First question:

Yesterday I went to town and at my favourite photo shop Itried a slingbag.

My first impression was that it's comfortable to wear and very well designed. But then, when slinging it to the front and opening it, I tried to imagine how and where I could place my equipment.
At that moment I realised that the main opening to take another lens is vertical and away from the body. So in my mind's eye I already saw one of my lenses slipping out and dropping to the ground.

I know several of you have slingshots. I've seen the advantages. But how do you perform this magical act of taking another lens? And perhaps it wouldn't be too much to ask how you organise your equipment, prefereably with an illustration?

Thanks!

*Second question:

*I want a good quality tripod.  The one I have belonged to my father who had it for about twenty years, and he died two years ago.

I'm putting money aside to get a good one.

I was thinking towards Manfrotto., and more precisely the 475B Digital. That's the maximum I can invest, taking into account than I also need to buy a head. (ahhh...prices here in good ol' Europe are impossible)
Speaking about a head: I can't permit to buy the more expensive ones. The 804RC2 is about the maximum.
It is meant to be used outside, in nature, not in a studio, meaning I'll have to carry it, together with the rest of the equipment, a bottle of water, a notebook etc etc.

And now the questions:

Anyone using this?
Your opinion on ball-heads?

thanks,

ET

I don't have a slingshot bag, though they sound a great idea. Wouldn't have thought they could be any worse than the rucksack type bag that you either lay in the mud to open, or your kit comes tumbling out while you try and balance holding it. 

Tripods - so much depends on what use you want to put it to. Hope you're fit if you intend to carry the 475B  very far, with that head it is 5.7Kg. Add that to the weight of camera and lenses and it is quite a lot to carry. 
Personally I prefer a lighter tripod and head - use your camera bag as extra ballast hung from the tripod if it is very windy.  I use the 190proX and 460MG head, you could upgrade that to a 055ProX if you need extra height.

The choice on type of head depends what you are used to, and which you find easiest to use. I have never got on very well with ball heads, find them very difficult to position, I prefer a three way head simply for ease of use.  Others have no trouble and prefer the ball head.

I have had  the slingshot 200 bag for a couple months.  Its ok if not going to carry much stuff.
  In the two months I have been playing with cameras and equitment I have now found the bag two small for my lens.   Especially the long lens.  I have the 400 mm f5.6 and will be buying the 70-200 f4 in couple weeks.
 I will then sell the slingshot 200 and buy the lowepro trekker II AW backpack that will carry more equitment. :)
  I have the Manafrotto 190XPro tripod and like it a lot.  I got the **Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System which works great with my canon cmaera and 400 f5.6 lens.
 
I sent a bad copy of canon 100-400 lens back because of a problem with the IS in that lens.  I do want to get another copy a little later this year along with a Canon 40D body. :)
**

Recently I bought my Manfrotto 055Prob with a ball head486RC2.  I love it. Tripod good I haven't find problem with it yet,( why would I?) I use it all sorts of position, what I realy like I can "strecth" a legs sideways horizontal, great help with macro stuff on a ground like lichen and so on. No carry bag but this is not effecting me to take it everywhere. Can set up for horizontal shot too. (Camera looking down on subject)

Ball head. Countless possibilities so practical what ever angle you want to shoot. One movement to release and lock a ball back on. So quick.
What I realy appreciate on a ball head, actually I can lock securly a camera to the plate. I could not do this on my old one. Holds a canon 400D with macro no worries at all.

this is my novice opinion hope it was helpful

seeya  Tunde

First question:
Well, I've also been asking myself the same question about the slingshot. After using a regular shoulderbag for some years, I changed to a Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW a couple of months back. Much more comfortable to wear when walking around; really easy to swing forward and take the camera out (with an attached lens); but I found changing lenses, filters or lens adapters much easier and faster with the regular shoulderbag. With the slingshot bag, I have a feeling that it's best to take it off before you open the vertical lens compartment. The shoulderbag has the disadvantage that, if you swing your body forward or if you bend to take close-ups, the bag swings and falls forward, which can be really annoying, unless you can find a way to somehow fasten it to your hips with a belt or something...

Second question:
The 475B tripod you're thinking about, weighs 4.3 kilos (add the head, your camera and lens to this). That is really, really heavy to walk around with. If you plan on carrying this by hand, I would definitely think twice about that. Furthermore, the mimimum folded length is 80cm; that is not compact at all if you want to make your path in nature... The 475B is a 'geared' tripod; which means that the center column adjustment can be made very precise by swiveling the gear handle, but usually slower than with a free standing column. About the head: the 804RCR is a 3-way pan and tilt head; heavy-duty (though quite lightweight) and precise; but not as fast as a ball head.
I recently bought a Manfrotto tripod with head myself... when gaining advice from several other 'walking-around' photographers, they advised to get a lighter tripod with a ball head: much easier to carry around and very fast to set up and 'aim'. Based on their recommendations (and my available budget), I had a choice between the 190XPROB and the 055XPROB; the first weighs 1.8kg, the second 2.4kg. They can carry 5 and 7kg respectively, including the head (enough for a DSLR with most telezooms). For the head, I chose a ball head for ease and speed, and believe me, compared to a 3-way head, it's extremely easy and speedy. Turn and swivel it any way you like, up, down, vertical, horizontal, with just one switch... As I finally chose the 190XPROB tripod, I went for the 484RC2 mini ball head (with quick release plate), which matches the tripod perfectly and can still carry 4kg. This combination is just perfect to carry around, very light, easy and fast. The total weight is 2.12kg... compare that to the 5.09kg you're thinking about...

Thanks for the replies. This is indeed far too heavy.

I went to manfrotto's site and noticed that the say that the cntral column in the 190XPOB can be rotated to horizontally. This looks good.

The 055ProB has this also but is more expensive..
Tough choice.

Thanks for your replies.

EDIT: thanks Geert. I found www. geheugenkaart.be to be the cheapest (other ideas perhaps?).
Also, it's much cheaper than my initial idea and, to be honest: more in line with my budget.

I read that the central column of the 190 can be unlocked and brought into horizontal position. Does this really work well?

I have the Lowepro AW300 slingshot bag, and I'm very pleased with it.  It holds my two short lenses and two telephoto lenses just fine.  With a top compartment for assorted goods, I can place my keys, wallet, and bottle of water in it, and leave my purse at home when I am out for the day.  The 300 is the largest of the 3 slingshot bags, and it has a snap that comes around from the back near the waist and attaches to the sling, so that it does not swing around when you bend forward, as girsempa said, and helps to lessen the weight on one's shoulders when cinched snugly .  For me, it opens easily enough for changing lenses and can be swung around easily so you can sit in a chair or against a flat surface without removing it from your shoulder.  I had a larger backback type bag but traded it in on the AW300, as it was too bulky and cumbersome, and I've not regretted it. 

It is very easy to move the central column to horizontal on the 190xpro . The 055xpro is the same mechanism. 

Yes, the center column of the 190XPROB and 055XPROB can be very easily switched to horizontal position. I've used it several times and it works really well, especially with a ball head (mind that the head is also tilted at 90° in this position, which can be somewhat unhandy when using a 3-way head. Manfrotto also has a separate Levelling Center Column Angle Bracket 553 available, to overcome this little 'problem').

I took a look at www.geheugenkaart.be, and it's indeed the cheapest that I have seen. The website doesn't look very trustworthy and professional though... very little information about the products, availability, and the payment and delivery conditions. I usually order at www.cameranu.nl, which I thought to be the cheapest (until now); they have a very good site, clear conditions about availability information, and I've never had any problems with information or deliveries. As you're from Antwerpen (I think), you might also take a look at www.fotorubens.be: they have almost everything in their catalogue (almost as cheap as cameranu.nl), but no information about availability (you have to contact them for availability)...

After a second look, www.geheugenkaart.be doesn't seem to be cheap for lenses and lens accessories though... I'd stick with www.cameranu.nl...

Geheugenkaart are ok. I bought my CF cards and a lens from their shop and the delivery and payments are flawless.  They send you their bank-account, you pay and they send. When they know you and it's urgent, they may send with the bill included.
I guess that for a tripod there can't be a problem either.
The website is a disaster, and the owner isn't a talkative salesguy but correct. Yet I never had a problem with what I bought so I can't talk about that.

Yes, you're correct: I live in Antwerp.

This said: I now have a Nova4 AW bag, and everything fits in it. I have a waist-belt attached to it so I can carry it on my back without getting a sling when climbing down a slope. It's filled to the brim, and from time to time not that handy but I guess it'll have to do for the moment.

Thanks all.

I see that Tanchelyn is looking for,

a good quality tripod

... and came to the right place to get lots of opinions.  [grin]

I own a Manfrotto 3021BPRO ... which has been replaced by the
Manfrotto 055XPROB.  MSRP, $185 ... seen on the web, as low as $168

I have to admit that I am just a little envious of the newer 055XPROB ...
in that it would be much easier to set the center column horizontal than
on my 3021BPRO ... ahhhhh, progress (AKA, New Toys). 

You should compare the Manfrotto 055XPROB with the Manfrotto 475B ...

475B ... weight 9.5 lbs.; load capacity 26.5 lbs.; height range 16.9 to 74 inches

055XPROB ... weight 5.3 lbs; load 15.4 lbs.; height range 3.9 to 73 inches

In fact using the 055XPROB with the center column inverted, the camera could
get down to -zero- distance to the ground

As to carrying the tripod while hiking, I would consider the "Bogen - Manfrotto
Heavy Duty Tripod Carrying Long Strap for all Bogen Tripods (#3044)" $30. 

I would also suggest the "Bogen - Manfrotto Tripod Utility Apron 3146" $26
-- it could hold camera accessories ... or could be used to stabilize the tripod
on uneven ground ar at extreme extension by using locally available
counterweights (rocks). 

My Manfrotto 3021BPRO has a Manfrotto 804RC2 pan/tilt head with quick release. 

As to the tripod head ... that's something you should select after some hands-on
testing. 

--
Martin

Thanks Martin.

It looks like the 055XProB is more expensive than the 190XProB here in Europe, but I have to look around a bit, ask some questions to resellers.
Prices differ enormously and I wouldn't mind buying the head somewhere else if it were cheaper.

I see that Tanchelyn is condidering both price and features ...

I asked my Good Buddy Google (TM) to do a little 'research' ...

Manfrotto 475B uk ... £169.95 ... or  $283.95

Manfrotto 190XProB uk ... £65.00 ... or  $144.85

Manfrotto 055XPROB uk ... £65.00  ... or $167.90

I got the $ prices by doing the search(es) without "UK"

Sorry that I didn't know how to limit the searches to Belgium for you. 

--
Martin

The best price I found for the 190XProB is 115Euro
For he 055XProB is 159Euro

both without transport of course.

Yet if XE (exchange rate) is right, then I would liove to know where you found that £65 as it's a lot cheaper. Which would be bizarre as UK prices are normally higher than continental ones. (Most Brits forget that they can buy on the continent as they are part of Europe)

I see that Tanchelyn expressed some curiosity,

I would love to know where you found that £65 as it's a lot cheaper.

Yeah ... that's why I call Google my "Goof Buddy"  [grin]

Oooooooops!!! I read the headline, "Free Delivery on Orders Over £65.00
(UK Mainland) Price Shown Includes VAT" ... as the price ...

Sorry, my bad ... slap ...

Reading further down the page, I found the correct prices on the
Morris Photographic Centre ...

190XProB £84.95

055XProB  £112.90

Thanks for commenting ... so that I could set the record straight and correct my error. 

--
Martin
p.s. Just in case you travel to the UK to make the purchase, I have some interest
in Standing Stones (neolithic monumental Art) ... and, if it wouldn't be too much trouble ...

Sorry Martin, I should have known that this was impossible.
I won't cross the Channel as here in Absurdia prices are lower.

BUT: I do have several shots of standing stones from Bretagne. If you can wait a while, you'll find them in my gallery. ( I must find them first ).

I have the Slingshot 200 and I'm really pleased with it. The compartments inside can be rearranged as they are held in place by Velcro. This means you can change the sizes of the individual compartments to tailor for your lenses and gadgets, and the positioning can also be changed so you can get to them while it is "slung", therefore you dont need to put the bag down at all. I guess if you are used to a certain style of bag then a new one could be awkward to start with but I think you would soon overcome that. I can highly recommend the Slingshot series - hope this helps!

Thanks. But my problem, or question, is that to get to the lenses you have to open it on the outer vertical side, which means a risk of lenses dropping.

I haven't seen an option to store them vertically so you only have to open the top (or, when on your back: left) side.

I have a ball head and after a day was totally used to it..I did not say bald head.   The movement is surprising at first and you have to try one before purchase.   Be sure to tighten the ball movement or things can go plunk.   The quick release is a fine way to go with a ball head but I could not put out the cash for one at the time.

I am happy with a 488 ball head and 3001 tripod from Manfrotto.  This combo works well and is quite sturdy.  Not a lightweight for carry, however..then again, lighter than some.

In the wood I generally carry a monopod...again, a choice of getting used to and the monopod does take some new alignment of body and pole and camera to become familiar.   It works quite well.       Tom.

Conclusion: I went to town and tried  the 190 and 055 pro with a ballhead. It looks like I can't get used to a ballhead. What's more, to be able to take photo's of drawings, paintings etc, I need to be able to adjust rather precisely. Therefore I chose a 460MG head because it is compact and can, just like a ballhead, be set fully loosened for quick adjustment.
The 055 is larger than the 190, but there's a difference of some 30Euro's. I'm still musing on that, but I'm tempted towards the 055 as I know from experience how hard the wind can blow in Bretagne's coast. (110km/hour or some 70miles/hour is not yet considered as a "storm" but it does blow me from my feet, and nearly off some cliffs).

Even wirth the 055 I'm still much cheaper off than my initial "sherman tank" idea. Thank you all for the great help.

Apart from that: I also use the rope trick. It works very well, and there's no better quality for that price.