Existing tripod: Velbon Sherpa 600R with QHD-171
My aluminum Velbon Sherpa 600R with Velbon QHD-171 ball head was a nice, economical piece of equipment, but after twelve months of use, I was unsatisfied with it because of the following:
1. The tripod was too short when fully extended, so to use it at eye level, I found it necessary to raise the centre column. The actual height, with centre column not extended, was a full 15 cm less then what was stated on the Velbon web site. I had used their web site to research the purchase, and this discovery made my decision to look elsewhere for a replacement somewhat easier! I find it VERY uncomfortable to bend over to look through a camera viewfinder.
2. When my gripped 40D with 70-300 IS (my heaviest combination at the moment) was dropped into portrait orientation, the composition changed drastically, the height was further reduced, and the whole arrangement felt unstable and risky. I was afraid to leave the equipment standing in any windy or non-level situation
3. The Velbon ball head not Arca-Swiss standard, so L-brackets were not usable. There was a noticeable creep when it was used with the 40D and the 70-300 IS. The ball had to be cranked down very tight to hold the camera and lens (it worked better with the smaller XTi and other lenses, however).
4. There was quite a bit of mass for the height and capacity of the tripod.
5. It was uncomfortable and cumbersome to carry without a bag or strap.
6. The aluminum legs got cold to the touch.
Planning to buy a replacement
Although I appreciated the reviews of the experts on POTN, I had problems with the three replacement options that were most frequently recommended. The first option was to go the Gitzo with Acratech/Markins/Kirk/RRS ball head route. I think this would be wonderful, but this equipment is at the 1D series & L lens levels, and I don’t have that body or lenses either. This is not in my price bracket at the moment. I needed something like my 40D and 85, 70-300, and 10-22 lenses, almost as good, but somewhat more economical!
The second option, somewhat cheaper, was to go with Manfrotto, and their 480 series heads. I decided not to go this route, because I wanted Swiss-Arca compatibility.
The third most mentioned option was Velbon Carmagne/Sherpa Pro. I almost went this way, until I found that to reach eye-level I would need to buy a 700 series tripod leg set, and that was out of my price range. I was also unsure of the statistics of the Velbon equipment, because of the error that I had discovered about my aluminum version. Since no one had any of the tripods in stock here in my area, I needed to buy sight unseen over the Internet, and I didn’t want to get another tripod that was too short! Buying separate components, and then trusting they would fit together correctly was not an option, because everything would have to mail-ordered and imported, and returns were not a desirable prospect!
I Discover an Alternative
I then happened upon a thread on the Luminous Landscape website in which another hobby photographer had the same dilemma. He eventually solved it by buying a Giottos tripod and ball head. What was unique in this thread was the buyer’s report of what he got after he pulled the trigger … often, our correspondents never write back after we hear what they have decided to do! In this case, the buyer reported he was very pleased with the purchase, which he described quite carefully, and so I started to investigate what Giottos had to offer. I was not displeased …
My Steps to the Purchase
I had my wife measure the height of my shooting eye when wearing the type of shoes I would use most often. This distance would be equal to the sum of the height of the tripod (with no centre column extension), ball head and the Canon 40D. We came up with 165 cm or 65”. This is 12.7 cm or 5” less than my height of 178 cm or 70”.
Next, I measured the height of the 40D with grip to be 12.7 cm (5”) from base to eyepiece. I used several websites to ascertain (and hopefully) confirm the height of the Giottos MH-3300 ball head to measure 12.8 cm or 5”. Therefore, for my height, the tripod had to measure a minimum of 139.6 cm or 55” with the centre column retracted. This did not allow for the height of the Quick Release assembly, which I regarded as too thin to be of concern. I also decided that since my XTi was shorter than the 40D, I should add 2.5 cm (1 inch) to the required height, giving a target of 142 cm or 56”.
Based on this I ordered a lava tube Giottos MT-7371 tripod leg set, a Giottos MH-3300 ball head and MH-658 Quick release Clamp with a second MH-648 plate, and a Giottos VR MH-680 “L-bracket” which they call a “Sliding Plate”.
Description of Giottos MT-7371 and MH-3300/MH-658
The Giottos MT-7371 lava tripod with MH-3300 ball head and MH-658 Quick Release Assembly meets the height requirements, as the photos show. Without any extension of the legs, it measures approximately 79 cm (31”) high (this is close to the folded height). With the first leg section extended, the height is approximately 124 cm (almost 49”). With both leg sections extended, the height is 170 cm or 67”. This is about a foot more than I require, which means I need only partially extend the last leg section to reach the height I need. I marked this length of extension with a lead pencil, which shows up well on the lava leg tubes.
Unfortunately, the height of the tripod and head make the combination too long to fit in the nifty bag (model AA-1253) that came with the tripod, but since this is the longest bag Giottos make, this cannot be rectified.
The Quick Release Assembly MH-658 takes standard Swiss-Arca plates. It has a screw type clamp mechanism, and due to the design of the MH-648 plate, it can deploy a safety catch to prevent the camera slipping off an opened clamp. The plates also have reversible plastic flanges to prevent the camera sliding off the plate. To release the camera, a red button at the end of the clamp must be depressed and held down, and then the plate (and camera) can be withdrawn. The MH-658 also has levels for both the landscape and portrait orientations, the latter mounted in the clamp knob. The plates have both the ¼” and 3/8” screws included, and either can be removed due to an ingenious rotating cover system. Neat engraved scales allow measured positioning within the Quick release Assembly clamp.
The MH-3300 ball head has three controls. The largest of these (about 2.5 centimetres or 1” in diameter) locks the ball head in place. With my 40D and 70-300 IS lens, there is absolutely no creep. The smallest control knob loosens, tightens and locks the pan axis, which has an engraved scale visible at the base of the ball head. The mid size control knob adjusts the tension of the unlocked ball head, and has a pictorial scale showing various settings. After I set this for the 40D and 70-300, I found it too tight for easy use of the XTi and 85mm, so this has to be readjusted if the load changes. There is a single drop slot for portrait positioning, and even in this position, everything seems tight and stable. The ball head has three Allen screws to securely fasten it to the top of the centre column. It comes with a neat black drawstring “marble bag”.
The VR Sliding Plate or MH-680 is essentially two long quick release plates combined at ninety degrees, both with camera mounting screws. Each also has the reversible flanged edges. Since it can be mounted in the Quick Release clamp on both axes, it allows the camera to be rapidly remounted in the portrait aspect, much like the famous “L-Plates” sold by Kirk and RRS (since they are Arca-Swiss system, they should work also). If the VR plate does not work out for me, I will have to go the Kirk/RRS route. So far, it seems the VR Sliding Plate will do the trick, at about half the price.
The tripod itself has a significant number of adjustable parts and possible arrangements. I suspect I will use the three position leg spread option (released easily with large controls at the top of the legs), but I doubt I will use the centre column reversed, or remove it and use it horizontally. A twisting collar lock prevents it from turning or being raised (mine is locked down tight). The rubber feet conceal metal spikes, which I may also find useful. I like the neoprene covers, which make the legs “grippier” and perhaps easier to carry. The carrying strap attaches to an eyelet near the top of the legs, and the other end is a loop which encircles the feet and holds securely. The tool kit bag, with Allen keys and box end wrenches also hangs from the eyelet. The legs extend easily, and the locking collars are large and seem strong. The lava leg tubes are strange, as they seem way too light to be so rigid, but that is what I expected. The top of the centre column is most complex, as the camera/ball head mounting plate can be removed and the remaining parts used as a simple three way pan head, with separate controls for “tilt” and “rise”.
I hope this article and the accompanying photos will make the Giottos MT-7371 and MH-3300/MH-658 more familiar to those considering a tripod purchase.
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because of you and your review, I am now the proud owner of a Giottos GB-4180 tripod and a MH-3300-658 ballhead. 
