Will a Manfrotto 338 work beneath a 410 Head ?

[Dan Fromm]

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

Ken, it is a ball leveler. The lever on the side -- look at the picture @ B&H -- clamps and unclamps the head.

My 138s (long story, I have two) are similar but have a handle that screws in to clamp the ball. Set up is very fast and easy. I've had to lubricate the clamp's threads with graphite powder to make secure clamping easy. Here's a 138: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Manfrotto-Bo...-/330577540001

I share your distaste for balls -- I find ball heads nearly impossible to use -- but with a claw ball plus a 3-axis head the ball serves only to make the 3-axis head's pan axis vertical. After that's done, the 3-axis head is used normally.

Cheers,

Dan

[Ken Lee]

I went ahead and ordered a 338. I'll let you know if it doesn't work.

Even if it isn't as fast as a ball head, I prefer the separate controls and what I presume is a bit more stability. I sometimes use a Sinar P with 5x7 back, long lenses, multiple bellows, etc.

Thanks !!

[Ken Lee]

Update:

I said I'd let you know if it didn't work: I didn't. I returned it.

Putting a 410 head over it, the 338 bubble level is plainly visible. However, I failed to grasp before purchase that the 338 provides only +/- 0.5 degrees of adjustment. That's 1/2 of a degree.

To its credit, it's very nicely made and quite sturdy. There is probably an application for which it is ideally suited.

I'm going to try the Acratech: it's lightweight.

It occurs to me that a ball is fine, as long as we level the leveling head before attaching the camera. Duhh

[Dan Fromm]

Ken, see post #2 in this thread.

[Sevo]

To its credit, it's very nicely made and quite sturdy. There is probably an application for which it is ideally suited.

Sure, precision pan-and-stitch. These things are commonly used to micro adjust the base of nodal tilt adapters.

If the 138/438 are unsuitable because the camera is too heavy to level on them, you might use a heavy duty video/cine tripod - these have a leveller ball more than twice the size, with the corresponding damping.

If you dislike any kind of ball, you probably cannot avoid getting a tree-way geared head for the purpose - but stacking that underneath another head might make your setup rather prone to vibration.

[Ken Lee]

Ken, see post #2 in this thread.

Thanks Dan - I have looked at the Manfrotto 438: it appears to be a bit heavy at 1.4 pounds (650 g). The Acratech weights 0.5 lbs (240 g).

Perhaps the Manfrotto is more sturdy and robust ?

[Dan Fromm]

Thanks Dan - I have looked at the Manfrotto 438: it appears to be a bit heavy at 1.4 pounds (650 g). The Acratech weights 0.5 lbs (240 g).

Perhaps the Manfrotto is more sturdy and robust ?

Ken, as I've told you I have a 138, which was replaced by the 438. Very sturdy, very robust, supports 25+ pounds of Baby Bertha with ease. The 438 looks to be a little nicer than the 138.

If you're concerned about weight, consider losing a little.

[Ken Lee]

Excellent advice. I'll take it

[cdholden]

If weight is an issue, why not just use a small torpedo level or two? You can "eyeball" a rough setting, then confirm it with the level(s).

[David E. Rose]

Ken,
For what it's worth, I have found that the leveling bubbles on the Manfrotto tripods and heads are not very accurate. The will get you closer than eyeballing it, but they can't be relied on for accurate leveling. They also are not adjustable.