Will a Manfrotto 338 work beneath a 410 Head ?

[Ken Lee]

My tripod has no level on it.

Can we put a Manfrotto 338 Leveling Base beneath a Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head ?

This would allow the head to be leveled from below, so that subsequent movements (like pan) would be level.

Once the 410 is on the 338, can we still see the 338's bubble level ?

[Dan Fromm]

Ken, consider a Manfrotto 438. See it here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ling_Head.html

The 438 replaced the 138. I've had a 138 since the late '80s, can't imagine doing without it. The 338 has a much more limited range of adjustments, would require fiddling with the legs much more when setting up than the 438 will.

[dave_whatever]

From the comfort of my armchair I reckon you'll be able to see that bubble just fine.

[Walter Calahan]

I use a 338 with a large Linhof ball head and can see the spirit level just fine. From eyeballing the 410, I'd say you'd be fine, but nothing beats real world experience.

[Walter Calahan]

There is also this to consider as a solution.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductD...-Leveling-Base

[Collas]

And the Acratech levelling base as well.

http://www.acratech.net/home.php?cat=2

I use this with a Kirk ball-head and it's easy to see. But I would still like an Arca-Swiss D4 to play with instead!

Nick

[Sevo]

I can confirm that the 438 works well in combination with the 410. Don't know about the 338 - by specs it ought to fit just as well, but its purpose is somewhat different, it is intended to be used as a precision adjustment base for 3d panorama generation, and will be rather fiddly and restricted when used as a generic levelling base.

[Ken Lee]

I would prefer to avoid leveling heads that are based on a ball. The 338 has 3 independent controls.

The other day I passed a surveyor using a sturdy wooden tripod and a Leica equipment. Between the tripod and the theodolite (?) was something like this tribrach - which looks a lot like the Manfrotto leveling base.

[Ken Lee]

Ken, consider a Manfrotto 438. See it here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ling_Head.html

I don't see anywhere to adjust the angle. How do you level it ?

[Sevo]

I would prefer to avoid leveling heads that are based on a ball. The 338 has 3 independent controls.

Generations of cinematographers did fine with ball-based ones - they are accurate enough if all you need is a reasonably level base underneath another three-way or ball head, and are much faster to set up. But I agree, for high precision (as needed for some kinds of stitching and 3D work), a tribrach is superior. But geometer's tripods often stack a tribrach on top of a ball base - supporting the argument that they are rather unsuitable for a initial adjustment.