manfrotto sideways mountable column

chosing between 3021BPRO and 3221WN legs. i think i may need the extra 2.3" height of 3221WN but its 18 bucks more and does not have sideways mountable column.

which brings the question. exactly how useful is the sideways mountable column? can somebody please briefly explain to a noob its purpose and applications ?

thanx in advance.

A sideways column is very useful in macro photography, when you don't want to place your tripod legs on the plant or need a special angle to get right into that flower, right on top of that bug, etc.

Greg

How tall are you? I'm 6' and use a relatively tall ball-head and the 3021B Pro is about 2" too tall when extended to max height with the center column installed (it's removable on the 3021, not sure about the 3221). My ball-head is the same height as the 3030 you're looking at. I'd say that it would be perfect if you're about 6'1" (1.85m) or thereabouts. Of course you can always shorten one or more legs if you're much shorter, or remove the center column if you're about 5'11" or 6'. The 3221WN is about 4 inches shorter, which means that you're either stooping or extending the center column which descreases stability.

I'm not so thrilled with the center column because it can only go either parallel or perpendicular to the ground. The Gitzo 2220 is *much* nicer since the center column can go at just about any angle. Very nice. However, to choose between either having it or not, I would definitely have the column of the 3021 Pro. Like GPR1 said, it's great for macro. (Again, the Gitzo is *far* better IMHO.)

But if you don't do macro then you're going to find it just about completely useless I think. My column is removed at all times unless I'm doing macro. I don't miss it unless I'm doing macro. In actuality it's in my way unless I'm doing macro. But then again, if I were 2 inches taller I'd probably have it on at all times just for the little height boost.

Also note that you can't get the tripod low to the ground with the column installed. I sometimes shoot from a foot off the ground, and the center column has to be removed to do this.

The 3021 Pro is a great tripod, but I'd get the Gitzo 2220 if I did it again.

i am getting this for somebody who is 6'3"

do you need any special accessories to remove the center column and attach the head directly to legs ? ( to be able to get lower without sideways mount column, i dont think macros will be a priority ).

what about SLIK. can you remove center column on it ?

SLIK PRO 700 DX is 70.1" tall legs and is cheap and supposedly has same thread as manfrotto heads ... will it work with a manfrotto head ? ( 486RC2 )

??

The 3021 will be very nice for someone 6'3". No special tools required, if any. It's been a while. But there's a little triangular piece on the bottom of the center column. That unscrews, you loosen the top "neck" and slip that into the neck and tighten. Very stable, very nice setup for heavy gear.

The Slik is 70" Maximum. Since this does not say "without center extended" like the 3021 says, this means that it's with the center column at max height. Very unstable. I doubt - though it's possible - that the center column can be removed.

Just about all tripods have a 3/16-18 screw, which will fit just about every head out there. B&H will just about always list the thread size on both tripods and heads.

I think it's more than likely 3/8" -16.

Yep, 3/8-16. What the heck was I thinking? I have no idea, I just hurt myself.

the 3021 is only 53" without center column extended. i figure they are both of same dimensions roughly.

psychonaut, didn't you say in another tread, that you're bying the tripod for a girl ? If you are, I think you really should consider other options - the 3021 legs are HEAVY ! You wrote that your girlfriend will be using it outside - and these legs are not something she would like to drag around for extended periods of time (unless she's very strong person). The 3001 legs are also quite heavy, but the 3021 are MUCH heavier, at least they feel so in the side-by-side comparison.

I have to agree with Olegis - you don't get much heavier than the 3021 Pro.

I do use the sideways column on occasion with my smaller 3001 pro.

Even at it's more diminutive size... I find the 3001 to be all the tripod I need for most situations.

Note that the 3001 legs are much shorter than the 3021 - not good for someone 6'3". Yes, you can extend the center column up to get the height but this descreases stability.