Miller Solo VJ Tripod + Cartoni Focus Head

S

sbryan

Well-known member
This is my first "real" tripod/head combo, and I just have a question... or a general observation... maybe both.

I center the bubble, and not but ten minutes later, the bubble is outside the margin.

Should I have to balance the head every ten minutes? It seems a bit unnecessary, considering the tripod is only a week old.
 
Are you sure your tripod isn't moving around, as in, it is firmly planted and not shifting around? A bubble level is a very simple and sure device. As long as the head is tightened, then it should remain level, which makes me wonder if the legs are shifting during use??? I have the Cartoni Focus and it performs just fine.
 
Eastside Parkway said:
Are you sure you're tightening it enough?
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I believe so. I get the same results on a variety of surfaces such as linoleum, carpet, and concrete, with the steel tips collapsed and extended. I can get pretty close to that margin circle, but even at that point the frame is slanted slightly -- enough to drive me crazy.
 
You know, I've been messing with it, and a centered bubble is not, in fact, indicative of a level shot (at least with my head). I'll use a straight edge like a bookshelf to make a level shot. I also have to kick out one of the legs more to make it level.

According to the bubble, I should have a dutch wide angle from "Do the Right Thing", but I don't.

Miller's pamphlet says I shouldn't have to tighten or loosen the legs until after several years of use and I don't believe that UPS damaged the legs enough to require work on them.

Just by looking at the legs, they look fine. I don't know, maybe it's because the Solo VJ legs don't have the center spreader...
 
I came up with a workable solution. There are three legs, oneof which is wrapped in plastic with the Miller Logo. When that leg is pointed at me, the shot is level, but when I switch leg positions, all goes to pot.

I find that a bit perplexing though, as it is a tripod... tri- being important...
 
Why would the legs make a difference if the leveling bubble is located on the tripod head, which moves independant of the legs via the bowl leveler? I haven't used the focus head before, so maybe the leveling bubble isn't on the tripod head, but it just seems to me that the legs wouldn't make a difference if you have a 100mm leveling ball on the head.
 
PDX_DVX said:
Why would the legs make a difference if the leveling bubble is located on the tripod head, which moves independant of the legs via the bowl leveler? I haven't used the focus head before, so maybe the leveling bubble isn't on the tripod head, but it just seems to me that the legs wouldn't make a difference if you have a 100mm leveling ball on the head.
Click to expand...

I wondered the same thing, but I can't argue with the results I've gotten since the discovery.
 
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