Are CF legs the same?

since i got the dolica CF tripod, i've been trying to experiment shooting with it at different angles and degrees.

when it's in portrait or landscape, my 5D2 gripped + 24-70L is fine. when i add my 580EX2 to the mix, landscape mode, the ballhead starts to creep. That's nothing new to me as in my review I noticed that.

but.. today when i as shooting at 45 degree angle, with my setup in landscape mode, it was creeping.

so, if the legs are pretty much the same, then would it be worth it to just change to a larger ball head?

I think it is too heavy for the ball head, putting weight on it. If the dolica CF tripod head can be replace with another one.

yup.. it can be replaced. i just took it off. i think its an industry standard to do that~ just debating if getting a bigger ballhead and keeping the same leg would be worth it, or just buy a new tripod set?

It's up to you, you can always return it to Costco and get a FEISOL CT-3441S Rapid.
If it was me, I'll return it and buy a new tripod setup.

You mean you mounted like this? (your photos )
http://imageshack.us …my-images/189/mg4730.jpg/

This one, I don't know, but doesn't look very heavy duty to me.
http://imageshack.us …my-images/42/mg0137q.jpg/

yea... during the landscape mount it is fine. but if you look closely at the send link from my photos, in the portrait mode, the QR is pressed up against the ballhead already.

i've already tighten that sucker down. granted it's a 70-200L f2.8 IS, so that's a brick already.
im noticing that most reviews on POTN shows either landscape or portrait mode on the ballhead. but when i'm using the tripod shooting at 45 degree down at a plate of food.. it creeped on me. that's what surprised me tonight. i ended up having to hold the camera still to prevent creep.

do you have the FEISOL CT-3441S?

I wouldn't say all CF tripods are the same. With that said, if you're happy with the legs, just change out the ball head. I find that a good ball head makes the tripod a treat to use. If the head is terrible, you'll probably never pull out the tripod. Also, if the tripod is heavy, you're less likely to pull it out. If I didn't like my tripod, I'd probably never use it. I'd probably turn on IS and hand hold the camera instead of struggling to set everything up.


BTW, I'm not sure if it was just to show the ball head, but don't do that with the 70-200. The whole lens can rotate in the tripod collar.

EOS mE wrote in post #14017963
yea... during the landscape mount it is fine. but if you look closely at the send link from my photos, in the portrait mode, the QR is pressed up against the ballhead already.

i've already tighten that sucker down. granted it's a 70-200L f2.8 IS, so that's a brick already.
im noticing that most reviews on POTN shows either landscape or portrait mode on the ballhead. but when i'm using the tripod shooting at 45 degree down at a plate of food.. it creeped on me. that's what surprised me tonight. i ended up having to hold the camera still to prevent creep.

do you have the FEISOL CT-3441S?

I'm saving on funds so don't have the FEISOL CT-3441S yet, but this member review on it which made me want to get it even more, if I change my mind. https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1134542

I've been researching for months, the Feisol my best choice due to my budget, max weight. A Manfrotto 496RC2 that I bought from a member here will go on top Hope my setup will work.

To be off topic, what is up with the weather in the Bay Area, early in the week was cold, today was a very nice day, 70s

charles.. thanks for the link on the review. guess it's always good to add more to the mix..

btw, i forgot you are in the bay area too~ yea the weather has been weird.. just wait till next tuesday.. rain comes again~

I don't think they're all the same but judging off of reviews, it seems that there are very few carbon fiber legs out there that are truly bad. There's plenty that can't hold their own against Gitzo and RRS but if you're not having issues with the legs, I wouldn't worry. Upgrade the ballhead first. If you upgrade later, nice tripods are always sold separate for legs and head anyway so you won't be wasting anything.

yea that's what i was thinking too, because i seem to notice that nicer tripod and heads are sold separately.

guess i'll go to my local cam shop to see what they have..

The problem with inexpensive tripods and heads is that you end up having to upgrade them. Eventually you end up spending more than you would have to get a better setup in the first place.

I would get a new ballhead with a larger diameter ball at this point. The larger the ball, the more stable the head and the less droop. If you look at the Markins heads, they have the largest diameter for each catagory of head, from travel to the monster M20. But you pay for the stability.

Thanks Jay.. i'll look into that~~

EOS mE wrote in post #14018295
guess i'll go to my local cam shop to see what they have..

While that sounds like it might be a good idea, you wont find ANY of the higher end ballheads in ANY local shop as they are all only sold through their own websites. You will however more than likely find a few Manfrotto and other prosumer heads. We all pretty much buy our equipment without ever having seen it before and trusting what others who have taken the plunge already and know whats worth it and good to get. Whats your budget like and we can start making suggestions based on that as thats generally the limiting factor.

thanks ben.. my local cam shop carries manfrotte, gitzo, and Giottos.

after discussing with them.. they suggested me to get the Giottos MH1300-657, whicch fits the dolica legs. its a huge ass ball with micro tension. so i'm going to search around and see the reviews. so far looks pretty good, except the one they had in stock, the QR keep getting stuck..

budget wise, trying to keep it under $200.