disengaging a gear for a huge axis swing, the camera will not move without applying pressure. Very fine control and huge axis articulation.
The weight capacity is awesome, it permits me to mount my camera with a heavy teleconverter to a rod rig to support the lens, with a huge ARRI dovetail. No worries about excess wear on the gears.
To obtain more than 5° of positive tilt, you will need to mount it to a ball head if using a video head or an extra wide camera head on your tripod. Of course, you can tilt the head, but for astrophotography you'll want to set the head to level so you can use the elevation markers to hone in on targets.
There is zero play, you cannot budge your camera's position with force. Motion is dampened, so you won't fly past the target. Even when disengaging a gear for a huge axis swing, the camera will not move without applying pressure. Very fine control and huge axis articulation.
The weight capacity is awesome, it permits me to mount my camera with a heavy teleconverter to a rod rig to support the lens, with a huge ARRI dovetail. No worries about excess wear on the gears.
To obtain more than 5° of positive tilt, you will need to mount it to a ball head if using a video head or an extra wide camera head on your tripod. Of course, you can tilt the head, but for astrophotography you'll want to set the head to level so you can use the elevation markers to hone in on targets.
20/10/2024
wish I could have been able to keep it. It came down to a fluid head or the 3-Way Geared Tripod Head. I chose the fluid head. But to those into still photography this is a must have. Very well built! Very procise.
13/10/2024
Had a little issue, but it was handled and they helped quickly and professionally. Highly recommend. Well machined product.
08/10/2024
I did not practice enough for the eclipse in Cleveland. Yesterday I found out how hard it was to use a 1000mm lens (500mm with doubler) on a normal ball mount. It was a struggle to keep the sun centered and I had to apply pressure on the set point to do it. I could not let go. The sun pictures are bright enough, but that would not work at totality to get the corona.
Got this in 1 day and it is perfect. Sturdy enough for my setup and easy to use both free movement and fine-tuning modes. Found the sun at 600mm, centered it, zoomed to 1000mm, and it was perfect. Moving as it goes across the sky will be easy as well.
I will use remote shoot with my iPad for stability during totality. Fine without it with full sun, but not taking any chances during my 3.5 minute window (assuming clouds don’t take some of that).
Got this in 1 day and it is perfect. Sturdy enough for my setup and easy to use both free movement and fine-tuning modes. Found the sun at 600mm, centered it, zoomed to 1000mm, and it was perfect. Moving as it goes across the sky will be easy as well.
I will use remote shoot with my iPad for stability during totality. Fine without it with full sun, but not taking any chances during my 3.5 minute window (assuming clouds don’t take some of that).
07/10/2024
Love how granular the controls are with this over my old, non-gear head. Very precise movements and adjustments!
02/10/2024