Decided to take a deep breath and get a Miller DS-10 from B & H Photo. It's a lovely tripod alright, but I naively thought it would at least come with a user manual. I visited the Miller website and printed out their brochures, but still...do any tripod manufacturers include a user manual, or do they assume anyone ordering their upscale stuff should already know every little operating feature (and how best to use it)? I can figure out a tripod alright, but given the various specifications, etc., it wouldn't hurt to have some sort of simple guide for the occasionally ignorant such as myself to help maximize usage.

Don't know, but I'm curious about how much you paid for it (US Dollars).

I have owned and purchased new Sachtlers, Vintens, O'Connors, Bogens and Gitzos. None came with a manual or guide. Trial and error and a lot of patience is required. Each camera and operator is different and there is no right or wrong to setting a system up.

Balance is the key. Try to get the camera to balance on the tripod front to back. Then start adjusting the drag to provide some resistance to your movements. Rebalance. Try to get the camera to stay put when you let go (camera should not move when you let go the pan handle). Rebalance. Try again. Rebalance.

Thanks...it's all beginning to make more sense now.

As for what I paid, it was....(mumble mumble mumble). A bargain (cough). ;)

Barry,
I own a DS-10 -- a fine set of legs and head -- but, indeed, they give you nothing but a receipt.

Interestingly, I recently bought a Sachtler DV-6 and was a bit surprised to see that Sachtler did supply a small manual with it. There are more adjustments on the Sachtler and the instructions were a welcome sight.

Well, I've been toying around with the tripod's features and much of it seems new to me (it took me a minute to even find the bubble leveler--don't laugh!). Mind you, I have graduated from a 20-year old Bogen tripod that was probably more suited for photo cameras (that one didn't have a manual either, haha). One would think, especially among more precisely engineered models, that a tripod manufacturer would include a "Getting the most out of your tripod" kind of booklet, though if one has patience there's a surfeit of info to be found among these forums. Such places have made all the difference. :)