New and improved Bogen / Manfrotto 3021Pro?

[slejhamer]

Got my new 'pod from B&H today.

Opened up the box and was pleasantly surprised to find that the 3021Pro now comes with leg warmers! When did that happen?

Apparently they've made a couple other improvements - notably, the center column was redesigned and the "low angle adapter" is now a thing of the past. Well I'll probably end up leaving the center column in the trunk most of the time, a la Scottes, but it's interesting to know that they've made a good thing better.

Leg warmers! Whoo!
:D

[cc10d]

Sounds good, I wonder if they are available for replacement parts, for those of us who are now using pipe insulation. They maight look a bit nicer. Congratulations!

[defordphoto]

I bought mine in the summer and that's the configuration I got...

[mattchase]

I've been thinking about replacing my old style 3021 with the new Pro model, just haven't had the need to do it yet. Maybe you can answer a question for me about it though...will the leg warmers fit over a size 9 foot?

[slejhamer]

LOL matt. I guess it would depend more on how skinny your legs are.

RFM: interesting that it's been upgraded that long. Most of the web stores are still showing the older model so that's what I expected. I guess I wasn't paying attention when I made the purchase because B&H definitely shows the new one! Well like I said it was a pleasant surprise!

Thanks.

(Pic of older model attached)

[Scottes]

...and the "low angle adapter" is now a thing of the past... I'm confused. I thought that the "low angle adapter" was the little gizmo at the bottom of the center column. That is, the whatchamacallit that needed to be attached to the tripod itself once the center column was removed. In other words, the doo-hickey which directly connected to the head when the center column was removed. You know, the triangular thingamabob.

If you remove the center column how do you attach the head to the tripod?


Leg warmers... jealousy runs rampant...

[slejhamer]

I'm confused. ... gizmo ... whatchamacallit ... doo-hickey ... triangular thingamabob.

Leg warmers... jealousy runs rampant...


Scott, because I've only read about the older model and can't make a hands-on comparison, all I know is that the literature says this:

The main refinement to this series is with the center column. Designed as an alternative to the low-angle adapter, the new center column enables the head to be left mounted to the column when switching between low angle and normal shooting.

They make it sound like this was the BIG improvement in the new model, and then they mention the leg warmers as sort of an "oh yeah, we did this too" sort of thing. (Well, it's the second bullet point anyway.)

Triangular thingamabob? Not sure about that. On mine the platform unscrews from the center column and can then be reinserted into the dome-shaped whooziwhatsit on top of the legs. The bottom of the platform is tapered, but there's no triangle.

Re-reading what Bogen/Manfrotto wrote, I think they meant it keeps the head mounted to the center platform, rather than the actual column which of course can be removed. Don't know if that's different from yours or not.

[defordphoto]

Slej: Dunno about the alleged triangle thingie. Mine works the way you describe. I love these legs and am gonna order the spikes for it too.

[Scottes]

OK, I think I know what they mean. On mine, purchased about 9-10 months ago, the bottom of the center column has a triangular doohickey screwed into it. When you unscrew that triangular piece it has another part to it which is placed into the dome. You then tighten up the dome and you now have a place to mount the head.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Tripod_5110.jpg

So the Oblong Thing goes into the dome, you tighten the screw on the front there, and the head then screws into the triangle - you can kinda see the screw.

[Tom W]

Got my new 'pod from B&H today.

Opened up the box and was pleasantly surprised to find that the 3021Pro now comes with leg warmers! When did that happen?

Apparently they've made a couple other improvements - notably, the center column was redesigned and the "low angle adapter" is now a thing of the past. Well I'll probably end up leaving the center column in the trunk most of the time, a la Scottes, but it's interesting to know that they've made a good thing better.

Leg warmers! Whoo!
:D

Wow!! You got the "Flashdance" commemorative edition! :)

[Tom W]

And, mine is just like Scottes with the triangle and oblong thing. I don't know if that's the old or new version.

All I know is that I didn't get leg warmers. I got the Clint Eastwood version instead - spurs on all 3 legs.

[robekert]

Good luck with the new pod, Mitch. It provides a nice platform for your camera. I paid about 25 bucks for my "leg warmers" for my 3021 Pro (Black) about 2 yrs. ago.
Cheers,
Rob

[Scottes]

Man I didn't even get spurs! Just little rubber booties. I got ripped off.

Triangular doohickies, oblong thigies, no leg warmers and booties. They sold me a girlie tripod and I paid the same as a real man's tripod. :( :( :( :(

:-)

[defordphoto]

And, mine is just like Scottes with the triangle and oblong thing. I don't know if that's the old or new version.

All I know is that I didn't get leg warmers. I got the Clint Eastwood version instead - spurs on all 3 legs.

That's the old version. The new version has a two-piece center column.

Check it out HERE (http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=86&itemid=2632)

[thomascanty]

That's the old version. The new version has a two-piece center column.

Check it out

Wow, that's a LOT different than my old 3021 (non-pro) legs (though I did add some third-party leg warmers to mine... :lol: ).

Looks like it's time to upgrade!

[Tom W]

That's the old version. The new version has a two-piece center column.

Check it out HERE (http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=86&itemid=2632)

Well, now. The two-piece center column is different. I don't know if its better for my purposes. but it looks to be more flexible.

[Chris1le]

Looks like those of us with older versions may be able to upgrade to the new center column. For $63. Will have to pay even more for leg warmers.:) :confused: :rolleyes:

http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/itemalone.php3?itemid=2688

[defordphoto]

Well, now. The two-piece center column is different. I don't know if its better for my purposes. but it looks to be more flexible.

It's awesome if you do alot of low, macro-type shots. It does give you quite a bit of flexibility.

[slejhamer]

Wow!! You got the "Flashdance" commemorative edition! :)

Leg warmers ... spikes ... spurs ... Jennifer Beals ... ooh sorry, the mind is wandering again. ;)

[Ferdinand]

I got my Bogen 3021BRPO ( http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=86&itemid=2632 ) last week and I love it to death. Coupled with the 486RC2 for 13 lbs. of weight management real cool.

Here are 2 photos taken with that configuration first time I took it out, taken last Sunday.

http://205.177.13.91/mcauslan/misc/IMG_0390a.jpg
http://205.177.13.91/mcauslan/misc/IMG_0411a.jpg

[walkien]

I just bought my 3021BPRO 2 weeks ago, along with the 322RC2 ball head. I'm telling you, this is a very very solid, and sturdy tripod. I also have other brand tripods, they are all in the storage room now. :-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/HenryW/January%202005/January%2001/CRW_8869.jpg

[slejhamer]

Nice images Ferdinand and Walkien!

[Ikinaa]

Another head question : I got the 055/3021PRO
Now I'm hesitating between the 322RC2-head and the 486RC2 head.
Is the 'joystick'-grip really that much comfortable? Is it worth the 50% price difference. From the view of a 20D with some standard (WA-) lens?

[slejhamer]

Another head question : I got the 055/3021PRO
Now I'm hesitating between the 322RC2-head and the 486RC2 head.
Is the 'joystick'-grip really that much comfortable? Is it worth the 50% price difference. From the view of a 20D with some standard (WA-) lens?

I have two 486RC2 heads (one is on my monopod) and they are good enough to support my 10D with 70-200 f/4L lens, even in vertical position. Very easy to use. If I had heavier lenses I'd probably want the 488 though.

Can't speak for the 322 but it seems to be a big improvement over the previous joystick-style heads.