Question About New Tripod (Page 2): Excellent info. This is very helpful. Thank you so much.

theehmann

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

I own and continuously use several Manfrotto and G... (show quote)

Excellent info. This is very helpful. Thank you so much.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

theehmann wrote:

Dear friends,
I am looking at purchasing a Gitzo carbon tripod. Am I able to transfer my Manfrotto ball head from my old tripod to a new one? Are there major disadvantages to doing this? My Manfrotto works fine.
Many thanks for your comments.

My Manfrotto allows for the head to easily be unscrewed. In fact I purchased the head and tripod separate.
If Gitzo has the standard thread for most tripod heads it is just a matter of screwing the head off one and putting on the other.
If the tripod for some odd reason has the head permanently fastened I doubt it will be threaded for transfer to any other tripod.

theehmann

Architect1776 wrote:

My Manfrotto allows for the head to easily be unscrewed. In fact I purchased the head and tripod separate.
If Gitzo has the standard thread for most tripod heads it is just a matter of screwing the head off one and putting on the other.
If the tripod for some odd reason has the head permanently fastened I doubt it will be threaded for transfer to any other tripod.

Thank you so much.

User ID

David Martin wrote:

The Gitzo will typically have a reversible screw, 1/4" on one end and 3/8" on the other, for attaching a ball head, gimbal head, etc. How does your Manfrotto ball head attach to your current tripod? If it is easily removed, and attaches via 1/4" or 3/8" screw, you should be ok.

Manfrotto heads are 3/8”. It may seem unremovable until you discover the lock screw that prevents accidentally partly unscrewing the head enough to make it wobble. Most Manfrotto heads are not worth transferring to a really nice tripod ... major mismatch in user experience.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

theehmann wrote:

Dear friends,
I am looking at purchasing a Gitzo carbon tripod. Am I able to transfer my Manfrotto ball head from my old tripod to a new one? Are there major disadvantages to doing this? My Manfrotto works fine.
Many thanks for your comments.

My gitzo series 5 has the stud. I put an arca swiss quick release on it. Then my ballhead and gimbal head have arca swiss plates on them. Makes swapping head easy and quick. Steve at Backcountry gallery has a good video on it.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

theehmann wrote:

Dear friends,
I am looking at purchasing a Gitzo carbon tripod. Am I able to transfer my Manfrotto ball head from my old tripod to a new one? Are there major disadvantages to doing this? My Manfrotto works fine.
Many thanks for your comments.

Most Manfrotto heads rely upon some secondary set screws underneath the platform the head sits upon, to lock the head in place. You have to loosen those before you can unscrew the head from the main 3/8" mounting bolt.

Gitzo tripods do not have any means of similarly locking a head in place, but do have a 3/8" main mounting bolt (that's the standard used on most tripods).

I use a high quality Kirk BH-1 ballhead on one of my Gitzo tripods and a cheap Smith-Victor BH8 on another. Both are heavy duty heads rated for 50 lb. and have stayed on the tripods just fine... never loosened up. Might be a good idea to put a bit of blue Locktite on the bolt, though I haven't done so. (Don't use the red, high strength Locktite.)

Neither Gitzo nor Manfrotto were offering heads with Arca-Swiss compatible quick release platforms, back when I got the tripods. That's one reason I went with other brands. (AFAIK, both now offer some heads with Arca QR compatibility... but pretty sure both still offer proprietary QR too, that aren't interchangeable with anyone else's.)

Incidentally, Manfrotto and Gitzo are owned by the same parent company. A British firm called Vitec Group owns both brands, as well as Joby, Sachtler, O'Connor, and Vinten tripods... plus Avenger stands, Lowepro camera bags and a wide variety of other photo gear.

theehmann

amfoto1 wrote:

Most Manfrotto heads rely upon some secondary set ... (show quote)

Great info. Much appreciated.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

amfoto1 wrote:

Most Manfrotto heads rely upon some secondary set ... (show quote)

I installed a arca quick release on mine. Has worked well for several years. Second the suggestion for blue loctite

theehmann

Drbobcameraguy wrote:

I installed a arca quick release on mine. Has worked well for several years. Second the suggestion for blue loctite

Thank you for your reply.
Have a great weekend.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

theehmann wrote:

Dear friends,
I am looking at purchasing a Gitzo carbon tripod. Am I able to transfer my Manfrotto ball head from my old tripod to a new one? Are there major disadvantages to doing this? My Manfrotto works fine.
Many thanks for your comments.

If the Manfrotto works fine what is the point of changing.

theehmann

joer wrote:

If the Manfrotto works fine what is the point of changing.

For darn sure! Thank you Joe.