Would a ball head (494 rc2) be 'okay' for leveling?
- Thread starter Fellipe
- Start date
Samuel H
Major Contributor
having the leveller on top of the head will lead to bad panning, you might just as well get rid of the 501 and use the 494 on its own
it would be better if you put something below the 501 instead
if your sticks allow it, you could add a column with bowl:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272854-REG/Manfrotto_555B_555B_Leveling_Center_Column.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272855-REG/Manfrotto_556B_556B_Leveling_Center_Column.html
if not, you could add something like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554092-REG/Manfrotto_338_338_QTVR_Leveling_Base.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554093-REG/Manfrotto_438_438_Compact_Levelling_Head.html
in any case, I must say I haven't worked with any of these gadgets: I'm still stuck with a supercheap tripod and saving for something like a manfrotto 546+501
it would be better if you put something below the 501 instead
if your sticks allow it, you could add a column with bowl:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272854-REG/Manfrotto_555B_555B_Leveling_Center_Column.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272855-REG/Manfrotto_556B_556B_Leveling_Center_Column.html
if not, you could add something like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554092-REG/Manfrotto_338_338_QTVR_Leveling_Base.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554093-REG/Manfrotto_438_438_Compact_Levelling_Head.html
in any case, I must say I haven't worked with any of these gadgets: I'm still stuck with a supercheap tripod and saving for something like a manfrotto 546+501
Throwback
Well-known member
For still photography I use a Manfrotto 055xpro tripod with a 488 RC4 ball head: when using the DSLR for video I put a 701 pan and tilt head on top (as Norman suggests). Works fine (i.e. is solid with a D7000 and any of the lenses I use for video: Sigma 8-16; Nikon 35; Nikon 18-200) and the bubble levels in the quick release plate of the 488 RC4 head mean levelling is quick. The 488 RC4 head is also useful for connecting, via a qr plate, to my slider. The only pain is that I have to change the quick release plate on the camera when using the 701 head (all my other gear is standardised to the Manfrotto 394/410 qr). Roland
cinevateluke
Active member
I love it for slider shots as well, especially going from horizontal to diagonal or vertical orientation. It's useless for pans and certainly tilts too. For the price and articulation I'm a big fan of it 