PhotoClam PC-40

Hello All,

I have a quick question about my tripod setup. I have a fiesol 3441T tripod with a PhotoClam PC-40 head. I have been using a Canon XSi rebel on it with a 17-55mm f2.8 or a 55-250mm f4/5.6. I loosen the tension knob on the head when i have the camera mounted, i get whatever i am shooting framed the way i want it, while holding the lens i tighten the tension know. When i let go of the lens after doing this i notice the focal point drops down. Is this normal for this setup? I am asking b/c i have just upgraded to a Canon 7D Mkii (thanks to the wife) which is a heavier camera and would like to eventually get a larger telephoto lens (Canon 400mm f5.6 or of the likes) and am concerned the droop will be worse. I am thinking of selling my pretty much brand new ball head for something else if this is how this head functions.

Thanks for any and all input.

Here are the possibilities:

One is normal settling because you are adding force to the system while you hold the camera, and when you let go, you remove your input and the system settles.

Two, all ballheads shift a little bit during lockdown, even the best ones. I saw it happen with my Kirk BH-1 under tension (it did it less without tension), and it happens a bit with my Arca-Swiss Z1. It bugs me when when I'm trying to be precise with closeups (I'm still thinking about a geared head for that). This test shows the shift... https://www.dpreview.c​om …d-sized-ball-heads-tested... and this... https://www.dpreview.c​om …ans-top-ball-heads-tested

Three, if the ballhead isn't strong enough (which I don't think is the case with that model), it can droop/sag over time.

Thanks,

It is probably just the fact that i am supporting the weight, locking in the focal point, locking the ball in place then loading up the whole system. It got to be frustrating when i was trying to shoot some macro shots for a 52 week photo challenge. Yes i picked the specific model i have based on the weights of what i thought i would be shooting at the time.

Thanks

There are very few ball heads (that I have come across) that will not sag to some extent. I am not familiar with your particular model but I have found that both my Sirui K40X and Triopo RS3 give little if any sag depending on the camera + lens used.

This effect can be reduced/eliminated by balancing your set up better. A quick and dirty solution may be to attach a long QR plate to your camera. It will be inconvenient but it would allow you to move your camera backwards and forwards to achieve a better balance. Something like this (or a little shorter) would do - cheaper than a new head but you will be taking it on and off quite a lot!

http://www.ebay.co.uk …d43b58:g:UWEAAO​SwV0RXv7B9

Sorry about the picture quality but I just put this together quickly so you could get the idea and my good camera is in the shot!

johnf3f wrote in post #18122615
There are very few ball heads (that I have come across) that will not sag to some extent. I am not familiar with your particular model but I have found that both my Sirui K40X and Triopo RS3 give little if any sag depending on the camera + lens used.

This effect can be reduced/eliminated by balancing your set up better. A quick and dirty solution may be to attach a long QR plate to your camera. It will be inconvenient but it would allow you to move your camera backwards and forwards to achieve a better balance. Something like this (or a little shorter) would do - cheaper than a new head but you will be taking it on and off quite a lot!

http://www.ebay.co.uk …d43b58:g:UWEAAO​SwV0RXv7B9

Sorry about the picture quality but I just put this together quickly so you could get the idea and my good camera is in the shot!

Hosted photo: posted by johnf3f in
./showthread.php?p=181​22615&i=i151657041
forum: Tripods, Monopods & Other Camera Support

Thanks for the feedback John, my ball head looks very similar to what you are running. I will look into what you have proposed as a possible solution as well.

Thanks again.

The ball head (Sirui K40X) is quite a bit more substantial then the Photoclam PC 40. If you had one of these Sirui heads then the problem would not exist. Unfortunately that would involve spending money (as well as carrying the extra weight) and we don't like that sort of thing!

Using a longer QR plate mounted fore and aft is, as I said, a quick and dirty solution - but it works and is very cheap!

johnf3f wrote in post #18123661
The ball head (Sirui K40X) is quite a bit more substantial then the Photoclam PC 40. If you had one of these Sirui heads then the problem would not exist. Unfortunately that would involve spending money (as well as carrying the extra weight) and we don't like that sort of thing!

Using a longer QR plate mounted fore and aft is, as I said, a quick and dirty solution - but it works and is very cheap!

Thanks i have been looking at the longer QR plates, not sure what you mean by more substantial but they both have the same published weight load of 77 lbs. The Sirui does weigh a good bit more and had a larger ball. Cost wise they are comparable. I am going to try your suggested route, if that doesn't sit well still i may look into an Acratech which is what i was originally looking at. I just couldn't afford it at the time.

Thanks again.

The load ratings are meaningless. Only one company that I know of publishes their testing methodology (Really Right Stuff). The rest just publish numbers.

Arca-Swiss claims the Z1 can handle around 130 lbs, but I doubt it is any stronger than the Kirk BH-1, the Sirui K-40X, or the RRS BH-55, which have lower "ratings".

Try this... using your tripod on a solid surface at a wide stance so nothing can fall... see if you can lock the head down just tight enough that the gear doesn't flop over. Then very carefully tighten the knob further and see if the head shifts. You need to avoid touching anything else while you try it.

The other thing is, your ballhead needs to be strong enough to hold your gear at any angle. I assume the Photoclam is strong enough but maybe not? Try various angles and make sure it doesn't creep.

As Sawsedge correctly observes the weight ratings are meaningless - it's the same with tripods.

Strong though my Sirui K40X is it is certainly not fit for a 77lb load or half that!