Tripods - I'm hooked.

[Dairyboy]

I think you'll be surprised with it. I planned on building a shooting table, well at least before lumber went nuts, and with the big one with a chair I'd say it's every bit as solid as a portable table I've had in the past if not more so. Plus I can take it literally anywhere I want and much more compact than a table.

 

[JungleShooter]

The info on this thread is spectacular, with brands, links, and all!

Thanks so much, Jake / CyberDyne!! Green ball's on the way to you.



So, if I understand correctly, beside the tripod I'd need a "big blue ball" — on which to roll my gun on target once attached to the tripod.

Is this item a totally different field, or do these tripod makers also sell those "balls"?

I own several sub-$100 tripods and they aren't the most stable, but to me it feels like the most critical item is not the tripod but that ball bear bearing: the adjustability, the durability not to wear out, etc.

Any specialist recommendations out there?



Thanks! What a great forum for our great hobby!

Matthias

 

[B]

The info on this thread is spectacular, with brands, links, and all!

Thanks so much, Jake / CyberDyne!! Green ball's on the way to you.



So, if I understand correctly, beside the tripod I'd need a "big blue ball" — on which to roll my gun on target once attached to the tripod.

Is this item a totally different field, or do these tripod makers also sell those "balls"?

I own several sub-$100 tripods and they aren't the most stable, but to me it feels like the most critical item is not the tripod but that ball bear bearing: the adjustability, the durability not to wear out, etc.

Any specialist recommendations out there?



Thanks! What a great forum for our great hobby!

Matthias

Hi Matthias

Yes you need a ball head, both things are critical, you want your tripod to be solid as a rock and you want your BALLS to be smooth

At this moment I own Leofoto LH 40 ball head and I'm very happy with it but just ordered RRS BH 40 to see what the difference is, I also ordered Innorel RT90C tripod to compare to my Manfrotto.

B

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

A Ball head is what I am using, and it's likely the best all around useful option for most any application. Easy to adjust with only one knob mattering once everything else is set up.

Here's a little Photography secret, the absolute best bang for buck in ballheads are made by SIRUI (China). The K30x and K40x would be the size for these full size tripods. Usually I lean heavily towards recommend the K30X for my photography friends. In this case, balancing a long rifle, I'd suggest going straight for the top dog K40x. This is a beast in sheep's clothing. Easily equal to the RRS BH55 for shear power, maybe even sturdier, but a fraction the price. If your rifle is smaller/lower weight, and you are looking for leaner more portability, the K30x may still be best.

https://www.amazon.com/Sirui-6209-EAN-6952060000350-K-40X/dp/B004QC3CMG

A comparison article which agrees with our finding re: the K40x; https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/battle-of-the-titans-top-ball-heads-tested



For other options if interested, my favorite heads are made by Markins (Korea) and FLM (Germany),. but these are far more pricey, and frankly I don;t think offer much for our uses here.

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

Another history lesson, we delved into the history of the Gitzo (France) Systematic tripod and the influence it has had on tripods with now generations of copies copying copycats,..

We have the Swiss to thank for two HUGE innovations in tripod heads. Before Arca Swiss, we had bi-directional tilting heads that liked to flop over under load, and we have to either screw or camera to the threaded stud on top. or use a low quality, weak cast quick release plate, where every company had there own proprietary plates, that did not interchange. If you think dovetail, weaver, and picatinny is too much, imagine that Manfrotto alone had 4 different plate systems! None could interchange.



Along come Arca Swiss,. they totally change the landscape by offering the first successful Ballhead, (Arca Swiss B1) and the now nearly universally accepted Arca Swiss dovetail rail system. It was American companies like Kirk, RRS and Wimberley that immediately saw the advantage of the Arca rails system and the fact that Arca had no interest in patenting. Suddenly there were four manufactures all with the best products, and all with same plates system and clamps. Soon it was join Arca or die, and now any photo head worth discussing either comes with Arca quick release clamp, or has it as an option.

Tye B1 also dominated the market until the copycats came out. Now they are so ubiquitous, and come in so many shapes and sizes, it's hard to call them copies anymore, they are just how you go about making a tripod head!



We return you now to your regularly scheduled program...

 

[yenniedn]

Holy moly . . . I just got my Artcise/Innorel tripod weeks before I expected to receive it! I ordered it from AliExpress before I went to sleep last Thursday night (essentially Friday) and I figured it would be anywhere between 2 to 4 weeks before I would get it. There was no movement on the order until late Monday night when they sent me a tracking #. I clicked on the email expecting to see some DHL tracking number only to find that it was coming UPS . . . Worldwide Express Saver. The tracking # updated on Tuesday morning with a delivery date of Wednesday 5/19 (i.e. today)!!! They got it delivered to me in 1 day from Hong Kong!

Upon opening the package, I'm EXTREMELY pleased to see what a nice quality unit it is. The Leofoto LS-362C table top unit is already pretty stout but this AS90C (same unit as the Innorel RT90C) dwarfs it. The construction, fit and finish of the carbon fiber legs are identical between the two brands. The leveling bowl and ballhead both seem very nice as well. Have to drive son to soccer practice so can't really play with the new tripod but will provide more details later. For $380 delivered, this combo is a great value!

 

[B]

@yenniedn, does this ball head have an adjustment knob for the tension of the locking knob?

My Innorel RT90C came yesterday and as @yenniedn said it's exactly the same tripod as his Articise, didn't have time to play with it but so far looks very well made with high-quality materials. I will compare to my Manfrotto in the next few days and let you guys know how I like it.

@cyberdynesystems +1 to you for good info.

B

 

[yenniedn]

Hey B,

I'm still pretty new to tripods, ballheads, etc. so I'll answer as best I can...

The Artcise/Innorel 52mm ballhead I have has two main adjustment knobs - the big one to adjust tension and a smaller one to adjust the panning. The Leofoto LH-40 ballhead I have on my other tripod has both of these knobs plus a third that allows for finer adjustment of the tension. Hope that helps...

 

[B]

Hey B,

I'm still pretty new to tripods, ballheads, etc. so I'll answer as best I can...

The Artcise/Innorel 52mm ballhead I have has two main adjustment knobs - the big one to adjust tension and a smaller one to adjust the panning. The Leofoto LH-40 ballhead I have on my other tripod has both of these knobs plus a third that allows for finer adjustment of the tension. Hope that helps...

You couldn't answer any better, I'm new too. I found the small tension knob makes a huge difference on my Leofoto LH-40 especially when I change the guns where the ARCA rail is in a different location from one to other. Thanks man

B

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

Holy moly . . . I just got my Artcise/Innorel tripod weeks before I expected to receive it! I ordered it from AliExpress before I went to sleep last Thursday night (essentially Friday) and I figured it would be anywhere between 2 to 4 weeks before I would get it. There was no movement on the order until late Monday night when they sent me a tracking #. I clicked on the email expecting to see some DHL tracking number only to find that it was coming UPS . . . Worldwide Express Saver. The tracking # updated on Tuesday morning with a delivery date of Wednesday 5/19 (i.e. today)!!! They got it delivered to me in 1 day from Hong Kong!

Upon opening the package, I'm EXTREMELY pleased to see what a nice quality unit it is. The Leofoto LS-362C table top unit is already pretty stout but this AS90C (same unit as the Innorel RT90C) dwarfs it. The construction, fit and finish of the carbon fiber legs are identical between the two brands. The leveling bowl and ballhead both seem very nice as well. Have to drive son to soccer practice so can't really play with the new tripod but will provide more details later. For $380 delivered, this combo is a great value!

Looks like a damn fine set up!

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

@yenniedn, does this ball head have an adjustment knob for the tension of the locking knob?

My Innorel RT90C came yesterday and as @yenniedn said it's exactly the same tripod as his Articise, didn't have time to play with it but so far looks very well made with high-quality materials. I will compare to my Manfrotto in the next few days and let you guys know how I like it.

@cyberdynesystems +1 to you for good info.

B

I don't have this head, but looking at info online, this one does not include a separate tension or friction locking knob, just the main knob.



For those that might not know, many heads have a third "friction" knob, often incorporated within the main locking knob to provide a minimum or maximum default tension. This is useful for photography when you load up a long lens and a body, you can set a tension tight enough to hold the camera when you point it, but loose enough that that you don't have to unlock again to move/point at a different subject. I have heads with this additional control and even for photography I rarely use it, as obviously the same effect can be attained by just using the main locking knob.

 

[B]

@yenniedn, does this ball head have an adjustment knob for the tension of the locking knob?

My Innorel RT90C came yesterday and as @yenniedn said it's exactly the same tripod as his Articise, didn't have time to play with it but so far looks very well made with high-quality materials. I will compare to my Manfrotto in the next few days and let you guys know how I like it.

@cyberdynesystems +1 to you for good info.

B

I don't have this head, but looking at info online, this one does not include a separate tension or friction locking knob, just the main knob.



For those that might not know, many heads have a third "friction" knob, often incorporated within the main locking knob to provide a minimum or maximum default tension. This is useful for photography when you load up a long lens and a body, you can set a tension tight enough to hold the camera when you point it, but loose enough that that you don't have to unlock again to move/point at a different subject. I have heads with this additional control and even for photography I rarely use it, as obviously the same effect can be attained by just using the main locking knob.

The third knob makes a huge difference if the guns you using have different mounting points, I assume most of the camera gear is short and have a gravity point in the middle, with guns that are 3-4' long it's a different story and I found a little tension knob to be very helpful.

B

 

[B]

I spend little time with both tripods, I was thinking that RT90C could replace my Manfrotto for FT but this thing is HUGE and heavy, by itself weights more than Manfrotto with ball head, but is way more solid and stable, so probably I stick with Manfrotto for FT and RT90C for shooting around the house or at the range, fit and finish on both Tripods are excellent. 
As for the ball heads, I’m kind of disappointed with RRS BH-40 ,not that is something wrong with it but because I got to big expectations, compering to Leofotto LH-40 they are both well made and if they wouldn’t be marked I couldn’t tell the difference in quality, but don’t know how they will hold up in long run, I choose knob on RRS for locking the ARCA plate instead of lever because that’s what I got on my Leofotto head but now I kind of regret it, Leofotto have course threads so it takes on turn to lock it as opposed to RRS two turns. 
This is my first impression and I didn’t shoot of the new setup yet but looks like I be keeping both of them, and maybe change RRS to lever locking. 

B

 

[yenniedn]

@B - LOL, the heft of the AS90C/RT90C is both a blessing and a pain. I'm so impressed by its size and construction but can't imagine using it for anything other than supporting my rifles; I put my Sony A6600 mirrorless camera on it and it made the camera look like it was the size of one of those one use disposable cameras. I'm trying to use this fact to justify buying an in between unit like the HS80C or ST344C that would be a little more portable and practical for other uses as well.

 

[Mr.H]

After reading. thru this thread and a couple PM's to Dairyboy, I ended up with the Innorel N52 and a Sunwayfoto DP-60 R Arca plate (two screws are better than one) for mounting to my Pig saddle. Unit is rock solid and not a lot of money. Going out to South Dakota in a couple days chasing prairie dogs. I'm hoping this set up works well.

 

 

[B]

@Mr.H what kind of Manfrotto tripod you using?

B

 

[Mr.H]

@Mr.H what kind of Manfrotto tripod you using?

B

055XDB. One of these days I'll graduate to something carbon fiber. Money's a little tight right now

 

[B]

@yenniedn does your small tripod got the same locking mechanism for the legs as AS90C?

I kind of prefer Manfrotto spring-loaded lock instead of push in-out on my RT90C.

B

 

[yenniedn]

@yenniedn does your small tripod got the same locking mechanism for the legs as AS90C?

I kind of prefer Manfrotto spring-loaded lock instead of push in-out on my RT90C.

B

Hey B:

The smaller tripod (a Leofoto LS-362C w/ LH-40 ballbead) has the same leg locking mechanism as the AS90C/RT90C. Although on the Leofoto tripod, the locking mechanism is a little stiffer to pull out and latches into each position whereas the Artcise/Innorel mechanism pulls out more smoothly and doesn't click into any particular position.

Since my previous photos were pretty rushed, here are some more pics comparing the two brands/models for any one interested:

Leofoto LS362C tripod w/ LH-40 40mm ballhead on left / Artcise AS90C w/ MB52 52mm ballhead on right; LH-40 is the smaller but more expensive unit ($179 on Amazon) with an extra tension adjustment knob that the Artcise MB52 ($95 on Amazon) does not have. The Artcise ARCA mounting plate does have a panning adjustment lever that the Leofoto plate does not. 

The leg locking mechanisms on both tripods:

The maximum CF leg diameter for both tripods: the Leofoto is 36mm compared to 40mm for the Artcise (although the Leofoto appears larger in the photo due to be closer to the camera)

Photo below shows the Artcise's 2nd (36mm) leg extended; Sharpie for scale . . . these tripods are much bigger IRL than they appear in pics:

 

[B]

Thanks Yen, I do appreciate all the details.

B