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rtrainer Offline • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #1 · Ball Head Purchase Getting ready to buy a ball head for the first time and am looking for some advice on which to buy. I will be using it mostly for portrait stuff with my 1DX and at the most a 70-200 II. I have a 300 but I doubt I will ever have be using it when mounted on the tripod. I have looked at the RRS, Gitzo and Kirk stuff with the understanding that they are at the top of the food chain. I have also looked at others that are much less expensive. I know lower cost does not always translate into poor quality but the probability of poor quality is always higher. I don't want to break the bank but I do want to buy something of quality. The other thing that I am slightly confused about is the QR systems. I know the Manfrotto plates/L brackets are not interchangeable with RRS, etc., but are Gitzo, RRS and Arca Swiss interchangeable between each other? Sep 19, 2012 at 11:19 AM

dmahar Offline • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #2 · Ball Head Purchase RRS, Kirk, Wimberley etc. (all the manufacturers who say Arca Swiss compatible) use interchangeable camera and lens plates provided a screw clamp is used. Not all variations will work perfectly with all lever lock clamps. In my experience Wimberly plates are the best for compatibility across clamp brands and types. There are details about these issues on both the RRS and Wimberly sites. I chose RRS over Arca Swiss for my head and clamp because the AS lever clamp is fiddly to use. There is an old saying about ball heads - you can buy a RRS or AS now or buy it later after wasting money on lesser heads. Hope that helps Doug Sep 19, 2012 at 11:31 AM

Wobble Offline • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #3 · Ball Head Purchase Consider FEISOL and it comes with a QR plate. FEISOL Link Sep 19, 2012 at 12:28 PM

Stoffer Offline • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #4 · Ball Head Purchase Markins is another solid option. I got the Q-Ball Q10 with Lever Quickshoe recently and like it a lot. http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/products/ballheads/q10l.html The PG-50 plate works with a 1D X: http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/products/plates/pg50.html Sep 19, 2012 at 12:36 PM

vsg28 Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #5 · Ball Head Purchase I recently bought an Induro BHL3 that came with a nice QR plate, 10 year warranty and handles my gripped 60D w/70-200 II and a 2x II with ease. I must mention I got it for just $245 new from the B&H student discount program so that was a big factor too. Sep 19, 2012 at 12:52 PM

jstntym Offline • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #6 · Ball Head Purchase Stoffer wrote: Markins is another solid option. I got the Q-Ball Q10 with Lever Quickshoe recently and like it a lot. http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/products/ballheads/q10l.html +1..recently purchased this same setup for a 5D MkIII. I'm quite impressed by the quality and how easy it is to use! Sep 19, 2012 at 01:10 PM

Monito Offline • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #7 · Ball Head Purchase I have and recommend the largest RRS ballhead. I have it on a 3 section Gitzo CF with no center column. I'm very satisfied with it. Sep 19, 2012 at 01:11 PM

Snoopy Lane Offline • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #8 · Ball Head Purchase jstntym wrote: Stoffer wrote: Markins is another solid option. I got the Q-Ball Q10 with Lever Quickshoe recently and like it a lot. http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/products/ballheads/q10l.html +1..recently purchased this same setup for a 5D MkIII. I'm quite impressed by the quality and how easy it is to use! Another +1 for Markins. But I bought one without clamp, and put an RRS "B2 LLR II" lever clamp on it. And then RRS plates on everything. I've been very pleased with that setup for 3-4 years now. Sep 19, 2012 at 04:24 PM

WAYCOOL Offline • • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #9 · Ball Head Purchase vsg28 wrote: I recently bought an Induro BHL3 that came with a nice QR plate, 10 year warranty and handles my gripped 60D w/70-200 II and a 2x II with ease. I must mention I got it for just $245 new from the B&H student discount program so that was a big factor too. +1 I'm very happy with my Induro can't be beat for the price and only matched by more money IMHO. Sep 19, 2012 at 04:45 PM

oldrattler Offline • • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #10 · Ball Head Purchase Wobble wrote: Consider FEISOL and it comes with a QR plate. FEISOL Link +1 there tripods and heads are great value... Sep 19, 2012 at 04:49 PM

gdanmitchell Offline • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #11 · Ball Head Purchase rtrainer wrote: Getting ready to buy a ball head for the first time ... You'll find lots of threads on this topic in this forum: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/54 Sep 19, 2012 at 05:01 PM

DanBrown Online • • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #12 · Ball Head Purchase Monito wrote: I have and recommend the largest RRS ballhead. +1 on the RRS BH-55 Sep 19, 2012 at 06:54 PM

skibum5 Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #13 · Ball Head Purchase rtrainer wrote: Getting ready to buy a ball head for the first time and am looking for some advice on which to buy. I will be using it mostly for portrait stuff with my 1DX and at the most a 70-200 II. I have a 300 but I doubt I will ever have be using it when mounted on the tripod. I have looked at the RRS, Gitzo and Kirk stuff with the understanding that they are at the top of the food chain. I have also looked at others that are much less expensive. I know lower cost does not always translate into poor quality but the probability of poor quality is always higher. I don't want to break the bank but I do want to buy something of quality. The other thing that I am slightly confused about is the QR systems. I know the Manfrotto plates/L brackets are not interchangeable with RRS, etc., but are Gitzo, RRS and Arca Swiss interchangeable between each other? arca swiss p0 monoball is very nice did not like the manfrotto ball heads at all Sep 19, 2012 at 07:44 PM

edean Offline • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #14 · Ball Head Purchase I use the RRS BH-30 which is fine as a cheaper option with a 70-200 2.8II + 1Ds2. Sep 19, 2012 at 08:51 PM

abqnmusa Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #15 · Ball Head Purchase The Arca Swiss plates are nice with telephoto lenses. You can move them back and forth to the the right balance on the lens/body/TC combination. one source: http://www.tripodhead.com/products/lens-plates-main.cfm Sep 19, 2012 at 09:26 PM

danob Offline • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #16 · Ball Head Purchase Feisol make superb tripods and IMHO best value, not sure about the ballheads, But Markins make superb heads very smooth in operation. The panning lock people complain will not be a problem with your light set up Sep 19, 2012 at 10:33 PM

StillFingerz Online • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #17 · Ball Head Purchase I've an Arcatech GP ballhead, like it's open design, it's built-n gimbal option. I use their leveling base as well; several additional products also, They are a SoCal based company that is only a few hours drive away...it was nice to try before the buy...and for my use/abilities, the perfect match Good luck with your search! Jerry Arcatec GP Ballhead http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=69&cat=1&page=1 Sep 19, 2012 at 10:52 PM

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