hoover wrote:
I'm thinking of getting the following tripod and head - i know nothing about
them. Any thoughts or recommendations? thanks
1. Bogen-Manfrotto 322RC2 Horizontal Grip Action Ball Head with RC2 Rapid
Connect Plate (3157N)
2. Bogen-Manfrotto 3021BPRO Professional Tripod


You should specify what your intended use will be. I like flower
photography and macro work.

I have the 3021Pro (chrome, figured black would chip).
It is not a tripod for backpacking. It's chief strength is its ability
to go very low and with the center post removable and going horizontal,
you can get low and position the camera where the legs might have been
an interference. Some people complain that they can get pinched with
the leg locks, I avoid that by closing with the ball/palm of the hand.

The mechanism for removing the head from the vertical post to convert
from vertical to hoziontal (or to pull the vertical tube completely out
to get the tripod very low to the ground) is done by unscrewing the tube
from the mounting plate. It is too fine a thread for my taste, it takes
a lot of turns to separate the pieces.

I use it with a Bogen 410 geared head and an Ultratech ballhead.

JD