Have just sprung for a RRS BH40 and am pleased with what I've received. This is my first high-dollar ballhead, and I was wondering how the smarter among you transport your tripod: with or without the head attached.
I currently have a padded bag for my tripod that I sling over my shoulder when I hit the road, so I was thinking I'd throw the RRS padded storage bag over the ballhead while it's on the tripod, the throw the whole thing in my tripod bag.
1. Am I asking for trouble by leaving the head mounted when transporting, or given the packaging, am I OK?
I used a BH-40 for several years. I never felt the need to "coddle" it and it worked perfectly every day I had it. I sold it to a good friend and replaced it with a BH-55 which I will not coddle either. The BH-40 had a few scratches, all from regular use, up to and including being dropped a few times. It still works perfectly everyday, for my friend. When I travelled with it, I removed it and carried it in my photo backpack as carry-on and packed the tripod in a checked suitcase.
You've bought a fine piece of equipment. It's my opinion and experience, that if you spare it downright abuse, it will most likely last you a lifetime.
Cal
I have a BH55 on Manfrotto 3021 legs. When not in use it's in a Think Tank Big Bazooka bag and so far I throw the RRS bag over it in the TT bag. I'm guessing that will pass. It's already fallen once and while I was upset it barely shows. Seems it's made to take something of a beating.
When on the trail, or wherever, I do the unthinkable and throw the whole thing, including camera and lens, over my shoulder. I have camo leg coats on the tripod, more for the padding than anything else.
Ultimately, I suspect all of our gear will take more than we think it can.
I use a lens wrap on my BH-55 (ballhead never leaves the tripod). I bought the foam cover RRS offered a few years ago but that thing was far too long (more than twice the length of the ballhead's height). I see they offer a new one but it ain't cheap. I already had the lens wrap (doing nothing, really, so now it has a use).
The Markins Ballhead cover is very nice (on a Markins... too long for RRS ballheads), functional, and half the price of the RRS cover.
I have my Z1 securely fastened to my tripod. While hiking I keep it strapped to my pack. I use one of the otherwise useless Canon lens bags (I think the one from 17-40) to cover the ballhead and keep it from getting chipped and scratched too much.
When not in use the head is always on the tripod, covered by an OpTech Snoot Boot (WB-Medium for my A-S B1). http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=26&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=
These are the neoprene pouches that RRS used to provide with their heads. When out in the field I carry the entire rig on my shoulder.
I currently have a padded bag for my tripod that I sling over my shoulder when I hit the road, so I was thinking I'd throw the RRS padded storage bag over the ballhead while it's on the tripod, the throw the whole thing in my tripod bag.
GG
That is how I've been transporting all three of my tripods for years, never had any issues.
I keep my 468MG on 055GS legs in an unlined nylon tent bag, and stuff it in the trunk. The bag is more to keep it from getting tangled up with other stuff than to protect it.
I use the zip bag that my velbon came in for the tripod and I use a neoprene coozy that one of the local banks was giving out to go over my markins ball head. The kind of coozy that contours to fit the water bottle. Usually the tripod is on the back seat of my truck with just the coozy on the ball head. Cheap, actually free but very effective.
If I need extra padding, I use an old hiking sock. It is pretty thick, and protects it from nicks. The only time I bother using it (I usually keep the tripod and head attached to it in a tripod bag) is when I remove the ballhead (to carry on) when I have to check the tripod when flying.
I have a nice BH-40 ballhead I coddled for a long time. But, like parking cars in a lot or other things eventually S**t happens. I was climbing up a sandstone slot with it on my tripod on my pack and was more occupied worrying about personal safety than a ballhead. Sure enough, there was a nice rasping sound as it got a good sanding. So now it's "broken in" on the ball and body. Oh well, still works perfectly.
You don't have to coddle a good ballhead from any of the major mfgrs. I might be good for cosmetic reasons if you want to sell later...otherwise, you don't "need" any padding at all.
Most I'll do is wrap it up in a thicker sock when throwing in luggage when flying. More to keep it from damaging other stuff than other stuff scuffing it when stuff slides around in transit.
Besides that, throw in the back seat of car or trunk attached to tripod.
