Actually Proper Stuff Pan-Tilt Head Evaluation: Actually Costly, Actually Good

Actually Proper Stuff is an organization that’s well-known for producing a number of the highest-quality tripod and equipment for creatives, and the lately up to date PG-02 MK II Pan-Tilt Tripod Head is not any exception.

Whereas pan-tilt tripod heads will not be as generally seen as they as soon as have been due to developments in each digicam and post-processing expertise, for individuals who care about “getting it proper” in digicam, Actually Proper Stuff’s up to date head is a really thrilling growth because it affords a variety of options ultimate for full-frame, medium, and huge format programs utilizing super-telephoto lenses. The Actually Proper Stuff PG-02 MK II Pano-Gimbal Head, which prices anyplace between $750 to $950, is designed for photographers who want to have the ability to rapidly and simply modify the pan and tilt of their digicam whereas taking giant batches of photos, and the system greater than delivers.

I had the pleasure of utilizing the PG-02 MK II pan-tilt head (paired with the Versa mk2 Tripod and TA-3-LB Series 3 tripod leveling base) for just a few weeks (in between storms) and I used to be actually very impressed with its construct and efficiency. As soon as assembled, the pinnacle is insanely clean and straightforward to make use of and is ready to deal with {most professional} photographers’ gear with none points. Throughout my testing, I used the system with each my wide-angle and telephoto setup (70-200mm sadly, I undoubtedly want I had a bigger zoom lens to have messed with whereas testing this head), and whatever the lens mixture, the pan head was in a position to keep a superbly secure steadiness each time.

Throughout my testing with I used the PG-02 MK II Pano-Gimbal head with the Versa MK2 Tripod and TA-3-LB Series 3 Tripod Leveling base together with my Nikon Z6ii and a wide range of lenses together with the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 F-mount lens and FTZ adapter and the Nikkor Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Huge Angle lens.

RRS PG-02 MK II: Design And Construct High quality

Fabricated from CNC-machined aluminum and brass elements which are each manufactured and assembled in america, the pan-tilt head options plenty of modern design parts that make it simple to make use of and journey with. This features a single-hand simultaneous pan and tilt lock, an built-in dovetail within the horizontal base, and a bubble degree that has been repositioned for higher visibility.

The pan head has (successfully) 4 major elements: a horizontal arm, a vertical arm with drop rail, a cradle clamp, and a management arm which might all match neatly inside the included softshell case for straightforward journey and transport. The entire system assembles and comes aside in simply seconds, making it impressively simple to arrange and tear down in the event you’re in a rush.

The machine itself is constructed to carry a most load capability of fifty kilos and can be utilized with virtually any digicam system and mounts together with Arca-Swiss, Gitzo, and Manfrotto. The top’s pan and tilt locks are designed to allow virtually any drag degree desired with an extremely easy-to-identify “no parallax level” permitting for good alignments.

The small silver lever on the tip of the arm permits for about 90 levels of motion from the locked to the unlocked place to permit for fully clean panning movement or fully static and safe (unmoving) positions.

The vertical arm, which clamps onto the horizontal arm utilizing a screw-lock Arca-Swiss suitable clamp, options one other set of laser-etched measurements for place monitoring, in addition to a sequence of 1/4-inch holes that can be utilized for a wide range of extra digicam equipment, like mounting a monitor and microphones for video manufacturing, and even a further digicam.

The vertical arm’s tilt lock knob was changed by a lever, which is supposed to make it simpler to regulate the lean pressure with one hand. The pan-tilt head additionally contains an built-in dovetail within the horizontal base that enables for direct mounting to a clamp in addition to a 3/9-inch socket for mounting to conventional tripods.

Along with these adjustments and enhancements, the bubble degree (discovered on the horizontal arm) has been repositioned from the primary era of the pinnacle for simpler visibility and is supposed to behave as a nodal level index. This arm might be mounted on to a tripod or clamped into the quick-release clamp of a ball or leveling head. What makes this specific system pleasing is the locking and unlocking of the pan and tilt are separate units/levers, that means it’s successfully a two-step course of the place you modify one axis at a time.

In response to Actually Proper Stuff, one of many major targets of this Mk II redesign was to scale back the general dimension and weight of the System which they’ve achieved by about 10 to 12% in comparison with the Mk I and Mark 1.5 Pan heads. The most recent model weighs about 1.45 kilograms or 3.25 kilos. This discount in dimension and weight is probably not large, however it’s nonetheless price sufficient to make it match a bit of higher in most digicam baggage and may assist when decision-making about how a lot gear to pack with you on a specific journey.

RRS PG-02 MK II: Efficiency and Usability

Combining all these options offers customers a surprisingly easy-to-assemble and navigate system (even with out following the directions) that enables for extremely exact image-stitching for panoramic pictures, making the perimeters virtually invisible. You’ll be able to see within the two examples under — aside from me not being correctly “degree” the perimeters and conventional bowing you’ll anticipate from making a panoramic from a number of frames — the perimeters are virtually good.

Mainly, if you set the pan-tilt head up correctly and steadiness your lens correctly within the system, there needs to be no edge distortion when creating panoramics because the digicam might be pivoted on the lens. This leaves you with a superbly parallel, straight sew to your photos when capturing giant panoramics, hopefully leaving you with no wasted pixels that need to be cropped away.

As you possibly can see within the picture under, when making a panoramic utilizing a standard tripod, the shot will usually go away you with a big crescent or warped form the place the perimeters curve in relation to the middle of the picture, leaving you with numerous wasted pixels even after you align them or stretch the picture in submit.

Beneath is the assembled pano, cropped to keep away from the curved edges:

And right here it’s once more, captured utilizing the Actually Proper Stuff PG-O2 pan head:

As you possibly can see, you possibly can match much more element right into a degree shot with out a lot Photoshop having to be concerned.

One thing I actually did get pleasure from utilizing was the Management Arm that inserts into the drop-rail of the system. The arm, most often used for video shooters, will assist customers make a lot smoother pan and tilt actions throughout video shoots, in addition to make extra exact micro-adjustments for nonetheless work.

Listed below are just a few extra panoramic shot utilizing the Actually Proper Stuff PG-02 MK II Pan-Tilt Gimbal Head:

Beneath is a panoramic assembled from practically 300 particular person pictures, simply because going extreme was extremely simple with this setup:

A Necessity For Lengthy-Lens Video, Panoramas, and Motion Photographs

The Actually Proper Stuff PG-02 MK II Pan-Tilt Gimbal head is unquestionably one of the vital costly gimbal heads available on the market, however, it’s also one of the vital top-quality and performing programs as effectively, arguably making it well worth the funding.

The PG-02 MK2 Pano-Gimbal Head ($750 to $950), Versa mk2 Tripod ($1,100 to $1,245), and Series 3 TA-3-LB tripod leveling base ($220 to $340) will run you a complete of about $2,070 to $2,535. That positions this setup at what I’d name the “Rolls-Royce” degree of tripod and gimbal heads.

However that value isn’t for nothing. The setup is extra light-weight and simpler to journey with than its predecessor and comes with extra equipment and extra options for a wider array of makes use of.

It has been practically six years because the final time I used a gimbal head like this and this beast re-inspired me to get again out and shoot extra panorama and journey photos due to its ease of use and comparatively small dimension and weight. For professionals the place getting it proper in digicam is critically essential, the PG-02 MK II is an extremely well-built piece of drugs that’s meant to final a really very long time, and each critical wildlife, panorama, and motion photographer ought to give it some critical consideration.

Are There Alternate options?

Whereas not precisely a scorching merchandise to seek out on the present market, there are some very stable, and rather more reasonably priced contenders within the Pan-Tilt tripod head recreation. Granted, the cheaper variations provide much less weight capability, and most have far fewer choices and options. On the opposite facet, there are costlier choices that usher in some fascinating perks.

On the costlier facet now we have the $1,970 Arca Swiss C1 Cube Geared Tripod head which is extra suited in the direction of structure images and is taken into account by many to be most suitable choice obtainable. Subsequent, the $1,225 Proaim Spin-3 Motorized Pan-Tilt head can help 33 kilos of drugs, which is spectacular. Moreover, now we have the $1,971 Foba ASMIA Q Dual Tilting Head that may help as much as 44 kilos of drugs, or the $829 Manfrotto VR & Pan Pro Head that may help about 11 kilos of drugs.

Diving into the extra reasonably priced facet of issues now we have the $499 Sirui PH-30 Gimbal Head, the $434 Benro GH5C Carbon Fiber Gimbal Head, the $180 Movo Photo GH800 Gimbal Head, or the $99 Neewer Gimbal Tripod Head. Keep in mind, the cheaper you go, the extra concessions you’ll need to make.

Ought to You Purchase It?

Sure, if you’re an expert Panorama, Wildlife, Architectural, or Journey photographer. The RRS PG-02 MK II Pan-Tilt Gimbal head is unquestionably well worth the funding, however in the event you’re a hobbyist and even semi-professional, I’d need to say it is a “most likely not” possibility since the price of the setup could be very a lot on the excessive facet.