[raider]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of replacing the tripod head on my Slik 614CF with the manfrotto 494RC2...can anyone please tell me if this particular head will droop with a lightweight setup such as a K-30 + 18-135 and perhaps a K-01 + DA35 Ltd?

Thanks

[AussieTrev]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of replacing the tripod head on my Slik 614CF with the manfrotto 494RC2...can anyone please tell me if this particular head will droop with a lightweight setup such as a K-30 + 18-135 and perhaps a K-01 + DA35 Ltd?

Thanks

I have that head on my monopod and so far it was worked fine, without droop. I mainly used it one handed when my arm was in a sling with the K-01 but only the 40mm attached. I have used it with the heavier K-5 a little without any problems. I expect that with a long heavy lens it would put a bit of strain on the setup as you are relying on a very small clamping action. The specs list it as 4kg max load. I haven't had any failures with it so far. The system of tightening up the tension seems to be very good.

I don't have the 18-135 lens so haven't experienced its weight on my setups.

A head that we have found to be very reliable is the 322RC2 Heavy Duty Grip Ball Head. It is a pistol grip type, but out the side. It will take 5kg and we use it with a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 zoom, which is a heavy lens.

Hope this helps.

[raider]

Thanks AussieTrev. That is helpful.

[Docrwm]

I have that head and routinely use it with the 18-135 and have with my K300 and 70-200/2.8 without problems.

[raider]

Thanks Docrwm. Does the head droop with the 70-200?

[Docrwm]

Thanks Docrwm. Does the head droop with the 70-200?

No, but it has its own collar and so the balance is pretty good on it. That is the newest of my lenses and hence the least used so far, but I did use it on my recent trip with the tripod and noticed no problems. Hope that helps.

[Lloydy]

It had better not droop, I put my Mamiya C3 on one !

[raider]

Thanks guys. Appreciated your replies.

[JimJohnson]

Related to AussieTrev's post -

For many years now I have used a sturdy Manfrotto 3006 "junior" monopod. The bottom of the foot is likely more Shoe-Goo than the original vinyl tip. When touring, this monopod doubles as a hiking stick.

I have a bunch of these inexpensive quick-release pairs: Sima Quick Connect. I've paid as much as US$15 and as little as US$8 over the years.

Recently I added this ball head between my monopod and the quick release "puck". This release is rated for 2kg (4.1 pounds). But please keep two things in mind... that weight limit is for cantilevered force, not force directly down. Second, when using a monopod, typically the photographer becomes part of the camera support.

You likely can't hang one of the huge old glass and steel lens on this combination, but I've had no issue with any of my auto-focus era lenses. But I also suspect most folks with those big camera bag rocks also shoot from tripods. I should also point out that most monopod users only use two positions with a ball head - landscape and portrait. The tilt and swivel mechanism is your wrist, forearm and elbow.