Markins base plate? Why?

[wallybud]

About to pick up a Markins ballhead (I think - If it fits an RRS L bracket - I haven't gotten that far yet ;))

I was just wondering what the black/blue/or red base plates do?
Someone shine some light on this for me please :)

Thanks

[René Damkot]

A Makins QR will take a RRS L plate (I use that combo)
The Markins base plate allows you to remove the center column on a series 2 (and series 3?) Mountaineer tripod, and supposedly adds a bit of stability.

[argyle]

Just as Rene said...plus, it looks good. ;)

http://northlake.smugmug.com/photos/271631525_QCHdo-XL.jpg

[wallybud]

But I think my new gitzo came with a top plate...you wont be able to see it when the ballhead is mounted but there isn't a hole there haha...so thats all...

Damn it does look real good :)

hmmm wasting money...?

[jhom]

Here is the Markins study that explains the usefulness of the tripod base: http://markins.com/charlie/report4e6.pdf.

As already stated, the Markins ballheads will accept the RRS L bracket.

...and yes, it does look good...

M10 with a TB20 on a 2530
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5864/m10rh3.jpg

Q3 with a TB20 on a 2530
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5561/q3tb202530rrski1.jpg

[wallybud]

I've sorta decided to go with an M10 and the RRS quick release (and from what I can see quality aside - it looks sexy)

The one thing Im unsure about is I think - but maybe I'm wrong - Is my plain base on my GT3541XLS bigger than your 2 series? If so (mine has a plate already build in (to cover the hole ;))) would there be all this extra room on the side if I attach an M10 right to the tripod?

Or even space left over if I attach a Markins base?
Your markins base perfects overlaps by like a MM...I have a feeling ill have all this extra tripod sticking out:confused:

Thanks for the help

[Lowner]

Does it matter? As long as it's doing its job?

[TheHoff]

I posted in the other thread, but here is a pic of the two

http://i25.tinypic.com/m7q6x.jpg

3540ls + gunmetal grey Markins M-10

[René Damkot]

3540 is a Systematic Tripod.
The Markins tripod base won't fit. As I said, it's for Mountaineer tripods, to replace the center column.

Size wise, the series 3 tripods are better matched to an M20.

That said, I have an M10 on my 1325 with center column:

http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/080719Gitzo/content/bin/images/large/rhd_20080719_Gitzo006.jpg

[ben_r_]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5561/q3tb202530rrski1.jpg

Wow that looks nice!!!



http://i25.tinypic.com/m7q6x.jpg


Hoff that M10 looks so tiny on the 3 series! While Im 100% sure it is more stable than MOST need, I didnt expect the M10 to be so much smaller than the base plate on the 3 series! Looks like when I finally get my 3541 Ill be pairing it with an M20. The M20 is more added stability that I probably dont need, only a bit more in cost, but looks like it will match the the 3 series better.

[TheHoff]

Awww it doesn't look nearly so odd when it is in use :D Seriously, with a camera on it, it looks perfectly normal.

The m20 is certainly the "right" head for the 3-series but the M10 works just as well. There is no instability because the base is larger than the head and I save some weight because I don't need the M20 capacity right now. For future-proofing, yea, get the M20, but if your lenses don't require it, the M10 is a dream and saves 70g and $50. (I found mine LNIB, special edition gunmetal grey, on the buy/sell so it was an easy choice)

[jhom]

I've sorta decided to go with an M10 and the RRS quick release (and from what I can see quality aside - it looks sexy)

The one thing Im unsure about is I think - but maybe I'm wrong - Is my plain base on my GT3541XLS bigger than your 2 series? If so (mine has a plate already build in (to cover the hole ;))) would there be all this extra room on the side if I attach an M10 right to the tripod?

Or even space left over if I attach a Markins base?
Your markins base perfects overlaps by like a MM...I have a feeling ill have all this extra tripod sticking out:confused:

Thanks for the help

At this time, Markins doesn't have a tripod base that will fit the GT3541XLS.

[wallybud]

Awww it doesn't look nearly so odd when it is in use :D Seriously, with a camera on it, it looks perfectly normal.

The m20 is certainly the "right" head for the 3-series but the M10 works just as well. There is no instability because the base is larger than the head and I save some weight because I don't need the M20 capacity right now. For future-proofing, yea, get the M20, but if your lenses don't require it, the M10 is a dream and saves 70g and $50. (I found mine LNIB, special edition gunmetal grey, on the buy/sell so it was an easy choice)

:) yeah I'm sure it looks much better with the camera mounted...Even though mine will look odd like that I can't trade off stability I don't need/extra weight for a better look...hopefully I can get one LNIB also at a lower cost (I just hope it's not red ;)) - Blue would ok as my camera strap is a picasso type blue and it'll match ;)

At this time, Markins doesn't have a tripod base that will fit the GT3541XLS.

Thanks...I didn't know they where only for mountaineer tripods either? That takes care of that :)

[wallybud]

3540 is a Systematic Tripod.
The Markins tripod base won't fit. As I said, it's for Mountaineer tripods, to replace the center column.

Size wise, the series 3 tripods are better matched to an M20.

That said, I have an M10 on my 1325 with center column:

http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/080719Gitzo/content/bin/images/large/rhd_20080719_Gitzo006.jpg

Sick...Thanks for the image :)
I can't wait till my tripod looks like that...even though I won't be "babying" it but I'll obviously be a lot more cautious when its new with scratches and such...would you recommend the lenscoat pads or the optech pads?

[TheHoff]

Those aren't scratches, those are marks of love.

[René Damkot]

would you recommend the lenscoat pads or the optech pads?

Pads? Why?
If you mean padding for the legs: IMO it's useful for an aluminium tripod, so it's not cold to touch in winter. It might also be useful if you carry the tripod over the shoulder with heavy gear attached, for a longer period of time.

I've never bothered with it.

Those aren't scratches, those are marks of love.

Hahaha. Someone else's love mostly: I got the tripod used, with one leg corroded stuck.
I still have a 1348 in much the same state, only with 4 leg locks stuck. Haven't gotten around to that yet ;)

That being said: It does take off the stress of putting on the first scratch...
Friend of mine once worked at a company where they hit every new vehicle that they got with a hammer to "take care of the first dent". I like that philosophy ;)

[wallybud]

Pads? Why?
If you mean padding for the legs: IMO it's useful for an aluminium tripod, so it's not cold to touch in winter. It might also be useful if you carry the tripod over the shoulder with heavy gear attached, for a longer period of time.

I've never bothered with it.

Well I'm a skinny guy and so not tons of meat on my shoulders ;)
Yeah well usually Ill have any one of my three lens' on the tripod and the tripod over my shoulder and backpack on my back...so after an hour or two both of your shoulders hurt (I'm in need of an upgrade badly (backpackwise)) and witching off shoulders with the tripod...It's almost mandatory to have shoulder padding to help me keep sanity while out shooting :)

[Tareq]

I got Q3 as well, and i was thinking about that base, but seems my 1-series tripod [GT1540T] is so smaller for this base, even Q3 looks a little bit bigger than the tripod top column head.

[jhom]

I got Q3 as well, and i was thinking about that base, but seems my 1-series tripod [GT1540T] is so smaller for this base, even Q3 looks a little bit bigger than the tripod top column head.

Markins doesn't make one for your tripod.

[Tareq]

Markins doesn't make one for your tripod.

So that i didn't buy that base, unless i buy another tripod to order this base ;)

[ben_r_]

So where are you guys getting Markins heads like new/used from? eBay? Or does Markins themselves sell them?

[Tareq]

So where are you guys getting Markins heads like new/used from? eBay? Or does Markins themselves sell them?

www.markins.com

I've got my Q3T [Traveler version] from them, about 3 weeks ago i think.

[Tareq]

http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/category.php?req=1

[jhom]

So where are you guys getting Markins heads like new/used from? eBay? Or does Markins themselves sell them?

In the US, either from markinsamerica.com or photoproshop.com.

[ben_r_]

Really? I didnt know they sold used gear. So if they have anything used in stock they just list in on that page of all their ballheads?

http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/category.php?req=1

[jhom]

Sorry, I misread the statement about used gear. I believe Markinsamerica.com and photoproshop.com only sell new gear.

[TheHoff]

So where are you guys getting Markins heads like new/used from? eBay? Or does Markins themselves sell them?

Mine came from the FM sales forum.

[ben_r_]

Oh okay! I see. So you guys just lucked out and found people to buy them from on forums. Wow, I regularly watch the POTN classifieds and RARELY see anything Markins on there.

[wallybud]

Cause no one wants to see theirs;) you have to get lucky and hope that someone needs to upgrade their markins to a larger markins haha!

[Tareq]

Cause no one wants to see theirs;) you have to get lucky and hope that someone needs to upgrade their markins to a larger markins haha!

Second that.
Would you like to buy my Q3T? i didn't use it yet as i was planning to replace its clamp myself but seems i will suffer before i can do that, so if you pay good price i can order new one and tell them to take off and remove that clamp for me to replace it with RRS clamp.

[wallybud]

Haha ^