Tripod head question.. No clue: I got a tripod from Santa :) it's a Sunpak 6600DX. I'm trying to figure out if it is a ARACA type head or a MANFROTTO RC2 type. I've looked everywhere...

erpatterson78 Loc: Ohio

I got a tripod from Santa :) it's a Sunpak 6600DX. I'm trying to figure out if it is a ARACA type head or a MANFROTTO RC2 type. I've looked everywhere and am about to just throw my laptop off a cliff!!

Thanks

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Its a Sunpak head, not interchangeable with anything else.

erpatterson78 Loc: Ohio

Thanks MT, assuming down the road I want to update my tripod what's the difference between the different types, or does it even matter?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

erpatterson78 wrote:

Thanks MT, assuming down the road I want to update my tripod what's the difference between the different types, or does it even matter?

Size dimensions as well as attachment style, they are all different. I sell Manfrotto myself so am prejudiced towards them. I do not like the "screw down" style of the ARCA design, it kind of defeats the purpose of "quick release" in my opinion, but some companies are now making ARCA style heads with a clamping system which makes their use a LOT faster.
Your Sunpak is only rated at 6 pounds load, best way to upgrade it would be to replace it in its entirety.

erpatterson78 Loc: Ohio

MT Shooter wrote:

Size dimensions as well as attachment style, they are all different. I sell Manfrotto myself so am prejudiced towards them. I do not like the "screw down" style of the ARCA design, it kind of defeats the purpose of "quick release" in my opinion, but some companies are now making ARCA style heads with a clamping system which makes their use a LOT faster.
Your Sunpak is only rated at 6 pounds load, best way to upgrade it would be to replace it in its entirety.

I need to get out to the local camera stores and check some out. I have one camera and I've screwed in head to the camera. If I need the tripod I just push a lever and snap the camera in and vice versa. it's pretty quick for me. I'm getting a capture clip and it comes with a quick release plate for those types of tripods which is why it got me doing research. It's all pretty new to me, any information is good information, so I appreciate your input.

harrimg

Go for a Gimbal head for you tripod.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

harrimg wrote:

Go for a Gimbal head for you tripod.

Why a Gimbal? If I do long lenses, one case. If I do scenic, second case. I would honestly like to know your reasoning. "JR"

GCS Loc: Ann Arbor, Michigan

I have a Bogen 3035 w a Bogen fluid head I could part with :-) Excellent condition but that would probably be over kill.

Ruthiel Loc: Las Vegas

erpatterson78 wrote:

I need to get out to the local camera stores and check some out. I have one camera and I've screwed in head to the camera. If I need the tripod I just push a lever and snap the camera in and vice versa. it's pretty quick for me. I'm getting a capture clip and it comes with a quick release plate for those types of tripods which is why it got me doing research. It's all pretty new to me, any information is good information, so I appreciate your input.

You may want to PM Shooter about a set up I did and he gave me great advice.

harrimg

For me, it give me better control, I have three or four ball heads and I got tired of them slipping to one side or the other when I put a larger lens on. Once I started using the gimbal, I found it to work best for me with any lens.

erpatterson78 Loc: Ohio

harrimg wrote:

Go for a Gimbal head for you tripod.

I did a google search on this, and I saw a Trey Ratcliff video of him showing users how to use a gambal tripod. The lens he had on his camera was like a telescope used at NASA, it was unreal. back to the point I was going to make, I might now be ready for these types of tripods, as I don't have a heavy camera nor can I afford them :) from what I was seeing these can range from a few hundred bucks past 1k.

harrimg

I have two (one for me one for wife) Opteka heads, their $149.95, Ebay shipped to the house. I paid more for some of my ball mounts that I now have just sitting around.
If I can help any more just e-mail, but I will be off the web for a day or two as I am traveling back from Cape Town SA to the US today.