Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Here it is being used and the results.

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ecurb1105

Get rid of the ball head. That is your problem.

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

I am not sure what you mean by "creep", but I have long noticed that when I am attempting to manually focus a long lens in live view, upon releasing the focusing ring the assembly seems to "sag" a little bit. For example, when focusing upon the moon in this manner, upon release of the focus ring the moon will appear to rise up in the LCD live view (or the lens "sags" downward, causing that appearance on the LCD). After much tightening of ball heads, etc., the same happens, even using a very sturdy Sirui K-40 ball head. I have concluded that, in my case at least, there is simply some slight play, which I refer to as "sag", between the mounting rings on the respective lenses and cameras that I use. It is especially pronounced when using a third-party lens attached to my Sony a6000 via an adapter, all of which provides more opportunity for play or sag between the various connecting rings. At long focal lengths and high magnifications, even slight play or sag appears very noticeable.

Also, I think that there is some possibility of some "play" at the camera tripod mounting point. The whole assembly is attached to the tripod by a single small screw which screws into the camera base for only 1/4" or so, and that only hand tightened. The torque put on this point by a long lens tending to rotate the camera forward and downward around this point has to be relatively great.

I am thinking that I need some sort of long lens support device which would provide some degree of support for the camera/lens assembly at at least two points, but have not yet tried any such device.

Best regards,

RRS Loc: Not sure

Nice work. How close is that set up about to tip over with that much weight on the head? I have a Manfrotto tripod that will do the same thing and I also have the same head but I've always had to put some added weight on the other end of the head for balance. I replaced the center shaft with their very short shaft and just moved the legs all the way out and try to get as close to the ground as possible. My tripod is the o55XPROB.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

If its a aluminum try pod just tighten with a Allan wrench that why they give you one I think its metric .

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

Also, using the drop in plate will allow one to move camera and lens forward or back to a point of balance when horizontal, greatly reducing up or down slippage after focus.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

I always carry a set of several wrenches that fit various parts of my tripod.
Now and then it needs to be adjusted.
I assume it is the legs that are slowly slipping.
If it is the ball head that is sagging, you may need a larger ball head.

BartHx

With mine, the tool is shaped like a typical Allen wrench, but the ends are actually Torx drives. You would probably be able to find an Allen wrench that would work, but I would be concerned about potential damage to the screw heads. Since Torx drives are now easily available, I would stick with that.

JBGLADSTONE Loc: Oregon

Thanks everyone. Being old I guess allows for forgetting the simple fixes. So I tighten down the legs and that minimized movement. However. I found to eliminate total movement, was to hang my camera backpack bag(about 15lbs). This locked the tripod down.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

This is really a ridicules set up get rid of the ball head

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

I switched to a ball head over 30 years ago and would never go back to dealing
with arms and knobs sticking out all over the place on a tripod head.

BartHx

Due to an unfortunate incident many, many years ago with an inexpensive ball head (when I was just getting serious enough to start using a tripod) I will not use one. Yes, I know that designs have improved over the past 50+ years, but that's just me. On the other hand, if I were to use a ball head, I would make sure that it was in a position underneath the camera (I can't tell for sure what the orientation is in the photos since I am not familiar with the particular mount) where gravity could assist in holding the camera in position rather than next to the camera where you are relying entirely on friction in the head to hold the weight. In addition, with the particular tripod in question and using the side arm option, I would make sure the weight of the gear was where it could be solidly distributed on all three legs to avoid tipping. I do much of my shooting in the central Sierra Nevada where granite makes a very unforgiving surface on which to drop anything.