Geared Tripod Head: I watched comparisons of geared tripod heads last night. I didn't know such things existed. It's a clever idea. You set the camera at the angle you want and lock...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I watched comparisons of geared tripod heads last night. I didn't know such things existed. It's a clever idea. You set the camera at the angle you want and lock the head. Then, you turn the gears to get the angle just right. You've probably experienced that camera droop after you lock the head. Using the gears lets you correct that droop. The Manfrotto was his favorite one, for $250. Some cost more and some cost less. I don't have enough need for a geared head, but it's tempting.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have had two Manfrotto geared heads for at least 25 years or more. My experience with them has been excellent.

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

Benro 3-Way Geared Head (GD3WH),

This has the Arca- Swiss release plate. I have one on order.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Baysitter11 wrote:

Benro 3-Way Geared Head (GD3WH),

This has the Arca- Swiss release plate. I have one on order.

I use Manfrotto plates, so I would get that head. I'll re-think this in the spring.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Looking on Amazon, there is a Manfrotto X-PRO-3-Way-Head with prices of $115, $163, and $199. The $199 price is for Prime and faster delivery. I'd be willing to wait a few days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3cWnaowcVw

rcarol

jerryc41 wrote:

I watched comparisons of geared tripod heads last night. I didn't know such things existed. It's a clever idea. You set the camera at the angle you want and lock the head. Then, you turn the gears to get the angle just right. You've probably experienced that camera droop after you lock the head. Using the gears lets you correct that droop. The Manfrotto was his favorite one, for $250. Some cost more and some cost less. I don't have enough need for a geared head, but it's tempting.

I think I saw the same YouTube video. Interesting.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rcarol wrote:

I think I saw the same YouTube video. Interesting.

As I've often said, companies have to do a better job naming their products. Manfrotto has the "X-PRO-3-Way-Head - MHXPRO-3W" and also the "X-PRO-Geared-Head - MHXPRO-3WG." The first one lists for $199, and the second is $249.

https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/x-pro-3-way-tripod-head-with-retractable-levers-mhxpro-3w/
https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/xpro-geared-three-way-pan-tilt-tripod-head-mhxpro-3wg/

tcthome Loc: NJ

jerryc41 wrote:

I watched comparisons of geared tripod heads last night. I didn't know such things existed. It's a clever idea. You set the camera at the angle you want and lock the head. Then, you turn the gears to get the angle just right. You've probably experienced that camera droop after you lock the head. Using the gears lets you correct that droop. The Manfrotto was his favorite one, for $250. Some cost more and some cost less. I don't have enough need for a geared head, but it's tempting.

I imagine they are great for those micro compositional adjustments in macro photography also. Heck even landscapes.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

tcthome wrote:

I imagine they are great for those micro compositional adjustments in macro photography also. Heck even landscapes.

I'm still looking for the reason for the $50 difference between them.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Nothing new but oldies are goodies. I've had and used this one for over 50 years. They came wot the most Majestic tripods for decades. I originally used my wit arg format view cameras and medium form gear. I have added it to most of my heavier current tripods. It is great when ver preces tiling is required. It won't droop, yaw or move once it is set.

As the hyperbolic salesman said weh I purchased it. "Kid, you can mount a house on this thing"!

Well, it ain't the kid thig you want to carry in a backpack. The current versions are smaller.

Barre Loc: Fairfax Co, VA

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Nothing new but oldies are goodies. I've had and u... (show quote)

Excellent picture. I like the near B&W effect. At first I thought it was a pencil sharpener. I was definitely wrong on that one.

MJPerini

If you want to see some incredible engineering, Check out the Area Swiss Cube.
I have made do with the Manfrotto 405 (I think that's the number) Not elegant but it works.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Nothing new but oldies are goodies. I've had and u... (show quote)

Totally agree. I have that Majestic gear head on my castored studio stand, best gear made. works fine with my tiny Sony A7 or the hulking C-10 Calumet 8X10 view camera. And when I hear all the talk about a solid but super light weight tripod nothing compares with a Majestic all aluminum tripod.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

The Swiss-made heads and others made by my Nikon and a few other precision manufacturers are more elegant and smaller than my old Majestic- they have vernier scales for repeatability and to maintain a particular angle of tilt or degree of rotation, etc. That is why you pay the extra bucks.

My old Majesics models were built for strength and efficient movement. One of them became "crikey" so a shot of automotive grease, about 8 years ago fixed that. Another one sustained a damaged coupling- a trip to the welding shop remedied that. Most other external parts can be found in a hardware store. The newfangled fancy ones?- try not to drop any of them!

Majestic tripods, heads, and extensions are still available on the used market. If you are not concerned about weight and want a virtually instructable tripod- consider one!

billt1970 Loc: Gambrills, Maryland

DavidPine wrote:

I have had two Manfrotto geared heads for at least 25 years or more. My experience with them has been excellent.

Dittos David! I'm a real estate photographer for a living and a landscape photographer for passion. I have ALWAYS used a geared head for the real estate work. That allows quick and easy leveling of the camera (critical for real estate) using the camera's internal level. I can't imagine working without it. I've had several Manfrotto geared heads over the years, with my current one the Manfrotto XPRO 3-Way, Geared Pan-and-Tilt Head. I love it as the levers for each direction make large changes quick and efficient. Much more so than a ball head.

BTW, I also use this tripod/head combination for landscape work as leveling is critical there also.