GRRRRRR: OK, just venting here, mostly. A couple of years ago I finally broke down and purchased a "real" tripod - Manfrotto carbon fiber with ball head. The combined purchase value...

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

OK, just venting here, mostly. A couple of years ago I finally broke down and purchased a "real" tripod - Manfrotto carbon fiber with ball head. The combined purchase value was over $400. It replaced a Wal-mart cheapy I had used for about 20-25 years. After 2 years the expensive tripod is broken and neither Manfrotto nor the store where I purchased it seem to care that my nearly brand new, expensive tripod didn't stand the test of time.

Guess it's back to the old $40 tripod that has lasted so well. It's just that I've gotten accustomed to that carbon fiber weight and the ball head..... Oh well.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

AzPicLady wrote:

OK, just venting here, mostly. A couple of years ... (show quote)

Sometimes, cheaper is better. I have a tripod I got with Green Stamps over 50 years ago, and it's still is great shape.

Can you elaborate on "broken"? What model is it? A repair might be easy and inexpensive.

riverlass Loc: northern California

Well, this sucks. What happen?

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

It's the ball head that's broken. I don't remember the model number, and there isn't one on it. My camera store had record of the purchase, so they knew which one it was. They're the local "fix-it" guys in this area and are pretty good.

Well, first one of the little bubble levels apparently came out. Since I don't use them much, it didn't seem to matter. But apparently it held in the mechanism for the quick release lever that allows you to turn the plate-locking lever.

I've used the tripod without this, it's just now I don't trust the plate-locking lever.

Manfrotto says they don't have the parts.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

"Broken" is about as vague a term as you could use. WHAT is broken exactly? As a Manfrotto dealer I repair tripods all the time and seldom is one broken beyond a reasonably priced repair, no matter what you have done to it.

EDIT: Our posts crossed. The model number is right on the front of the head. And none of the Manfrotto bubble levels are in any way associated with the plate lock mechanism.

lovesphotos Loc: Colorado and Arizona

jerryc41 wrote:

Sometimes, cheaper is better. I have a tripod I got with Green Stamps over 50 years ago, and it's still is great shape.

Can you elaborate on "broken"? What model is it? A repair might be easy and inexpensive.

In a case like this it's not the inexpensive repair is the matter of question. It is, why a 400 dollar item breaks down much faster than a similar item that cost 20 bucks, and why the maker can't stand behind it's product.
Of course we already know the answer. The same reason that we still see 55 chevys on the road but our 10 year old chrysler is already in the junkyard. Because the economy now depends on the faster renewable stuff.

Frapha Loc: Tulsa, Oklahoma

AzPicLady wrote:

OK, just venting here, mostly. A couple of years ... (show quote)

Are you certain that both the tripod AND ball head are Manfrotto? Perhaps a Manfrotto tripod with an off-brand ball head? Just wondering ...........

FilmFanatic Loc: Waikato, New Zealand

The ball head can't be much good if you got the whole lot for $400 - a decent head will set you back most of that price

Now is the time to get a decent head for those legs - have a look at the Really Right Stuff range

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Yes, they're both Manfrotto.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Bought them while they were on a special deal. Without the special and the trade-in, it would have been double that.

boydimages Loc: California

AzPicLady wrote:

OK, just venting here, mostly. A couple of years ... (show quote)

Passed on my 25 year old Monfrotto to my grandson. Still worked great. At $400 for both a carbon fiber and ball head it seems the camera shop might have included an inexpensive head. Just purchased ball head for almost $200 with no tripod. The head should have a manufacture and model number. If not,
for sure they sold you a cheapy.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

AzPicLady wrote:

OK, just venting here, mostly. A couple of years ... (show quote)

Pics Doc ..... need pics

Teacher Loc: Alabama

So the tripod is fine. Correct? Its the ball head that is "broken". There are about a million good ball heads out there. Many are for sale.

AzPicLady wrote:

OK, just venting here, mostly. A couple of years ... (show quote)

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

lovesphotos wrote:

In a case like this it's not the inexpensive repair is the matter of question. It is, why a 400 dollar item breaks down much faster than a similar item that cost 20 bucks, and why the maker can't stand behind it's product.
Of course we already know the answer. The same reason that we still see 55 chevys on the road but our 10 year old chrysler is already in the junkyard. Because the economy now depends on the faster renewable stuff.

Ain't necessarily so..

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Wabbit wrote:

Pics Doc ..... need pics

Wabbit where do you get your carton attachments? :roll: