I found a very nice (and heavy) Manfrotto tripod at a garage sale with the 8265 Pistol Grip head. The head doesn't lock in position when you release the trigger (or not very well, anyway). I did some searching and there is a small screw that you're supposed to be able to adjust, but it looks like a stripped allen head. Also the tripod camera plate is missing. The reviews I've read on the head are mixed. I like the idea of having a pistol grip head, but I'm not sure it's worth getting repaired (or where to have that done) and buying a new plate. Any experience with this head or thoughts on the matter would be appreciated. Should I just scrap it and get a good ball head?
I've used the pistol grip head. For most purposes a ball head is superior. I wouldn't bother getting and trying to get fixed, the pistol grip head.
the pistol grip I have is a 3265 I had given up trying to adjust the tensioning screw it just wouldn't work then after it sat idle for a couple of years I looked it up and found the allen screw on the front I tightened it up and It now works Perfectly That small allen screw made all the difference
the allen head screw is a 3/32 inch
I'll see if I can just replace it with one from a good hardware store. Might just do the trick if I can get it out.
fdoyle3 wrote:
the allen head screw is a 3/32 inch
AlohaBob wrote:
I found a very nice (and heavy) Manfrotto tripod at a garage sale with the 8265 Pistol Grip head. The head doesn't lock in position when you release the trigger (or not very well, anyway). I did some searching and there is a small screw that you're supposed to be able to adjust, but it looks like a stripped allen head. Also the tripod camera plate is missing. The reviews I've read on the head are mixed. I like the idea of having a pistol grip head, but I'm not sure it's worth getting repaired (or where to have that done) and buying a new plate. Any experience with this head or thoughts on the matter would be appreciated. Should I just scrap it and get a good ball head?
I found a very nice (and heavy) Manfrotto tripod a... (
show quote)
I have a Manfrotto Pistol grip with ball head and stopped using it several years ago. My take is this: unless the lens/camera combo is really light, they don't hold tight enough. The other factor is that as you adjust (if you frame tight) there is just enough movement between what you intended and what you get to be aggravating. I now use a three way geared head. For what I do vastly superior to ballheads and pistol grips in terms of precision--and holding the exact position I intended.
Shellback
Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas
Good point. The heaviest I shoot currently is SonyA77 with Minolta 70-200 beer can lens, so is probably light enough to be workable. If I'm going to all that trouble, I'll probably use a remote shutter release. I don't shoot moving targets :)
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
I have a Manfrotto Pistol grip with ball head and stopped using it several years ago. My take is this: unless the lens/camera combo is really light, they don't hold tight enough. The other factor is that as you adjust (if you frame tight) there is just enough movement between what you intended and what you get to be aggravating. I now use a three way geared head. For what I do vastly superior to ballheads and pistol grips in terms of precision--and holding the exact position I intended.
Perfect. I'm going to try a DIY approach to fixing and if can't easily do it, I'll contact one of these gentlemen.
AlohaBob wrote:
I found a very nice (and heavy) Manfrotto tripod at a garage sale with the 8265 Pistol Grip head. The head doesn't lock in position when you release the trigger (or not very well, anyway). I did some searching and there is a small screw that you're supposed to be able to adjust, but it looks like a stripped allen head. Also the tripod camera plate is missing. The reviews I've read on the head are mixed. I like the idea of having a pistol grip head, but I'm not sure it's worth getting repaired (or where to have that done) and buying a new plate. Any experience with this head or thoughts on the matter would be appreciated. Should I just scrap it and get a good ball head?
I found a very nice (and heavy) Manfrotto tripod a... (
show quote)
The locking tension is controlled by the allen screw, the adjustment resistance is provide by the tension knob (which adjusts the red indicator on the side).
A video on how to clean it and put it back together is here:
http://bogentripodparts.com/repairs.htmStep by step disassembly:
http://bogentripodparts.com/JOYSTICKHEAD%20ASSEMBLY.htmThe hard part is getting the hand lever spring assembly back in...see the video for hints. What they don't address is keeping the tension bolt in place while doing it. I found that backing it way out will keep it from spinning around while you fiddle with the rest of this.
That said, I am not a fan of this head. I had to repair mine a couple of years ago, and it was a pain to put back together. For this post, I took it apart again. As Bill says, "Thbbft! Ack!"
Who the hell designed this thing?
At any rate; it's been sitting in my Ballhead box for years. I'd rather grab my Sunpak pistol head than this thing. I really should sell it.
You can readily (I did not say easily) replace the allen head at the hardware store. Length is not super critical; I wouldn't go shorter but a little longer is OK.
The QR plate is the standard 200-PL plate used by many Manfrotto heads; readily available less than $20. Been a while since I used any but the pivot head (on my monopod).
My advice; get a decent ARCA ball head. Much more flexible.
Thanks! I appreciate you having gone to all that trouble to answer a question. You're setting a very high standard; I'll have to be more helpful myself in the future!
jcboy3 wrote:
The locking tension is controlled by the allen screw, the adjustment resistance is provide by the tension knob (which adjusts the red indicator on the side).
A video on how to clean it and put it back together is here:
http://bogentripodparts.com/repairs.htmStep by step disassembly:
http://bogentripodparts.com/JOYSTICKHEAD%20ASSEMBLY.htmThe hard part is getting the hand lever spring assembly back in...see the video for hints. What they don't address is keeping the tension bolt in place while doing it. I found that backing it way out will keep it from spinning around while you fiddle with the rest of this.
That said, I am not a fan of this head. I had to repair mine a couple of years ago, and it was a pain to put back together. For this post, I took it apart again. As Bill says, "Thbbft! Ack!"
Who the hell designed this thing?
At any rate; it's been sitting in my Ballhead box for years. I'd rather grab my Sunpak pistol head than this thing. I really should sell it.
You can readily (I did not say easily) replace the allen head at the hardware store. Length is not super critical; I wouldn't go shorter but a little longer is OK.
The QR plate is the standard 200-PL plate used by many Manfrotto heads; readily available less than $20. Been a while since I used any but the pivot head (on my monopod).
My advice; get a decent ARCA ball head. Much more flexible.
The locking tension is controlled by the allen scr... (
show quote)
AlohaBob wrote:
Thanks! I appreciate you having gone to all that trouble to answer a question. You're setting a very high standard; I'll have to be more helpful myself in the future!
Thank you.
Be careful when putting it back together, and do it in a room that doesn't have anything easily breakable. I've shot the plastic cover for the spring like a champagne cork (that's why they recommend using the cloth to wrap it up).
jcboy3 wrote:
Thank you.
Be careful when putting it back together, and do it in a room that doesn't have anything easily breakable. I've shot the plastic cover for the spring like a champagne cork (that's why they recommend using the cloth to wrap it up).
LOL. I thought that was because you had a tendency to throw things when they didn't go back together easily.
8-)
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