joe_dempsey Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 <p>I bought a Feisol tripod several months ago and I am very pleased with it. I am looking to replace my old Giottos ball head with something better. Does anyone have any experience with the Feisol ball heads? Good, bad or indifferent opinions appreciated.<br> Thanks,<br> Joe<br> <a href="http://corndancer.com/joephoto/photohome.html">http://corndancer.com/joephoto/photohome.html</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennett_richards Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 <p>My favorite is the old style ArcaSwiss B1. Get one on ebay... make sure it has the small grey drag adjustment wheel as this means it's the last version.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephbraun Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 <p>I own an Arca Z1 and LOVE IT! You pay but it's an investment in yourself.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveH Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 <p>I'll put in a plug for the Really Right Stuff BH-55. I've owned one since they came out and have been very pleased. Had a little stickiness (probably from travel goo) just recently and they cleaned and tuned it up free and made it just fine again. Since my wife and I each have one, the old Arca-Swiss sits on a shelf.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akajohndoe Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 There was a old style Arca-Swiss B1 and a new style Arca-Swiss B1; I have the new style. From what I read, the old style had some lock-up issues. There is also now a newer Arca-Swiss, replacing the B1, called the Z1. There was also a B1G (giant) and a B2. The B2 was not a true ballhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_dempsey Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 <p>As usual, on this board, a question brings a good variety of information. Thanks for your help. To others, "keep them cards and letters comin' in."<br> Joe</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_yee Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 <p>Steve: any interest in selling that old Arca-Swiss, assuming it's a B1? ;-)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famico Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 <p>We all have our favorites, I suspect. Mine happens to be the Markins - in my case, the M20, but they make two other models as well. In any event, if you are still undecided, the Markins line is worthy of consideration.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_watson Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 <p>A second vote For Markins--well designed, great quality and a good value!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham_thompson1 Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 <p>Arca Swiss Z1. Best thing I ever bought. Not cheap.<br> I think any quality ballhead and decent tripod is well worth the investment.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjscharp Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Another vote for the Z1. Last ballhead you'll every buy, so price is relative... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roypanos Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 <p>Well, as someone who has never previously owned a ballhead (for a still camera at least) my opinion is probably valueless, however I just bought a FLM CB32FB German-built ballhead. This cost £65, has a max load capacity of 20Kg with locking, friction and pan adjustment. It weighs a mere 0.27 Kg. I haven't used it in anger but it looks and feels beautifully made to me. The price of ball-heads, simple bits of engineering that they are, always astonishes me. Maybe this one will prove not to be "the last one I'll ever need"; we'll see.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicky2 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 <p>I'm shopping for a ballhead as well, and looking for something relatively inexpensive (under $150), light, and easy to use. I found this interesting one with decent reviews on B&H, but it's a bit different... has anyone ever used something like this? My concern is that it weighs 2 lbs and I'm looking for something I can easily travel with - I have a very light Slik Sprint Pro 3 way tripod.<br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=48595&is=REG#specifications">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=48595&is=REG#specifications</a> <br /> <img src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Vicky/LOCALS~1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/48595.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="175" /></p> <p>If not the one above, I'm also considering <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=508013&is=REG#specifications">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=508013&is=REG#specifications</a> which weighs only 12 oz and has good reviews as well.<br /> <img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/508013.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="175" /></p> <p>Does anyone have experience with either of these, or anything similar?<br> Oh yeah, and I definitely need to have Quick Release :)</p> <p>Thanks so much for your advice!!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin_schaffer Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 <p>I just bought a gitzo g1277 for less than $150 plenty strong for my Mamiya 645 with a 150mm(about 4#'s altogether) could easily hold more but probably not any huge glass. It doesn't have a separate friction control but I have found the lock control to be very subtle so it really doesn't need one, less knobs/easier to use. All of the top end ones are very nice and certainly worth the $$$ if you need that much support but I think the gitzo's offer a very good quality for a reasonable price, their new center ball heads are very nice and quite strong/light. Other than that the best advice is to find a shop that carries a good variety, check them out and then go shopping at everyones favorite auction site, you'll save at least 30%.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin_schaffer Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 <p>I just bought a gitzo g1277 for less than $150 plenty strong for my Mamiya 645 with a 150mm(about 4#'s altogether) could easily hold more but probably not any huge glass. It doesn't have a separate friction control but I have found the lock control to be very subtle so it really doesn't need one, less knobs/easier to use. All of the top end ones are very nice and certainly worth the $$$ if you need that much support but I think the gitzo's offer a very good quality for a reasonable price, their new center ball heads are very nice and quite strong/light. Other than that the best advice is to find a shop that carries a good variety, check them out and then go shopping at everyones favorite auction site, you'll save at least 30%.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_dempsey Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 <p>As the originator of this thread, it is incumbent on me to say "thank you" for the good advice offered. As a result of this guidance, I bought a Arca-Swiss Z! (on Ebay) and could not be happier. It is a fine piece of equipment. Thanks to all who offered helped steer me in the right direction!<br> Joe<br> <a href="http://corndancer.com/joephoto/photohome.html">http://corndancer.com/joephoto/photohome.html</a><br> <a href="http://weeklygrist.wordpress.com/">http://weeklygrist.wordpress.com/</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now