3D Heads - Manfrotto 460 (= 3437) vs 115 (= 3028)?

I recently picked up a Bogen/Manfrotto 410/3275 Geared Head. While its
very stable and capable of fine adjustments, the thing is a regular boat
anchor - heavy and too large to be practical for ground-level shooting.

I'm thinking of going with a 3D head as a compromise between a geared
head and a ballhead. I'm looking at Bogen/Manfrotto again, either the
Manfrotto 460 Mg (= Bogen 3437) or the Manfrotto 115 (= Bogen 3028). I
know the 460 is lighter - are the two models equivalent in terms of
flexibility? I notice that the 460 has larger knobs than the 115. Is it
capable of finer adjustments than the 115?

I hear mixed reviews of the 3D heads for macro work, which is what I'll
primarily be doing (mushroom photography at ground level). Anybody used
one of these types of head for macro?

Peter

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Peter Werner wrote:
I recently picked up a Bogen/Manfrotto 410/3275 Geared Head. While its
very stable and capable of fine adjustments, the thing is a regular boat
anchor - heavy and too large to be practical for ground-level shooting.

I'm thinking of going with a 3D head as a compromise between a geared
head and a ballhead. I'm looking at Bogen/Manfrotto again, either the
Manfrotto 460 Mg (= Bogen 3437) or the Manfrotto 115 (= Bogen 3028). I
know the 460 is lighter - are the two models equivalent in terms of
flexibility? I notice that the 460 has larger knobs than the 115. Is it
capable of finer adjustments than the 115?

I hear mixed reviews of the 3D heads for macro work, which is what I'll
primarily be doing (mushroom photography at ground level). Anybody used
one of these types of head for macro?

Peter



Hi Peter,

I have the 460MG and am very satisfied with it: I find the knobs very
ergonomic, the built-in bubble level useful and it is generally a
pleasure to work with compared to all the other 3d heads I've used
(other Manfrottos, Gitzos, etc). The only "drawback" I've found is that
- since it doesn't have a long "arm" - it is lacking the leverage which
can make tiny adjustments of around a degree or so easier.

I've used tripods for a lot of macro work (mostly art reproduction -
though I've done mushrooms too), and prefer 3d heads because they make
getting orthagonals right much easier.
The question of whether or not the greater speed and flexibility of ball
heads is an advantage for mushrom photography is largely a matter of
taste and prioriites (IMHO).

Chris