tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post8209349703420100390..comments2024-03-15T15:10:22.193+02:00Comments on S.C.V. Photography Ideas: Sunwayfoto Updated DDH Series of Panning Clamps PreviewUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-16786219433564920422018-01-16T20:04:11.082+02:002018-01-16T20:04:11.082+02:00Thanks for the update, I appreciate. Glad that you...Thanks for the update, I appreciate. Glad that you are happy with the product finally.Sotiris C. Vlachoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262681544193811712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-53849194359477887362018-01-16T18:44:38.941+02:002018-01-16T18:44:38.941+02:00I've just gotten some of the new DDH-05 clamps...I've just gotten some of the new DDH-05 clamps and they seem to work well.IanKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880454244079897853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-67345842076573644982017-09-18T18:55:35.299+03:002017-09-18T18:55:35.299+03:00Thanks for checking. Interesting that there was a ...Thanks for checking. Interesting that there was a problem after all.IanKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880454244079897853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-1051106881546571982017-07-12T16:13:39.900+03:002017-07-12T16:13:39.900+03:00Hi Ian,
Unfortunately, after multiple reminders I ...Hi Ian,<br />Unfortunately, after multiple reminders I received an answer today that the issues have been noticed and the DDH series panning clamps have been redesigned accordingly, so it won't happen again. <br />No answer about remedy suggestions concerning the older clamps, whatsoever.<br />I have to point out that, as far as I know, their head engineer does not speak English, so I'm not sure if much of the technical conversation is lost in translation.<br />I'll keep the matter open though; and if I have any further news I'll update you.Sotiris C. Vlachoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262681544193811712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-28181426998173570272017-06-23T13:43:09.128+03:002017-06-23T13:43:09.128+03:00Hi there, did you ever hear anything back from Sun...Hi there, did you ever hear anything back from Sunwayfoto?IanKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880454244079897853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-40939583496832597732017-02-02T12:56:31.393+02:002017-02-02T12:56:31.393+02:00Thanks for that.
The comment about Manfrotto vs G...Thanks for that.<br /><br />The comment about Manfrotto vs Gitzo was from the supplier. They tested another copy of the clamp on a Manfrotto head in house and found it worked. They then tried the Gitzo head and found it didn't. Perhaps they broke the thread lock when they did it on the Gitzo. That would mean it's pretty easy to do.<br /><br />As for over tightening, it's possible that the issue. However, it's strange that I've not had that problem with Haoge, Benro, iShoot and even other Sunwayfoto clamps. I just have a feeling that the thread lock is a little weak in this new set of clamps. As I said I tried each of them and all seemed to suffer this same problem. It will be interesting to see what the engineers have to say.IanKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880454244079897853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-14568951535986575342017-02-02T04:50:45.133+02:002017-02-02T04:50:45.133+02:00Well done with the adapter, that was the way to go...Well done with the adapter, that was the way to go.<br /><br />Now the Stainless Steel (silver) ring in the center hole of all the panning clamps, has a dual purpose. One is to hold together the lower panning base and the clamp on top, with rotating friction preadjusted at the factory, while a "threadlock" (here a white compound) fixes the adjustment. Second is to act as a polished strengthening material between mounting screws and the softer aluminium clamp.<br />You may have a look inside the panning clamps and the role of the SS ring in one of my older articles:<br /><a href="http://www.scvphotoideas.com/2014/10/sunwayfoto-revised-2014-version-ddh-03i.html" rel="nofollow">Sunwayfoto Revised 2014 version DDH-03i Panning Clamp Review</a><br /><br />What you describe happening with the newer DDH clamps, reminds me the behavior of the DDH-03 panning clamps after the "threadlock" had been broken in order to open the clamps. <br />Seems to me that the 1/4"-20 mounting screw used to mount the clamps on the Gitzo head was over-tightened, causing the "threadlock" to break off, thus carrying along the SS ring, further tightening the top part on the panning base, causing it to lock.<br />Indeed the pair of recesses on the SS ring serve for tightening or loosening and adjustment in general. Although a special tool exists, if the threadlock is broken, the SS ring can be adjusted with a pair of pointed pliers with little effort. Actually it has to be removed, new threadlock applied and let to cure, before tightening the 1/4"-20 screw again.<br /><br />However, this is not supposed to be happening, requiring the end user to apply remedies. What is not clear to me though, is your comment regarding Gitzo vs Manfrotto tripods. Wasn't it about Gitzo ball heads?<br /><br />I agree that although larger and heavier, the IRC-64 as well as the rectangular DDH-07 are better built.<br /><br />Nonetheless, I shall forward your communication to Sunwayfoto engineers ASAP for further testing and evaluation.Sotiris C. Vlachoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262681544193811712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-40268161490011527652017-02-01T18:21:27.071+02:002017-02-01T18:21:27.071+02:00The ball head stem does indeed end in recess, just...The ball head stem does indeed end in recess, just like the Manfrotto stems. I used a Desmond boss adapter to convert the 7.5mm stem slot into a 5mm raised mount. It slots into the notch in the underside of most clamps. I then used a 1/4"-20 screw to screw down through the clamp into the ball head stem.<br /><br />Using a 1/4"-20 to 3/8"-16 thread in the tripod stem allowed the clamp to be screwed down onto the head and to rotate freely, however this lacks any form of anti rotation mechanism so isn't perfect.<br /><br />I used the exact same arrangement on the Sunwayfoto IRC-64 and it worked a treat. There is something about the latest DDH panning clamps that causes the mechanism to lock up when a screw is put through the clamp down into a ball head.<br /><br />Looking at the top of the clamps in question there is a pair of recesses in the silver centre part of the clamp. This appears to be a method of tightening or loosening that part of the clamp, possibly for disassembly for cleaning. I think the issue is that the screw head causes this part to tighten and locks down the rotating part of the clamp from moving.<br /><br />I confirmed this issue with my supplier (CGUK) who did reproduce the problem on Gitzo tripods but strangely not on Manfrotto ones. I was able to return the item and replace it with the IRC-64, which works a treat. Although it too has the notched silver core.<br /><br />The added benefit of the IRC-64 is it's built in indexing feature, but, I do wish it was available with a shorter clamp arm so it doesn't stick out so much from the tripod when folded.IanKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880454244079897853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-20624102122676192732017-01-28T20:01:01.824+02:002017-01-28T20:01:01.824+02:00Hi, thanks in return for the feedback regarding DD...Hi, thanks in return for the feedback regarding DDH panning clamps.<br />However, before jumping into any conclusions, would you please clarify how did you try to mount the DDH clamps on the Gitzo GH1382QD head?<br />According to my knowledge its ball stem ends to an anti-twist system reverse than the boss required for the DDH clamps. It is like the one found on Manfrotto heads. Did you use an adapter or what?Sotiris C. Vlachoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262681544193811712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603072406405307469.post-43605761315596547832017-01-26T21:04:30.767+02:002017-01-26T21:04:30.767+02:00Hi, thanks for the review. I had a significant pro...Hi, thanks for the review. I had a significant problem with all three of these clamps, the DDH-04, DDH-05 and DDH-06. I tried mounting them on the top of a Gitzo GH1382QD ball head. Once screwed down using a standard 1/4"-20 screw the panning action completely failed to work. No matter the location of the pan lock it was impossible to rotate the clamp.IanKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880454244079897853noreply@blogger.com