I was testing a very narrow issue: what is the affect of locking the Markins M10 pan lock verses leaving it set free?

I came up with some surprising and, I think, bizarre results that further reinforces my belief that vibration issues sometimes defy logic.

Basic set up was Nikon D200 + 70-200 F/2.8 AFS/VR + TC14II-E working at 280mm, Exposure 1/8s F/8. Also tested the 70-200VR without a TC and a Nikkor 200mm F/4 Ai.

Technique: Mirror Lockup (MLU) and Single Shot mode (SS) both using an MC-30 remote release.

I shot this package on a Gitzo G1228 with and without 6 pounds of weight attached to the center hook. I then tested the same set up on a Gitzo G1410, without weight because it has no center hook. I then swapped the M10 for an M20 to see if that affected the results.

The composite image is 100% crops, from original JPGs out of the camera. Sharpening was set to High.

Here are my surprising conclusions...

1. With a 200mm F/4 Ai or the 70-200 VR on the G1228, the images were very good and there was no difference between the locked and unlocked state of the pan lock. I did not bother to post any images. The G1228 handles this combination well, even at 1/8s without mirror lockup.

2. The G1228 performed better with the pan base UNlocked. Yes, UNlocked. Surprising.

3. The G1228 performed better with 6 LBs weight on the center hook.

4. Even more bizarre, the G1228 outperformed the much beefier G1410 in either state of the pan lock.

5. The M10 actually appears to slightly outperform the M20, another bizarre result. I did not test the M20 on the G1228.

I am not suggesting the G1228 generally outperforms the G1410, or that a Markins M10 will outperform an M20. Other tests indicate the G1410 outperforms the G1228 with an L bracket in vertical mode, for example. Nor am I suggesting that one might always leave the pan base unlocked for better results.

I am only suggesting that it is very worthwhile to test your own gear and assume nothing, especially the conventional wisdom we all propagate on the net!