PCL-1 Panning Clamp

[Colin Southern]

I got a parcel!

Which has led to a thorough cleaning of my tripod and it is now in about 100 pieces. That's all still drying out so haven't got to try out the new head yet, but Colin you were certainly right about the quality of the machining. Very nice pieces... impressed just with the feel and finish. Of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating...

Then comes playing with the nodal rail starting at the front element found via the much touted minimum viewing distance method

Well done

Got a new toy myself yesterday ... but I digress

I strip my tripod once every few years -- it's quite a mission to get some of the parts back together again

[PhotoByTrace]

Well done

Got a new toy myself yesterday ... but I digress

I strip my tripod once every few years -- it's quite a mission to get some of the parts back together again

I'm pleased to say mine went back together well, nothing left over and nothing lost and not even any swearing. It is now much smoother again too YAY. And the new ball head is DIVINE! No droop... stays just where I put it.... awesomeness!

Probably as much fun to play with as your new bucky balls are

[PhotoByTrace]

Hi Trace, that's great news! Can you please let us know how you make out? I've been on the fence with one of these for a while now too. Just not sure it's what I want.

Hi Andrew, The ballhead or the nodal rail?

[Andrew76]

Sorry - the rail!

[PhotoByTrace]

Sorry - the rail!

I'll let you know on the weekend

[Colin Southern]

I'm pleased to say mine went back together well, nothing left over and nothing lost and not even any swearing.

Clearly you're be doing something wrong then. Hang on - no - that's right - you're a woman - no wonder you got it right first time!

It is now much smoother again too YAY. And the new ball head is DIVINE! No droop... stays just where I put it.... awesomeness!

Someone once asked what the loading capacity of the BH-55 was - I posted this picture of my daughter and said "sufficient"!

Probably as much fun to play with as your new bucky balls are

To be honest, I've had more luck reassembling the tripod than the bucky balls. Faaaaaaar out they're strong little magnets though - and apparantly they're "only" "35 strength" whereas you can get up to "52 strength" (you can join 200+ together into a single chain and wear it around your neck with no chance of it coming apart unless it snags on something.

[PhotoByTrace]

Sorry - the rail!

Hi Andrew, I gave the rail its first outing over the weekend. I got the Multi-Purpose Rail with integrated Clamp, length = 189mm (7.4 inches). I took some time aligning it with my lens at various lengths. And that went fine, I think I got it pretty much sorted.
The rail itself is very stable. I like the extra bubble level built into it. The screw clamp is easy to use. Only negative is something that I don't really think will impact the way I use it, it was just something I noted. I use the Lee filter holder and with the camera in landscape format the filter holder collides with the rail. The sliding clamp option would overcome this I think, or the piggyback clamps. I just can't think I'll be using the camera in that format for the single row horizontal panos that I take, so don't think it'll be limiting.

[Andrew76]

Thanks Trace!! I think I may just have to add something to my Christmas list!