Manfrotto 555B and 128RC Modifications

I use my tripod all the time. I own a tank-like tripod that has gone everywhere. It's the Manfrotto 3021Pro, and I own the second generation of the model. It's silver-metal, heavy and built to take abuse. I use my 3021Pro with a Manfrotto 484RC2 for most of my photography needs.

In photography mode, the 3021Pro and the 484RC2 have never let me down. When I use my 3021Pro, I can open and drop the legs with one hand, while I work my camera with the other. The standard post of the 3021Pro has a great little steel clip at the end of the post that I use to suspend my gear from when I am in the field. The weight of my gear, suspended from below the tripod makes for an amazingly stable platform, and often keeps my gear out of the poop that is "in the field". The little steel clip is a great feature of the 3021Pro

Using my 3021Pro is second nature and the clack-clack of the legs dropping into position or closing is a common sound as I am out and about getting my images.

Lately, with the video capabilities of my Pentaxes (K7 and K5), I have done more video. Obviously, the standard post that comes with the 3021Pro and the 484RC2 are not designed for video.

I upgraded my 3021Pro with a Manfrotto 555B - a self leveling post.

I also bought a 128RC Video Head. The 128RC was also compatible with my quick release plates and is one of the smallest video heads that Manfrotto makes.

With the 3021Pro and my 555B/128RC, I now have the ability to switch back and forth from photography and video relatively easy. It's a great capability to have the 555B/128RC and have my old head and shaft available in a split instant.

However, in practice, I noticed some things that I didn't like with the 555B/128RC, that could potentially have been a deal breaker.

The tension device on the bottom of the 555B shaft/post removed the capability to hang things from the post.
The stock hand lever on the 128RC is very long in relation to the head. With long telephotos, there is too much leverage. I can crank the tension down, but then it becomes too jerky. If I release too much tension, the lever provides too much mechanical advantage, and is too difficult to get a smooth pan/tilt.
The screws that secure the rotation of whatever head you put on the 555B are too short and hard to get to (small flat screwdriver) and with the angle of the treads too recessed to be useful.

So I decided to create my own fixes; I have a metal lathe and imagination.

I created a new shaft tensioning device that is able to support a reasonable weight. Obviously it's not meant to support CRAZY weight. I understand the parameters of the tension mechanism and know what the reasonable limit would be. I have tested various backpacks and I designed the strap to hang perfectly down, so that there is no side-to-side play that might cause a shear force on the self-leveling head mechanism. The force vector is straight down via the threads in the tightening mechanism. The loads are manageable.
You can see the velcro strap that goes into the bore with a through length custom retainer

Here is a picture of how the pin goes through the rear of the device. There is no side-to-side play and the strap/bore is exactly 1". The pin rolls inside the bore and the pin diameter goes through the entire length of the bore.

The pin makes use of a technique where I make a custom knurled head, that is then pressed on an existing screw/bolt, and then I clean up the edges on the lathe.

The inner circle is the lip that duplicates the stock device's lip and what pulls down on the inner shaft to tighten the self-leveling head. It is polished with 2000grit and is smoother than the stock one. The "chatter" marks are miniscule, maybe .001 of an inch and have no affect on the mechanism. The multiple bores and concentric circles and depths were very difficult to duplicate from the stock Manfrotto piece. This was a solid 6061 round that was bored on both ends, tapped and polished. A VERY difficult thing to create!
I created a smaller "Shorty" lever that makes using the 128RC head much easier. When I am using extreme telephotos, I want reduced leverage so I can use more tension, allowing more force before the head starts to move. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but in reality it works better. I suppose something along the lines of static friction vs. kinetic friction. The shorty lever is more balanced.

The "shorty" can be mounted as in the images above or can be reversed. In addition, it can be rotated to suit whatever hand position you might want.

You can use the 90 degree lever, or remove it. The thread is 3/8-16, so it can also accept standard photo accessories. The material is 6061 solid aluminum, so you can clamp to it or do whatever you want.
I made custom screws with knurled heads and allen compatibility to work with the 555B self leveling head. The heads of the screws do not touch or interfere with the ball even though they stick out.

The Finished Product(s)

Before

After

Reversed in the head.

The mods to the 555B/128RC make my old 3021Pro into a very nice video tripod. These mods, allow me to keep a sturdy tripod around, without having to have both a video and photo tripod. The 555B/128RC make a great combo.

I hope you enjoyed my project.

Lauren