Fairly new to tripods...

Looking at the Benro A2970F with the Manfrotto 496cr2 ballhead. These two are compatible, correct?

Yes I assume so. The Benro A2970F tripod has a 3/8"-16 stud in its base and that's a standard size. I'd be very surprised if the Manfrotto ballhead doesn't have a 3/8" socket in its base.

There have been some critical posts recently about Manfrotto ballheads mainly to do with various kinds of slippage either with the clamp/plate or with the ball. I think you should get an Arca-Swiss compatible type of clamp/plate system, it's by far the most used quick release system with many manufacturers so there's competition and good prices.

If you buy a Manfrotto or Gitzo ballhead you're locked into their proprietary QR systems and you can buy 3rd party clamps that will convert them to A-S but what's the point? You can get fairly inexpensive A-S type ballheads on Amazon or eBay that do a decent job if your equipment isn't too heavy.

The diameter of the base on the A2970F center column is 57.5mm so the tripod will take a mid-sized ballhead. I'd look in the support FAQ --> #7 Reviews --> Heads for ideas, and members will probably chime in here too.

peter_n wrote in post #15907099
Yes I assume so. The Benro A2970F tripod has a 3/8"-16 stud in its base and that's a standard size. I'd be very surprised if the Manfrotto ballhead doesn't have a 3/8" socket in its base.

There have been some critical posts recently about Manfrotto ballheads mainly to do with various kinds of slippage either with the clamp/plate or with the ball. I think you should get an Arca-Swiss compatible type of clamp/plate system, it's by far the most used quick release system with many manufacturers so there's competition and good prices.

If you buy a Manfrotto or Gitzo ballhead you're locked into their proprietary QR systems and you can buy 3rd party clamps that will convert them to A-S but what's the point? You can get fairly inexpensive A-S type ballheads on Amazon or eBay that do a decent job if your equipment isn't too heavy.

The diameter of the base on the A2970F center column is 57.5mm so the tripod will take a mid-sized ballhead. I'd look in the support FAQ --> #7 Reviews --> Heads for ideas, and members will probably chime in here too.

Wow thank you so much! Very helpful!

Emily, I am with Peter on the ball head thing. A new one might work well for you for a long time but eventually you will have to start messing with it to keep it from slipping.....been there done that. If you are looking for complete control my I suggest you go to a geared head. I got the cheap 410 (it may have been 405, just can't remember now) and the control it offers you is absolute. All three axis' under your direct and absolute control. You won't be moving things around fast (in the beginning), but you will learn to be fast as time goes by.

As far as the base is concerned, Peter also makes a very valid point. I elected to get around it by ordering a couple extra base plates with my geared head and put them on my two "go-to" cameras.

Bob E.

Safetybob wrote in post #15907592
Emily, I am with Peter on the ball head thing. A new one might work well for you for a long time but eventually you will have to start messing with it to keep it from slipping.....been there done that. If you are looking for complete control my I suggest you go to a geared head. I got the cheap 410 (it may have been 405, just can't remember now) and the control it offers you is absolute. All three axis' under your direct and absolute control. You won't be moving things around fast (in the beginning), but you will learn to be fast as time goes by.

As far as the base is concerned, Peter also makes a very valid point. I elected to get around it by ordering a couple extra base plates with my geared head and put them on my two "go-to" cameras.

Bob E.

Thank you for the feedback, Bob. I will be doing some more research before I make a final decision. Thanks again.

Hi Emily. I would make some recommendations, but you don't seem to have stated a budget. You will get much better help if you give us an idea of how much you're willing to spend, and also what you plan on doing with the tripod.

Sirrith wrote in post #15908573
Hi Emily. I would make some recommendations, but you don't seem to have stated a budget. You will get much better help if you give us an idea of how much you're willing to spend, and also what you plan on doing with the tripod.

$200, unfortunately, I don't have a huge budget. This tripod will mostly be used for indoor portraits. Nothing crazy like hiking or rough, unlevel surfaces. Thank you for any advice.

I've had the Benro A2970F now for about a year. Very happy with it. Supports my 60D + 100-400 + 1.4 TC with no problems. I chose it over the 055Prob because it is taller (not using the center column) and the convenients of the center column adjusting to almost any angle.

It is a very sturdy tripod. The head I bought was an inexpensive Benro Bh2 which was ok for a while. It will lock up tight but does droop and you need to compensate for it. If you think you would be interested in it you can have it. Shoot me a PM if you want it.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …er_Travel_Tripo​d_Kit.html

I've had my eye on a Mefoto Globetrotter. It sounds like a decent tripod from the reviews and at $209 fits your budget.

EmilyLipscomb wrote in post #15913008
$200, unfortunately, I don't have a huge budget. This tripod will mostly be used for indoor portraits. Nothing crazy like hiking or rough, unlevel surfaces. Thank you for any advice.

In that case, the Benro and that head should be just fine. Weight won't be a concern, nor will a little bit of potential sag/droop, and the combo should last you a very long while

Although with that said, you may want to look into an Arca-Swiss compatible head, so that in the future if you want to invest in an L plate for your body (great for portraits), you will be able to do so without having to buy a new clamp as well. I'm not sure which A-S style heads would fit into your budget though.

EmilyLipscomb wrote in post #15913008
$200, unfortunately, I don't have a huge budget. This tripod will mostly be used for indoor portraits. Nothing crazy like hiking or rough, unlevel surfaces. Thank you for any advice.

The A2970 is a perfect indoor tripod, that's what I use it for myself. You can get one from B&H for about $150 (I think) so that shoots a lot of your budget unfortunately. If you have another tripod you could use the head from that in the meantime like I did.

I'm using this tripod to take pictures of indoor objects and I wanted a ballhead that had just one control knob for everything (panning and orientation) because I think that's the most usable kind of control when you're in awkward positions. I bought an inexpensive Triopo RS-3 ballhead that cost a total of about $70 I think. The ballhead came from Poland and the clamp from mainland China. I've only just put it together so I can't comment on it's performance yet.

Sirrith wrote in post #15914184
In that case, the Benro and that head should be just fine. Weight won't be a concern, nor will a little bit of potential sag/droop, and the combo should last you a very long while

Although with that said, you may want to look into an Arca-Swiss compatible head, so that in the future if you want to invest in an L plate for your body (great for portraits), you will be able to do so without having to buy a new clamp as well. I'm not sure which A-S style heads would fit into your budget though.

Aren't some Benro ballheads arca swiss compatible? I think maybe the b1 or bh2? They are a little out of my budget but I'm just curious.

EmilyLipscomb wrote in post #15919364
Aren't some Benro ballheads arca swiss compatible? I think maybe the b1 or bh2? They are a little out of my budget but I'm just curious.

Yes, I think all the Benro heads are A-S compatible, but they are, as you say, out of your budget which is why I didn't suggest them

If you can up your budget, then the B1 should be fine. Maybe even the B0 in a pinch.

Sirrith wrote in post #15919796
Yes, I think all the Benro heads are A-S compatible, but they are, as you say, out of your budget which is why I didn't suggest them

If you can up your budget, then the B1 should be fine. Maybe even the B0 in a pinch.

No, not all of them. Some clamps come with a lever and operate like the RC2. It should be obvious which ones are Arca compatible when you look at the picture, though.

I have the A2970F tripod and really like it but it is big and heavy. I am 5' 10" and I can extend all legs and not have to extend the center column at all to have my camera at eye level.

The downside is because it is so big and heavy, I never take it with me on hikes.

I am looking for a CF tripod now to but down on weight.