Ball Head Recommendation

<p>Hi All,</p>

<p>I have a Gitzo GT-1541T tripod (4-section, Series 1, CF, Traveller series) that I use when traveling light, and need recommendations for a good ball head for it. Currently I have a RRS BH-25 on it. It's nice, but I'd really like something with a separate panning base. I was thinking of the RRS BH-30, but then noticed Acratech has a new model (available for pre-order), the GP-s, which is similar in weight, and claims to be designed <em>"to allow it to be used with travel-type tripods".</em> Anyone have any ideas whether either (or both) of these ball heads would be too large for this particular set of legs? Any suggestions for other, similar-quality, small ball heads?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>steve r</p>

<p>definitely check out markins heads, the Q3T in particular.</p>

<p>I am well pleased with the RRS BH 40,which you obviously have considered I expect. For weight, features and camera lens load carry ability. It seems light enough with my old aluminum Gitzo 224. But then I am not motivated much to super light weight for my carry needs. Yes, a gram here and a gram there. I understand, it adds up if you tote far and wide.</p>

<p>I use the RRS BH-40 and have considered a BH-30 for travel. I use the BH-25 on a table top tripod. I really like their equipment.</p>

<p>Kirk BH-3. Conventional design and very smooth action. The new quick release clamp is very nice and opens and closes just about as quick as a lever. I have had mine for 8 years. Good hunting. Andy</p>

 

<p>I use a RRS 30 with by 1541T. Great combo. I tried the 25 and found it pretty rough and limited as a head. The 30 is a very solid, smooth head that does exactly what it is supposed to do. The RRS quick release system is also a dream come true. Hard to go wrong with RRS.</p>

<p>I'd second the Markins heads, they are fantastic and a price buster in an Arca Swiss head.</p>

<p>After trying quite a few different ball heads on my tripod, the best I found is<br /> the Triopo B-3 ball head,maybe you can refer it<br>

<a href="http://www.linkdelight.com/View-all-products-in-shop.html?keyword=Triopo%20BallHead">http://www.linkdelight.com/View-all-products-in-shop.html?keyword=Triopo%20BallHead</a></p>

<p>I'll third on Markins, in particular the Q3T which was specifically designed to sit on top of a Gitzo 1541T. I've used this combination now for several months and unequivocally recommend it as a travel tripod solution. Check out <a href="http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=538298">this humongous 2+ year-old thread on the 1541T/Q3T rig</a>.</p>

<p>Acratech's website shows a picture of the GP-S head mounted on the 1 series traveler (GT1541 or similar). I would say they probably desinged the GP-S with that very tripod in mind.</p>

 

<p>I likewise just bought a 1541 (as opposed to the T, I like the notion of full height.)</p>

<p>It galled me to drop that kind of money on a tripod but it's basically a once in a lifetime expense and when viewed that way...</p>

<p>Anyways, after looking around quite a bit and because I was buying some other items as well, I settled on the Benro B-0 to go on the thing.</p>

<p>The Benro should be in my hands in a couple days, I come back here and post some thoughts after I get it.</p>

<p>I know Benro has a rep for using pot metal etc, but the buzz is that they got beat up over that, learned their lesson, went back to the drawing board, and are actually making some decent heads now.</p>

<p>I have another even smaller and more lightweight tripod I can relegate the Benro to later if it's not up to snuff. I liked some of the others, but they were all heavier or lacked one or more features etc.</p>

<p>By the way, I also ordered some lightweight ( < 1.5 lbs, one < 1 lbs, all inexpensive) hardshell cases for the tripod.</p>

<p>I'll come back and post some thoughts on those as well once I make sure they work and decide which of those that work I want to settle on.</p>

<p>I bought them because I backpack and I didn't want that expensive CF getting banged up slopping around in trunks or if I slip with my pack on or on the infrequent occasion my pack takes a tumble or smacks into something when/as/after I take it off.</p>

 

<p>[Delete content as it was a double post]</p>

<p>Lance I would have done the opposite - bought a really good ballhead and skimped a bit on the tripod.</p>

kinda six of one half dozen of another... i shot for a long time with compromises in both areas. i wanted to upgrade both so i started with the part that would make the biggest difference first. If I can believe most the reviews the Benro is pretty much only a compromise in price and bragging rights. We'll see. If it doesn't live up to the billing, it'll get put on the other legs and I'll get something else. Anyways, at 54, I'm tired of carrying too much weight on backpacking trips or conversely wanting for a tpod or having one that's light but too many compromises. If I carry good legs with a compromise head for a trip or two while I sort this out, I'm still better off. Meanwhile, the rrs lack features I want, or at least do not list them. And, most the other heads start at 16-18 ozs and go up in eeight from there. There really aren't a lot of heads out there in the ~10 ozs or less class that are also more or less full featured.

<p>Yes I know what you mean. I was in the same quandary a few years ago and I bought used; a new Linhof ballhead and a bashed-up Gitzo tripod. Rebuilt the tripod myself with new sleeves etc from Gitzo and it's been great, but I bought a new travel rig this year. I like it so much I'm getting a second one; same ballhead (Markins) but Benro legs. </p>

<p>You're trying gear out which I think is really good, it can be a pain in the neck selling stuff that isn't good enough, but in the long run you end up with very reliable kit, which in the case of a support system in particular is crucial.</p>

<p>I received the Benro B-0. Two, actually.<br>

I ordered one from a dealer in NYC and the unit delivered to me was defective. The barrel rubs against the inside of the rim of the base, obliterating the pan indexing numbers whilst scratching the poop out of the bottom of the barrel.<br>

Other than that one defect (!!!) it's a nice little ballhead, about what I'd expect for the price and certainly servicable and it certainly has the features listed and they all (save the one) work as advertised and with a nice damped/tight feel while not being overly stiff.<br>

Because of holiday closures etc, it's going to take about 3 weeks to get an RMA and credit, much less a replacement (from that particular dealer.)<br>

So, seeing's how I needed a ballhead (which is why I bought one, duhh!) I ordered another unit from a different net dealer who does not close for weeks at a time (just in case I needed to return the second unit. )<br>

The second unit arrived and is fine. With both units (notwithstanding the one defect) the ballheads work fine, appear to be made to close tolerances and with acceptable materials, etc.<br>

The controls are nicely damped as is the ball movement, but without feeling overly tight or stiff.<br>

The pan motion is somewhat well damped even with the drag/lock disengaged, which is nice because at least in that one dimension the head won't flop around no matter how loose the drag.<br>

The balls adjust nicely for drag and seem to have nice drag throughout the range of motion for a given drag tension. In other words, you can set the drag and thereafter (assuming you have it set appropriately to begin with) there's no surprises.<br>

Having now held and used (to a limited extent) a ball head of this size, I am skeptical that any ball head in this class could usefully support the weight many of them are rated to (typically 12-17 lbs.)<br>

I'd not hesitate to put a prosumer DSLR with for example my footed 80-200 f2.8 35mm lens on the tpod + head, but that'd be about it. And even at that I'd hesitate to flop it over into the vertical aspect. Of course all my bodies have L brackets and that particular lens is footed so that particular concern (flopping over into the vertical aspect) is not an issue for me personally.<br>

One could likely put much more *weight* than that on there, and once clamped tightly it'd likely hold fast (I certainly have every confidence it would support the weight and be able to clamp it solid, at least in a normal/horizontal aspect.)<br>

However, what I've realized is that as a function of the radius of the ball head and the corresponding contact area of the clamping cup/ring, the head likely would be problematic with a larger/heavier rig because of the short moment arm, no matter how well designed and made it is.<br>

That's not a ding against the Benro B-0 per se, just a realization that because of the form factor and size, the moment arm and contact area present for friction and locking just are not long/big enough for anything approaching a midsized [D]SLR-ish rig or larger.<br>

Again, not a problem for me because this is primarily a hiking/backpacking rig, and until I can replace my D70 (which I've never bonded strongly with) this will be used to support my Canon G11 rig. And even once I get a newer/better Nikon prosumer DSLR (quite a ways out, perhaps the D7000?), I won't be carrying around big glass with it.<br>

That being said, the biggest beef I have with the Benro B-0 is that while a particular unit that *is* defect free appears to be a good ball head for the money and so on, Benro appears to have significant quality control issues.<br>

That further makes me wonder what deeper, more significant QC issue they might have.<br>

For example, a classic problem with poorly made metal components made with impure alloys is to have significant metal crystallization.<br>

Such defects are for all practical purposes undetectable (at least in consumer-market goods.)<br>

Yet, if they occur in a high-stress/load area can lead to ridiculously weak metal parts that fail catastrophically and for no apparent reason. Extreme cases are the examples where a metal part fails in ones' hands after yielding to nothing more than hand pressure.<br>

I will keep the one head I have that does not appear to have any defects and that is already serving me well. For the money and for what I got, it's a servicable ball head and is about what I expected. That is, I did not expect to be getting a $250-$500 ball head for $140.<br>

On the con side and given the QC problems that have already bitten me and caused me grief, I will not be buying any other Benro ball heads.<br>

In the end I'll probably save bottle caps and get an Acratech GP-S, then relegate the Benro to my more-or-less retired Velbon smaller + lighter tripod.<br>

Would I recommend this ball head to others? With qualifications, yes. You have to understand what you're getting, which is a $250-$500 design with a cheaper implementation and slightly courser (but certainly acceptable) functionality. **AND**, you have to accept that you may have to return and demand replacements for one or more units before you get one that is defect free.<br>

For me this is a fair compromise. The Gitzo 1541 legs are a quantum leap in tripods for me. At the same time, the mere fact that I bought those legs precludes me dropping another $300+ on a ball head any time soon, and putting the miniature Manfroto etc on those legs made no sense. There are likely other alternatives out there (including the RRS BH-25, I believe it is) and some of the Manfrotos, but in this case features were also a factor for me and at least the RRS and some of the Manfrotos lack one or more features I wanted.</p>