I'm going to buy a new tripod soon. Have decided on Bogen leg 3401. For head, I read postings elsewhere in photo.net and found the Bogen compact gear head 3275 attractive. But it seems to have a very big quick release plate, even bigger than a Bogen hex QR plate, (according to pictures in Bogen's brochure and from B&H web site), and I am a bit worried about whether it fits my Ellan IIe body well. Won't it be protruding forward _and_ backward under the body and getting in the way each time I handhold shooting? Is it designed for 35mm or MF? Also, the mounting bolt of the plate doesn't sit at the center but bias toward one side, why so? (makes me think it's really designed for something other than a 35mm)

-- Dayong Liu (dayliu@indiana.edu), December 29, 1998

Answers

I suggest you take a look at the Arca compatible quick release plates. If you can't afford one of the expensive ball heads with the clamp built in, you can buy the clamp seperately from Really Right Stuff or Kirk Enterprises for around $70 and mate it to many 3-way heads with little trouble. The clamp is very easy to use and the plates take up next to no room on your body or lens, with no protruding corners.

-- Ron Goodman (rgoodman@albany.net), December 30, 1998.