AnthonyRay Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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I just did the same thing. Have a bunch of Manfrotto. They make some nice heads, but I don't believe their ball heads are all that. I also like the Arca Swiss plates (but I'm stuck for video!).
I narrowed my choices down to SunwayFoto, Isolde and Sirui. These are all excellent brands. The SunwayFoto was inches away from being bought - I've been eying them for months, but I changed my mind at the last second. Check the forums here for reviews from a year or two ago when SunwayFoto gave FM members ball heads for reviews! Some very comprehensive reviews and tear-downs.
Check this review showdown, and this review showdown, but you'll need a translator unless your Deutsche is good!
The Feisol and Sirui are a tiny bit less expensive than the SunwayFoto, but not enough I think to be a determining factor. The SunwayFoto probably has the sexiest look and feel, but that's really subjective. I've got a friend with the BH-55, and that's like a piece of jewelery. I thought I'd get something smaller - and got the Sirui K-40X. Smaller? I think the ball itself is. The whole head certainly is not. So, the 30 would probably have been closer to what I'd want looking back on it! I can't say enough good things about the Sirui, I'd buy again. It's really, really silky - easy to use and move, positive locking.
If I were to complain it would be the locking knob is sort of small - but I'd have that complaint about all of them compared to the BH-55!! Gorgeous finish - top notch. The rubber grip is nice, and the friction number settings are easy to set as well as is the friction set screw. Panning is super smooth - not like a fluid head but really nice. Put it this way - I've gotten to use another brand a few times that's well loved (but somewhat obscure) and I think this trounces it for less than half the price. It's in the first review there. I also like the all-metal knobs on the SunwayFoto (not all models) but a lot of people in the cold country give this a demerit - I can see why.
Feisol also makes a carbon fiber body version that's inexpensive - and as much as I like carbon fiber (I know you don't) I wonder how it would work for a ball head. Shaving off weight couldn't hurt, but I think a hunk of alloy is best for a body.
Anyway, I can say having handled both SunwayFoto and Sirui they're built like tanks. I'd assume Feisol is in there too, their tripods certainly are nice. If you think about SunwayFoto, OEC camera at Amazon and eBay are really good to deal with, and have great prices on their entire line.
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