zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

I really like my new Dolica Aluminum Pro Tripod. It came with both a ball head and a pan head. The issue seems to be with the ball head. It supposed to support 17 lbs. max load. When I tried using it with my Canon T3i and my Sigma 150-500 lens, it doesn't seen to tighten down as well as it should. It seems to be to loose. This is my first time using a ball head so I don't know if there is a trick to getting the big lens tightened down properly or not. Help Please!

I'm attaching the lens to the head not the camera. The camera and lens combined do not weigh 17 lbs.

TIA,

zuzanne

ncshutterbug

Suzanne, don't know if this is your problem, but I bought a tripod several years ago which flipped over repeatedly with my t3 and short lens. It turned out the little spring loaded button that held the QR plate was defective. The store gave me my money back and sent it back to the manufacturer. Don't wait too long or they won't do anything.

wthomson Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Give Dolica customer service a call (626-968-3366). They seem to be somewhat understaffed and hard to reach, but I've found them quite helpful.

Helge Loc: Sarnia, ON, Canada

That problem is common with lower priced tripod heads, the Pan head might work a bit better. You did not mention what model tripod & heads combination you have. It's not just the weight that is a concern it's the balance of the lens that may be causing being able to tighten the ball head enough to keep it from moving. Tightening with the small knobs on the ball head is another problem. An upgrade on the Tripod and Head might be the answer. You don't need to get frustrated trying to make it work properly and maybe miss some good shots.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

I have never heard of nor used a Dolica tripod and head, but from what I see online after googling them, I strongly suspect that you could use a pair of vicegrips to tighten the knob on your head and it will not hold your gear. In tripods and ballheads you generally get what you pay for. Add to the mix the fact that weight limits shown in advertising seldom comes anywhere near the actual weight bearing ability.

As mentioned in another reply, the real world holding power of a head is greatly influenced by the torquing forces of the gear you are mounting.

I am reasonably sure that your problem has less to do with defective springs or anything else. Your problem is simply that the head is not of high enough quality to do what you want it to do. Along the same lines, even if you were to get the gear firmly clamped in the ball, I would not be surprised if the legs flexed too much to offer firm support.

The cold hard fact is that when it comes to legs and heads, there are no bargains. It is like buying a Yugo and expecting it to perform like a BMW. I certainly understand the lure (or financial necessity) of a low priced rig, but there is no such thing as a good, inexpensive tripod or head.

Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

A full gimbal head works best with a lens of this size. The Jobu Junior is what I use.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=10682023&InitialSearch=yes&sts=pi

You will need an Acra-Swiss type plate like this for your lens:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1062505-REG/desmond_dpl_115_4_5_long_lens.html

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Does that ball head feature a separate tension control (that's the one to use to custom set the ball head to individual lenses)?

bruswen Loc: Eugene OR

Zuzanne, unfortunately you have too much lens for your tripod and head. The weight ratings on tripods are merely a marketing tool kind of like megapixels in cameras. In a camera, sensor size, quality of lens, and good technique have more to do with good pictures than megapixels. In tripods there is no standardized test to estimate the weight handling capacity of a tripod and head, so each manufacturer gives a rating, but they are not a reliable tool to use in selecting a tripod. I have heard some people advise others to look for a weight rating triple your heaviest camera/lens combo, but even that is not enough margin of error. If you search "tripod for 600mm" here on UHH you will find lots of discussions on the subject. I would recommend you look for posts from Gene51, I can't think of anyone who gives better advice on tripods.

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Thank you all for your help and advice. Sorry I didn't responds sooner. I had cataract surgery yesterday and things are still a bit blurry. I will research your suggestions as soon as my eye gets better.

zuzanne

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

I have to concur with bruswen, you have way too much lens for your little ball head.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I bought a Giottos Aluminium tripod and head (light weight) which was great until I locked the head. It would not lock properly at all. When I called Giottos they said that because aluminium was too soft a material for screwing into, a threaded steel sleeve was GLUED into the aluminium and quite likely the glue wasn't sticking properly.

I took the head apart and found the glue was still not set on the inset thread.

They gave me back my money, did not want the tripod or head back, so now I use it for holding a flash gun. Works well for that.