Do you may have an previous ball head that you simply love, however shouldn’t be ARCA suitable? Do you need to give new life to your previous 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 over time. Do you may have an previous one hiding in storage that may be up to date and provides new life? The next is my private expertise in updating my previous 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 funds. Buying used tools at cut price 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 digicam to the ball head. Just a few years after buying the ball head, it developed a creep. I used to be knowledgeable it might 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. Often, it will exit for wildflowers and open air macro work. Whereas researching the ball head, over time it has gone by way of many upgrades and variations.
Lately, 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 it is a heavy obligation ball head and I’ve the “massive chicken” lens, M. Zuiko 150-400mm f/4.0 Professional, I wished to verify it was effectively supported.
The collar on the lens is ARCA suitable. Nevertheless, when utilizing a two digicam system on a non-ARCA suitable mount, you’re continuously altering the plate. Whereas researching the Manfrotto ball head, I found you possibly can retrofit it to an ARCA system.
Retrofitting the Manfrotto 468MRCG0 ball head
Throughout my analysis, I discovered the Wimberley C-12 Fast Launch Clamp was a match for my ball head. Performing the retrofit process appeared easy 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 had been simple to observe; you needed to match your tripod put up 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
Swap to the 5/32″ hex key and take away the set screw.
Step 3
Place the brand new Wimberley fast launch plate on the pinnacle mount.
Step 4
Use the two.5mm hex key and change the mounting screw that you simply 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 digicam to your model new tripod head and luxuriate in the brand new life you may have given to your previous gear!
