Review: Gitzo GT1541 + Markins Q3 + RRS B2 LR II

yup it should have come with a stud.. email markins and tell them they didn't send you one, maybe they'll send you one for free...

I've not used the Markins Q3 for several months over winter. Tried using it today and I don't know why I can't lock the ballhead. I can't turn both of the knobs. It's like the knobs are stuck in a permanent position. The ballhead can still move but I can't lock it with the knob. Does anyone have any idea what happened?

Many thanks.

how do you have the friction lock set?

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #9925336
how do you have the friction lock set?

J.

I'm sorry how do I set the friction lock?

phaleesy wrote in post #9926571
I'm sorry how do I set the friction lock?

It's the little wheel inset inside the main knob. Use your thumb and back that all the way out. Then try it.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #9927017
It's the little wheel inset inside the main knob. Use your thumb and back that all the way out. Then try it.

J.

If it's the little dial set in the main knob... that is also stuck in place and can't turn in any direction! I've broken my nails trying to turn the wheel. I've also used coins to try to turn it...

Sorry I'm sounding stupid but techy stuff is not my forte.

Do I need a screw driver or anything. I don't want to cause any damage to the wheels if I overdo it.

I forget how to fix that, give a call to Markins and they can talk you through it. It's almost certain that that is your problem.

This link may help. Scroll down to Rene's post.

https://photography-on-the.net …p/index.php/t-738557.html
J.

Thanks for the link, JohnJ80.

You were right about the friction wheel. I managed to use the nail file of my Swiss army knife to loosen it tonight and the ballhead could be tightened now.

But the panning knob is still stuck. The whole unit sits tightly on the tripod but it can rotate about very easily. I don't know what to do about this.

phaleesy wrote in post #9931175
Thanks for the link, JohnJ80.

You were right about the friction wheel. I managed to use the nail file of my Swiss army knife to loosen it tonight and the ballhead could be tightened now.

But the panning knob is still stuck. The whole unit sits tightly on the tripod but it can rotate about very easily. I don't know what to do about this.

Stuck open (will essentially spin free) or stuck closed (spins with effort).

The panning control on Markins ball heads is a brake, not a lock. Even when it is cranked down, if you use the lens as a lever, you can turn it against the brake. The difference between that and a lock (other than the obvious) is that with a lock, and if you do the same thing, you can cause the ballhead to unwind from the tripod. Some, like me like this feature; others don't. This feature can set off a "Tastes Great - Less Filling" sort of flame war.

J.

Is this set up ( markins Q3 with RRS Clamp) still the ideal set up for the traveler tripod?
This seems great, put the post is a couple yrs old & wondered if there was a newer, improvement available
Thanks for any feedback
T

Yeah I'm curious too now about a traveler setup, this one looks great. I bought a Gitzo GT3541LS Series 3 Long 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Systematic Tripod with G-Lock a few years ago, love how stable they are, but they are not real light and not a great travel set of legs. Was thinking of maybe downsizing somehow...via trade or sell these and buy new. I love this setup that the OP has.