Yet another tripod setup Q! Markins or Acratech??

[tornado]

I'm sorry to post yet another one of these...

I narrowed it down to the feisol 3441 legs (price and size/lightweight)

But the ballhead desition makes my head spin, Started with wanting the acratech ultimate (got good reviews) but the lack of tention control pushed me over to markins Q3,
witch is good BUT the pan screw seems to be failing on several heads (They claim to have fixed it...:confused: ).
Then i'm back with acratech and this time the V2.
They fixed some minor design weaknesses on the ultimate but is a bit more expensive.:confused:

Any ideas/views??


My biggest lens in the future would be 100-400 but for now the small/medium lenses is what i'll be using.
I havent set my spending limit yet (my wallet has these rules:lol: ) but inside reasonable spending for an amateur.:cool:

[la canon amateur]

You may want to check out this review that I have linked below, I purchased the Markins M10 Q-ball with a really right stuff clamp and L plate a while back. Its performed very well so far. You might consider the M-20.

http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/non-nikon_articles/markins/index.html (http://http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/non-nikon_articles/markins/index.html)
Have you looked at Markins web site and checked out there demos?

[tornado]

Yes i have seen the markins site, not the nikonians (my impression is that they are a bit partial, don't know why), but the price of M10 and M20 is starting to get a bit pricey for me:)
Was hoping to stay with Q3 as an option...

[la canon amateur]

Yes I think they are partial now, but it seems that it came with experience, trial and error. I meant to send you a different link last night. It’s the read on selecting a tripod in general with several links to the more specific areas, such as ball heads & clamps, etc. The link to a vibration test near the end of the read was some what revealing. I ended up getting the Markins with the Really Right Stuff clamp after I had seen several experienced photographers recommend doing so in reviews, forums and blogs. It’s a perfect match for me at this time. I like the way you can attach the camera without having to slide it out of the clamp. The clamp opens fully so you can lift it or set it back down on the clamp. Here's the link to the tripod read. It’s a little long but quite informative. And no this (the nikonians) wasn't the only place that highly recommended the Markins. Oh and by the way, good luck with your choice. What ever you end up choosing, let us know how satisfied you are and if its performing to your expectations.

http://www.nikonians.org/tripods/

[tornado]

Your link is worth the read, going to read it carefully tonight.
I noticed markins has an air bubble leveler in the QR clamp!! A big + in their favor.

In their website it is stated:
"Ideal ballhead for small SLR cameras such as Nikon D70 or Canon 20D with mid-zoom lens (70-200mm/f2.8)"
"Maximum Load 65 lbs (30 kg)"
Who thinks the text does not reflect the spec?? Small camera/mid lens =30kg??
maybe the text is misinterpreted/wrong?

But i'm starting to like the markins Q3. (The M10/20 is still to much $$ for me)

Thanks for your input! when purchased and tested i'll post my experience. (whatever i end up with)

[la canon amateur]

Yes the Markins clamp does have the leveling bubble. But the plate covers it up when the camera is attached, at least the clamp for the M10 did. That's what I liked about the RRS clamp. The bubble can be seen with the camera attached. Though, it may be because of the size of the clamp that I got. The RRS clamp I have is the quick release type and not the knob. But also I did splurge getting what I did. I had to convince myself that it would save me money in the long run. Felt guilty when I told the Wife, but she reassured me that in the long run it was the right purchase.... Used some of my tax refund to make the purchase. I looked hard at the Arca's, & RSS's before settling on the M10. RSS is really proud of there products, the prices are unreal.....Has to be quite a margin.

[Mike K]

I agree with la amateur, the RRS lever camp is great stuff. That and my L plate are by far my most frequently used accessories. Aslo I find the lever clamp to be safer, it doesn't let you think you are tight in the clamp unless you really are. I have had a camera fall out of and acratech clamp even though it was screwed tightly because the plate was in at an angle.

The RRS has a new catalogue.
http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/ReallyRightStuff2007.pdf

Markins are Acratech are both fine products, the marking ball is very smooth in action. I didn't much like the panning knob on the Acratech, the Markins is only marginally better. They are both like a set screw on the panning bearing.
Mike K

[J Rabin]

As a person who has owned and/or used them, they are all fine pieces of machined workmanship. Used well, they last your lifetime and get inherited by the family.

1. Since you are in EU, why not get the "Arca-Swiss Monoball Z1 SP" with flip lock? It's a bit cheaper than Really Right Stuff and Markins, very nice, with aspherical ball and drag set inside the main tension knob A-S pioneered, which Markins copied and improved on. I never used it, but has good reputation.

2. Depending on what your use is, a cheaper entry point for you may be Bogen/Manfrotta 488CR2, with the clamp changed to an RRS, Kirk, or other A-S clamp, and have enough function. Who knows, it may be all you need! The B/M hydrostatic heads are really stable converted this way.

3. The Markins M-10L is everything company founder says it is. It's weight to holding strength ratio and stability is ahead of others. Wonderful smoothness. Among its nicest features (beside the left side knob, smoothness, stability, etc), is having the drag set control INSIDE the main tension knob, improving on EU Arca-Swiss design. The ONLY design weakness of the Markins M10L is the panning lock, which requires too much tension to gain holding power when macro shooting. I use heavy macro gear with the head mounted horizontal on horizontal arm of tripod, the clamp up in the drop notch. With 5-6 pounds, the panning lock would slip. I hated to sell mine, because macro is my main tripod use. I still miss my Markins M10L for regular use. Beautiful.

4. The AcraTech with rubber grips and left control knob is machined nice. The clamp knob is good, closes quicker than Markins and others. However, unless your main criteria is backpacking, climbing, camping, etc., the funky design quickly begins "getting in the way" of the photographer because of the adjustments required to pan and tilt. While it is beautifully made, I had to sell it. Under load of my macro gear, the whole metal alloy structure of the cutaway head began to "deflect" and sag under the load because of design. Wonderfully made, but result was equal to sagging or drifting that cheap heads do. I sold it quick.

5. A well-machined "price-point" leader is smaller Kirk Photo BH-3 head. $100 USD cheaper than others in its class. Rugged. Good clamp with spirit level closes with few turns, like AcraTech. Good value. For regular use (not hiking, camping, climbing, etc.), where price is concern, I'd get Kirk before AcraTech. I have not used the Kirk, so don't know how its panning brake is, but I use their camera plates, and their clamp on my monopod.

6. Unless you need Markins Q3 Emile for backpacking, camping, travel, etc., I can't see the point. You will outgrow it, then want to sell it and move on. Buy right first time. It is more an advanced digicam support than an SLR support when used from home or car.

7. Then there are the Really Right Stuff ballheads. Everyone with lots of money, or frustration from other heads, ends up at RRS eventually! If you want to spend just $50 USD more than Markins, then get the last ballhead you;ll buy. If you need to do macro, with a ballhead held horizontal, RRS's panning brake is the ONLY one that holds the weight of my gear against slip, drift, or sag.

People who own RRS, Kirk, or Markins usually never trade up. Many other people ultimately trade up in frustration.
I ultimately ended up with RRS.

That's my take....Jack

[blonde]

i just got my Markins M20 and even though i haven't had the chance to really test it, i can tell you right now that it is a class A product. very smooth, light and i couldn't move the ball even when i tried with all my strength.

[BigDaddie]

...

7. Then there are the Really Right Stuff ballheads. Everyone with lots of money, or frustration from other heads, ends up at RRS eventually! If you want to spend just $50 USD more than Markins, then get the last ballhead you;ll buy. If you need to do macro, with a ballhead held horizontal, RRS's panning brake is the ONLY one that holds the weight of my gear against slip, drift, or sag. ...

Your very comprehensive post got me interested, as my prime interest in a ballhead is for macro photography. I'd like a ballhead that does not shift the slightest amount when being locked down, which can be deadly for macro composition.

When you recommend the RRS ballheads, are you specifically referring to the BH-55? Or does your same praise extend to the BH-40?

I'd be curious how you'd rate the Markins M10 vs. the BH-40, if you've tried it.

Thank you.

[JohnJ80]

Markins. Amazing smoothness and handling. Absolute locked when you want it to be.

J

[squiress]

I got the Markins Q3 primarily for use on a travel tripod (1 series Gitzo equivalent). It is outstanding. I would agree with previous post to consider ArcaSwiss Z-1. Cost is only a little more than Q3 and up quite a bit in load capacity if I remember correctly. Certainly more available in Europe.

Stew