Do you’ve gotten an outdated ball head that you just love, however is Slot Bonus New Member just not ARCA appropriate? Do you need to give new life to your outdated gear? Let’s discover retrofitting!
What’s retrofitting?
Retrofitting is including a element to a chunk of apparatus that was not a part of the unique manufacturing course of. Ball heads have modified enormously through the years. Do you’ve gotten an outdated one hiding in storage that may be up to date and provides new life? The next is my private expertise in updating my outdated Manfrotto 468MRCG0 Ball Head.
Manfrotto 468MRCG0 Ball Head
Going again about 11 or 12 years in the past, I used to be constructing my enterprise and my gear on a really slim finances. Buying used gear at discount costs was a should. Throughout one among my gear pursuits, for about $200, I bought a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod (now discontinued) with a Manfrotto 468MRCG0 ball head (additionally discontinued). He tossed in a video head and angle bracket for no cost.
The Manfrotto 468MRCG0 has a 2 1/2″ hexagon formed plate to mount your digital camera to the ball head. A couple of years after buying the ball head, it developed a creep. I used to be knowledgeable it may very well be refurbished. The refurbish eradicated the creep and gave it a brand new life!
As time has handed, the ball head discovered a house in my studio. The ball head’s main use grew to become macro and close-up work. Sometimes, it might exit for wildflowers and outside macro work. Whereas researching the ball head, through the years it has gone by many upgrades and variations.
Not too long ago, the Manfrotto 468CRCG0 made a visit to Bosque del Apache Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. Why? The ball head is a workhorse and might assist as much as 35 kilos! Since this can be a heavy responsibility ball head and I’ve the “massive chicken” lens, M. Zuiko 150-400mm f/4.0 Pro, I needed to verify it was nicely supported.
The collar on the lens is ARCA appropriate. Nevertheless, when utilizing a two digital camera system on a non-ARCA appropriate mount, you might be consistently altering the plate. Whereas researching the Manfrotto ball head, I found you can retrofit it to an ARCA system.
Retrofitting the Manfrotto 468MRCG0 ball head
Throughout my analysis, I discovered the Wimberley C-12 Quick Release Clamp was a match for my ball head. Performing the retrofit process appeared simple sufficient, so I ordered the Wimberley C-12 fast launch clamp.
Within the Wimberley C-12 Package deal
- Fast launch clamp: C12 (1)
- Set screws M5 x 6 mm, pre-installed (3)
- Reducer bushing: BS — 100, brass (1)
- Mounting screw: M6 x 30 mm flat-head (1)
- Mounting screw: M3 x 12 mm Hex Screw (3)
- Mounting screw: 1/4″ -20 x 0.75″ flat-head (1)
- Hex key: 2.5mm (1)
- Hex key: 5/32″ (1)
Step-by-step retrofitting the Manfrotto 468MRCG0 ball head
The directions have been straightforward to observe; you needed to match your tripod submit to one of many many detailed within the handbook, then observe the steps listed.
Step 1
Utilizing the enclosed 2.5mm hex key and take away the middle mounting screw.
Step 2
Change to the 5/32″ hex key and take away the set screw.
Step 3
Place the brand new Wimberley fast launch plate on the top mount.
Step 4
Use the two.5mm hex key and change the mounting screw that you just eliminated in Step 1.
Step 5
With the 5/32″ hex key, tighten the three pre-installed set screws; tighten loosely at first then return and tighten all the best way.
Step 6
Mount your digital camera to your model new tripod head and luxuriate in the brand new life you’ve gotten given to your outdated gear!
