Gitzo/Manfrotto/Velbon

[macropixman]

Viewd some carbon fibre Gitzo and Velbons. Manfrotto stopped bringing in CF stuff. Anyone have any experience with these brands.
Velbon CF cost half the Gitzo CF. Manfrotto is more expensive than Velbon and a lot cheaper than Gitzo.
What about SLIK?

[limecity]

how about Benro?

[macropixman]

The Velbon is also quite good but where can we buy Benro in KL?

[limecity]

Directphoto has it. but they got limited choices. mostly alluminium ones. hardly got any choices for carbon fibre ones which is made similiar like gitzo.

I ended up getting a manfrotto 190xpro-B. which is a very very good tripod for my use.

[macropixman]

was actually decided on 190pro as well but was introduced d gitzo carbon fibre and velbon carbon fibre... looks real nice but prices are so sky high..
so thot of considering any other carbon fibre job

[eAgleyes]

you may want to try to go to Engtong System

Ronnie Koh
No. 31, Jln SS2/30, PJ
+603 7875 6441

They distribute Manfrotto tripods. They prices are much lower than retails.

[ShaolinTiger]

They distribute Manfrotto tripods. They prices are much lower than retails.

Heh that's no true actually, Eng Tong can only give a maximum 20% discount from the retail price as they are the distributer they don't want to undercut the retailers.

You can get it cheaper from retailers through some bargaining, I tend to go to Eng Tong for convenience though and they have a lot of stock.

[zuhrie]

zeraffe also has a few carbon models, more like small, medium and large sizes. a friend bought the medium size for rm500, i think. zeraffe is home brand for king's foto or now known as regnum worldwide, at taman maluri.

[xandman]

Heh that's no true actually, Eng Tong can only give a maximum 20% discount from the retail price as they are the distributer they don't want to undercut the retailers.

You can get it cheaper from retailers through some bargaining, I tend to go to Eng Tong for convenience though and they have a lot of stock.

i agree with ST...
engtong has lots of stock for manfrotto....but if u need gitzo...go procamera...=)
u need to feel gitzo first...then u'll know...=)

[liewwk]

will go Engtong... where is it ? Any landmark ?

[neoro]

Remember, you will need an equally good and realiable head. If the legs are good, and the neck is week, you may get a frustrating tripod experience.

May I suggest you markins (http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/ballheads.html) hehehehe Seeing that you may end up with really heavy Zeiss glasses, a good neck will surely help

[macropixman]

Eng Tong is the dsitributor but the prices are definitely not the lowest.
Anyway got my 055XPROB with a hydrostatic ball head already.

[liewwk]

Eng Tong is the dsitributor but the prices are definitely not the lowest.
Anyway got my 055XPROB with a hydrostatic ball head already.

where you got it ? ET ?

[dinduboy14]

how much did you pay for it?

[dinduboy14]

HI all,

What is the difference between Manfrotto 804RC2 and just 804 in terms of features?

Cant seem to find much information.

Thanks.

[xandman]

the "rc2" part refers to the quick release plate...
so i guess...without "rc2" means the head comes without a plate...

[don]

the "rc2" part refers to the quick release plate...
so i guess...without "rc2" means the head comes without a plate...

Visit the below link and learn from that:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/1798

Your will find your suitable product from Monfrotto.


Price for reference:
190PROB RM 360.
488RC2 ballhead RM 265
486RC2 BALL RM179
Manfrotto 055 ProB RM525

Manfrotto 190Pro B and 804RC2 Head RM600

Manfrotto 190Pro B and 846RC2 Head RM580

[dinduboy14]

Thanks Don for that info.

Gosh prices in KL for tripods def much cheaper than Australia!! :redface:

Over here cheapest i can find for Manfrotto 190Pro B and 486RC2 Head(ebay) is
AUD$330 => $330*2.9= RM957!! *sighs* :mad:

Hey btw, what is the warranty for these Manfrotto tripods as some sellers offer up to 5 years!!..dunno if true or not?!! or what they mean by that :?

[leokoo]

Remember, you will need an equally good and realiable head. If the legs are good, and the neck is week, you may get a frustrating tripod experience.

May I suggest you markins (http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/ballheads.html) hehehehe Seeing that you may end up with really heavy Zeiss glasses, a good neck will surely help

Markins will officially be in Malaysia soon! :run_away: Please check out our website for the latest updates on the availability of Markins and OP/TECH, brands we strive to bring in for you ;)

http://www.hambone.com.my

Blessed Easter!

Leo

[neoro]

Markins will officially be in Malaysia soon! :run_away: Please check out our website for the latest updates on the availability of Markins and OP/TECH, brands we strive to bring in for you ;)

http://www.hambone.com.my

Blessed Easter!

Leo

:tongue_roll::tongue_roll::tongue_roll:
awesome !!

but i got my giant ball head already. :( shd have brought in earlier. Would highly recommend it

[leokoo]

:tongue_roll::tongue_roll::tongue_roll:
awesome !!

but i got my giant ball head already. :( shd have brought in earlier. Would highly recommend it

Hehe, wanted to bring it in earlier, but ya, it isn't easy with top quality brands :P Will post up a separate thread on Markins soon! :cool:

[braendan]

Called YL yesterday they say the stock for Markins M10 has not arrive yet. Any indicators?

[ShaolinTiger]

Thinking about a Markins Q3 with a Velbon CF tripod for a good portable setup for travel/hiking.

Wonder how much it'll be over here..

[braendan]

Thinking about a Markins Q3 with a Velbon CF tripod for a good portable setup for travel/hiking.

Wonder how much it'll be over here..

The Q3 according to them RM9XX just go for the M10 and dont look back price not that big of a difference :P

[neoro]

hehehe get the M-20 :p its super solid. and the weight is minimal hehehhee 568g only. :p

[leokoo]

hehehe get the M-20 :p its super solid. and the weight is minimal hehehhee 568g only. :p

:run_away: Markins is officially in Malaysia. We've just managed to clear the customs after much haggling. It's on all our channel partners' shops, coming with a 3 year warranty, and a 1-to-1 exchange if there's any issues.

God Bless!

[noordin]

If you have a big camera like a D# or D300 with battery grip, then get Markins M10 or M20. The Q3 is too small especially if you're gonna use 14-24mm or 24-70mm 2.8 lenses.

I have both the M20 and the Q3 and the small one is strictly for travelling. Markins are just great. I had Manfrotto Hydrostatic 468 before but with manfrotto the clamp is flimsy and using it with big lenses like a 200-400mm is really risky because the clamp lock is not secure enough. I had many narrow escapes.

[macropixman]

I should have checked with all the sifus here first la
I just got my Manfrotto 468MGRC4 hydrostatic head n 055XPROB.
If Markins M20 is much better....but it costs RM 1200 against RM 8xx for Manfrotto la...

[ShaolinTiger]

I should have checked with all the sifus here first la
I just got my Manfrotto 468MGRC4 hydrostatic head n 055XPROB.
If Markins M20 is much better....but it costs RM 1200 against RM 8xx for Manfrotto la...

Yah honestly the Manfrotto head is the last choice for most people..

It's not a consideration! Better to get:

Markins M10/M20
Kirk BH-1
Arca Swiss Z1 or B1
Acratech Ultimate Ballhead
RRS BH55

[eAgleyes]

Been reading this topic, so what is the advantages of Manfrotto 468MGRC2 HydroStatic Ball Head Rel. RC2 (http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/pid/2314?livid=80&lsf=80&child=2) and Markin Ultimate Performance Q-Ball M20 (http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/products/ballheads/m20.html)? Brand preferences, price and ease of use?

Where is a good place to get Markins? Cathay SG?

Regards,
David

[noordin]

It is not so much the Hydrostatic ball head but the clamp that's the weak part of the Manfrotto. It tends to 'unlock' when very heavy load is attached to it. A D2X/s (D3) with 200-400mm f/4 is definitely a no no (I found out). And also when you put it at an angle for instance to shoot the moon, it will creep.

All the top ball heads (Markins, Arca Swiss, Really Right Stuffs, Wimbeley etc) use what is called the Arca Swiss clamp and plate. This is the most secure way to attach a camera+lens to the ball head. This is the preferred type by the pros.

A ball head is an investment for life. Unlike a camera body or lens, they don't change, so even if it's more expensive, you only buy it once and buy the biggest you can afford.

[ShaolinTiger]

Yeah the QR plates Manfrotto uses aren't very secure under heavy load, they still have some give and they aren't double locked like Arca Swiss style.

If you want heavyweight and security for your lenses, especially for heavy setups you need a Arca system and recommended L-plate.

[eAgleyes]

Ok. I shall change my manfrotto head then. Need to get a few extra plates as well. Where is a good place can I get Markin's products here in Malaysia?

Thanks.

[ShaolinTiger]

Ok. I shall change my manfrotto head then. Need to get a few extra plates as well. Where is a good place can I get Markin's products here in Malaysia?

Thanks.

You can order directly from US, that's what most people do.

leokoo seems to have brought some Markins stuff in as well.

http://www.hambone.com.my/

[leokoo]

You can order directly from US, that's what most people do.

leokoo seems to have brought some Markins stuff in as well.

http://www.hambone.com.my/

Dear Shaolin Tiger,

Thanks for the mention. We're the only and official distributors for Markins in Malaysia, other than Think Tank Photo and Op/Tech. As we do not sell our items direct, do check out our channel partners, or place an order with Shashinki (http://www.shashinki.com)

Thanks again for your support,

God Bless!

Leo :)

[xandman]

talking bout ball heads...
can anyone help me...
where can i find acratech ultimate ballhead?
the singapore based reseller doesnt seem to be answering my email.
thanks.

[leokoo]

talking bout ball heads...
can anyone help me...
where can i find acratech ultimate ballhead?
the singapore based reseller doesnt seem to be answering my email.
thanks.

Dear Xandman,

It's not in Malaysia so far. Guess you've to order online, and then work to get the items through the customs :cool: Alternatively, you might want to try a higher-load rated Markins, which is around the same price (US only, Acratech's more expensive in Singapore), but available with warranty and support here in Malaysia :run_away:

As what Noordin says, a ball head is an investment for a lifetime. Get an excellent one, and
a) You won't have to upgrade in the future, saving on upgrading investments
b) It'll give you great steadiness, which will translate to even crispier shots :run_away:

God Bless!

[dazzle]

Hi guy,
I just have my Manfrotto 055XPROB + 486RC2.
Tripod support 7kg, Ball head 6kg.
So far my camera load is about 2.5kg.
Still very stable.
1 more thing is on the ball head.
Some ppl saying the 3 way head is good for landscap photography.
For me not really, ball head is more flexible during outdoor and landscap photography.
Any opinion or help comment to me. Cause I'm still a newbie here.