POTN Aussie Club #3: This one's going straight to the pool room.

Jim G wrote in post #6055382
Edit: Too many photos, I turned them into links so the thread would look less cluttered:

Thanks - appreciate the thought

photobitz wrote in post #6055468
Any benefit to the Markins setup over the Manfrotto apart from the ability to mount sideways? I would have thought the screw clamp would be a bit fiddly whereas with the Manfrotto QR system it's quick and simple lever action.

Arca-Swiss shoes usually have options for lever actions - I think there's a Markins lever-action shoe but I know there's Kirk/RRS lever-action shoes. I personally prefer the screwlock as you can exert more force than you can a lever-action and it's just a quick twirl to release - not really a great deal more effort than a lever, though I think the lever would be a little quicker to mount/dismount.

The Markins setup is just an Arca-Swiss standard setup; any Arca-Swiss type plate will fit whether it's a Kirk, RRS, Markins, whoever. Other than that the advantage of the Markins is in the head.

Jim G wrote in post #6055480
Other than that the advantage of the Markins is in the head.

How so?

photobitz wrote in post #6055527
How so?

Well compared to, say, the Manfrotto 488:

More load capacity (stated 40kg v. 8kg... not entirely sure how they measured that though), much smoother action (all the actions - panning, head movement etc.), better build quality and general tactile stuff - nicely rubberised everything and it has that little knob inside the main knob whose function is somewhat obscure in the manual but is actually quite useful for fine-tuning and limiting the tension.

Comparing them back to back the Markins is much smoother especially under load and it's very easy to get the tension right with the heaviest setup I've put on it so far, which is 1D3+24-70L+580EX II - by right there I mean it's easy to set the tension so that you can push the camera around easily but as soon as you let go of it it stays right where you left it with no droop. This combo is nowhere near pushing the limits of the head, too.. it's got a lot of leeway left in the tension knob.


But, really, it's just a ball head. Does the same job a 488 will do, it's just nicer to use, easier to use and feels a lot more solid, smooth and stable, especially with a heavy load.

Awesome, thanks heaps Jim, Do you find the plate adds too much size to the grip on the 1D and make it harder/uncomfortable in portrait orientation?

Also, On the back (LCD Screen side) of the 1D plate there is the circle with the line through it. What does this mean? I notice alot of cameras have it on the body of the camera somewhere too.

NSWESP wrote in post #6055575
Awesome, thanks heaps Jim, Do you find the plate adds too much size to the grip on the 1D and make it harder/uncomfortable in portrait orientation?

Also, On the back (LCD Screen side) of the 1D plate there is the circle with the line through it. What does this mean? I notice alot of cameras have it on the body of the camera somewhere too.

That's to show you where the theoretical "film" plane is.

NSWESP wrote in post #6055575
Awesome, thanks heaps Jim, Do you find the plate adds too much size to the grip on the 1D and make it harder/uncomfortable in portrait orientation?

Also, On the back (LCD Screen side) of the 1D plate there is the circle with the line through it. What does this mean? I notice alot of cameras have it on the body of the camera somewhere too.

On the camera the circle with the line through it indicates the sensor position/film plane. It had a point (for film moreso, iirc.. or some specific application) that I'm sure someone will remember but I forget personally... On the L plate it indicates the centre of the tripod sockets on the L plate.


Can't say that the L plate bothers me in the slightest in portrait orientation - the bulk added is minimal. I've taken to leaving the L plate on sometimes at things like hardcore gigs - it provides some awesome protection from circles of death and whatnot - the darn L plate is so tough you'd break someone's head in well before it got damaged.


Also - the RRS one leaves all of the side ports clear for use even when the camera's in portrait orientation on a tripod. It also has two sockets on the bottom for putting the wireless transmitter at the side, giving it clearance - the Kirk option had two separate models.

brenno wrote in post #6053520
Excellent... Is it easy to calibrate?? I have a spyder 2 and just wondered if it adjusts nicely. Also, do you have a dual monitor setup yet??

Yep, calibrates fine. All the photos I have posted up here in the last few days were edited on it, and they look great. I use the Huey, but I will likely get something a little better in the near future.

Haven't got the dual monitor setup yet... Hopefully by the end of the year, or when I actually need it.

Jim G wrote in post #6055595
On the camera the circle with the line through it indicates the sensor position/film plane. It had a point (for film moreso, iirc.. or some specific application) that I'm sure someone will remember but I forget personally... On the L plate it indicates the centre of the tripod sockets on the L plate.

Line up one of those landscape panning heads to those markers...

::John:: wrote in post #6055673
Line up one of those landscape panning heads to those markers...

Ah, that makes sense. Cool.

Can you guys let me know if you come across a reasonably price 24-70L please?

Preferably in box... but not essential (since my 16-35L didn't come in box... sniff sniff...)

tangcla wrote in post #6055718
Can you guys let me know if you come across a reasonably price 24-70L please?

Preferably in box... but not essential (since my 16-35L didn't come in box... sniff sniff...)

I wonder what the Canon part number is for the box:p

Greg_C wrote in post #6055721
I wonder what the Canon part number is for the box:p

hehe

I also need one for my 28/1.8...

Clarence, I might be interested in selling mine. That or the 135L. Probably the 135 though. Is anyone after one? Looking for around $900 ish.

Sinkrate wrote in post #6055813
Clarence, I might be interested in selling mine. That or the 135L. Probably the 135 though. Is anyone after one? Looking for around $900 ish.

Mmm, I'd love a 135 but I have no funds for that at the moment.