On Sat, 25 Aug 2001 15:57:11 -0700, you wrote:
>I would like to know what tripods & heads the list members that have 600/4.0
I use a Wimberley head, Kirk Arca-style QR, and Bogen
3021 tripod. If I had a bucketful of money laying
around, I'd get a Gitzo carbon-fiber tripod without a
center column and retire the Bogen to other uses.
I believe my 3021 is lighter than your 3036. Even
though my 3021 is theoretically inadequate, it actually
does a good job. I don't extend the center column, and
usually keep the lower leg sections extended as little
as possible. After I bought my 600/4 and Wimberley head
and Kirk quick-release, I decided to save awhile for a
new tripod. After three years I still haven't felt it
necessary to spend big bucks for a sturdier tripod.
I also have a Ries wooden tripod, which should be
better than the Bogen 3021. It's not ready for the 600
yet because it only has a 1/4 mounting screw, and I
don't trust that. I have a 3/8 modification kit which I
haven't installed yet.
I've used my 600/4 on a twenty-dollar garage-sale
Quick-Set Hercules tripod with its built-in
spring-assisted video head. The tripod was very strudy,
more steady than the Bogen 3021, and the head was
usable after modifying it to take a quick-release. But
the head slow to use compared to the Wimberley.
Before my Wimberly arrived, I used the Bogen 3047
three-way head. That's the most stupid head I've ever
seen for a big lens - I'll never do that again.
Like I said, I use a Wimberley head. See
www.tripodhead.com for the seller's site, and
http://www.moose395.net/gear/wim.html for Moose
Peterson's review of this head.
The Wimberley head is simply the best for any 600/4
with a rotating tripod collar, in my opinion. Short of
mounting your 600 on a very expensive Sachtler or other
video head, I haven't seen anything that would lure me
away from the Wimberley. I haven't tried any of the
cheaper video heads in the $500 range of the Wimberly,
mainly because I'm perfectly satisfied with the
Wimberley.
To take full advantage of the Wimberley, I added a long
Arca-style quick-release bracket and plate. My QR is a
Kirk model. It works flawlessly. Really Right Stuff
makes similar QR releases, but they don't have a
website for choosing gear, so fooie on them.
I got a long QR plate, slightly longer than the foot of
the lens. This allows quickly balancing the lens
fore-and-aft on the head by loosening the QR bracket
and sliding the whole thing, which is generally helpful
after adding weight at the camera end, such as a flash
or TC.
Other gimbal-style heads are available, but they
support the lens sideways, so I've not given them much
thought. There's a Really Right Stuff model, maybe a
Kirk model, a Ries model www.riestripod.com, and even a
Wimberley Sidekick. Of these three side-mount heads,
the Ries looks most promising, and comes with a QR
bracket and plate.
I have a nice Bogen 3249 monopod for locations where a
tripod is not usable. I always attach the Wimberley
head to it. This adds some height, and also allows
shooting upwards or downwards whilst keeping the
monopod upright. Most of the sports shooters I've seen
use a Gitzo monopod, and screw it directly into the
foot of their 600.
I stored away the Pentax trunk case pretty quick,
mainly because the lens would not fit after adding a QR
plate, not could I store much else in it besides the
lens itself. I have been very happy with my second-hand
Domke Long-Lens Bag. It has inserts that make it
semi-hard sided without adding significant weight. I've
stuffed film and socks and stuff around the lens, and
taken the Domke as carry-on luggage on the airplane. It
is tall enough so I can keep a camera and TC mounted,
yet still close the bag properly.
Next you'll be looking for teleconvertors (the Pentax
1.4 XL is the best, but manual focus; Sigma has a 1.4x
AF TC for long lenses that might be worth a try), flash
brackets, flash extenders... and maybe trips to places
like Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, where your 600/4
won't be the only 600/4 on the block.
Good luck with your 600/4. They are a lot of fun to
use, despite their bulk and weight. Keep an eye on that
filter holder; one unplanned push/twist and the filter
can slip out later. From time to time re-tighten
everything on the lens. Don't worry about adding a
front protective filter - the Pentax FA* 600/4 has one
built in (it's part of the optical system, as is a rear
filter, so make sure they are in place). If the big
150mm front filter gets broken, it costs a mere $500 to
replace. And don't worry about keeping the front filter
spotlessly clean - you can stick your hand across the
front element and shoot right through it, so a speck of
dust won't make much difference.
--
Happy Trails,
Texdance
http://members.fortunecity.com/texdance
http://members1.clubphoto.com/john8202
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