Michael Carter
Veteran
My biggest, longest, heaviest regular-use lens is an old 80-200 2.8 Nikkor push-pull zoom. I've had zero problems with it on long rails with a chinese lens support.
Biggest issue for me has been the baseplate setup - I've found you need for and aft rod connections to the camera plate and the tripod plate to avoid a mid to heavy lens sagging downward.
When I use a lens support with a follow focus with DSLR - type setups, before we roll I cheat the support up a hair, so the lens can't move up and down. Often the FF will push the lens upward when turned - so it needs to be strapped down (not really an easy task to get it 100% solid) or lifted up a hair to take up that play. I've had no trouble with lens mounts or adapters doing this. And I've had no problems with that beastly lens on rails when I build up a kit like that. It's not a tripod head issue in my experience.
This is the best affordable solution I've seen for a baseplate/tripod setup - I used various parts to make a similar rig, but with this one it's all there but the QR setup. You just need some long rails for long-lens days.
Biggest issue for me has been the baseplate setup - I've found you need for and aft rod connections to the camera plate and the tripod plate to avoid a mid to heavy lens sagging downward.
When I use a lens support with a follow focus with DSLR - type setups, before we roll I cheat the support up a hair, so the lens can't move up and down. Often the FF will push the lens upward when turned - so it needs to be strapped down (not really an easy task to get it 100% solid) or lifted up a hair to take up that play. I've had no trouble with lens mounts or adapters doing this. And I've had no problems with that beastly lens on rails when I build up a kit like that. It's not a tripod head issue in my experience.
This is the best affordable solution I've seen for a baseplate/tripod setup - I used various parts to make a similar rig, but with this one it's all there but the QR setup. You just need some long rails for long-lens days.
