I think it's time to start considering ballheads. I've never actually used one so I'm a bit lost when it comes to comparing various brands, features, etc.
Right now I'm leaning towards an RRS BH-25 and a Wimberley QR Clamp but I wanted to know other options.
The heaviest load I'd ever consider would be the 20d + 400 f/5.6. But that will be a rare occasion (the Wimberley will continue doing the heavy lifting). More often it will be 20D with 28-135IS or even a PowerShot SD400 (when photography isn't the primary goal of my outing).
I'm looking for something small/lightweight/inexpensive (<$200).
Any Suggestions?
Nick
P.S. Current setup is a G1325 w/ Rapid Column and full Wimberley head.
There's too many choices that fit your above requirements, sans price restrictions. As a suggestion, realistically, bump your budget up to five or six hundred dollars as you'll find that after the ballhead you're going to have need of an L-bracket (can't live/function without one) and some lense plates.
You almost have to pick one and give it a try and see if it works for you, taking advantage of any return policy that might be in place and trying them is the only way you'll really know.
Sorry about that point as it's a big pain picking a ballhead.
I went, as my final choice, with a Bogen/Manfrotto 468MGRC0, removed the QR plate and replaced the plate system with a ReallyRightStuff (RRS) lever release arca swiss clamp and bought a RRS L-bracket for the 10D body.
I went with the 468MG ballhead because I liked the hydrolic locking action. With proper tension, you can lock your ball in place in a half to three-quarters of a turn and this was an important point for me.
All the ballheads use a similar crimping action to lock the ball in place so other than the physical appearence being a bit different between the brands, I found them, including the BH-55, to all be the same with the exception of the unique action of the 468MG.
In the end, it all boils down to trial and error as to finding a ballhead which suits your purposes and you may have to go in with an open mind, try and return until you find one that works for you and not someone else.
Of all the "topdog" ballheads available; Kirk, Arca Swiss, Markins, Bogen/Manfrotto 468MG, ReallyRightStuff, AcraTech Ultimate Ballhead,...... they're all good maaaan.
If you just gotta stick to your budget, consider a Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2 and consider, at a later time and point, upgrading the RC2 QR plate system to a RRS lever clamp and a L-bracket.
Hope the above helps give you some insight in which to help steer you through this maze of confusion.
It sounds like you are going to use your 1325 for the legs.? If so wieght is not going to be that much of a concern. I think you will like a kirk bh-3 or Acratech UBH (used ~$200) more in the long run than a bh-25. I do not think that model has a pan base. Weight wise the two above are right around a pound and can hold a lot of gear.
BeeMan: I think you're right, it sounds like the sort of thing that will be best sorted out in person. Thanks for giving me a bit of a start.
I probably should have mentioned that I considered the L bracket to be a must-have so that's definitely in my budget. My collared lenses (70-200 and 400) already have Wimberley ArcaSwiss style plates so I'm definitely planning on replacing the clamp on pretty much anything I buy.
Am I correct that the 468/488 require a new clamp in order to support AS plates?
godfather wrote:
It sounds like you are going to use your 1325 for the legs.? If so wieght is not going to be that much of a concern. I think you will like a kirk bh-3 or Acratech UBH (used ~$200) more in the long run than a bh-25. I do not think that model has a pan base. Weight wise the two above are right around a pound and can hold a lot of gear.
Thanks, now that I'm looking a little closer at weights I'm seeing there's not too much of a difference between ultralight and mid-range balls.
While I will be using the 1325 for legs now, I do actually plan on getting a lighter set in the future. My first round of tripod purchases was all about being able to support the 600f4. Now I'm looking for a couple of "quick wins" that will give me some much needed flexibility. Longer term I'm planning on buying something beefier like the BH-55 or B-1. What I want now is something that will support the camera and a small lens for nighttime shots and that longer-term can remain my ultralight kit with a new set of legs.
Ohh and I looked at the Arcatech, that's pretty sweet.
nickrh wrote:
My collared lenses (70-200 and 400) already have Wimberley ArcaSwiss style plates so I'm definitely planning on replacing the clamp on pretty much anything I buy.
Thanks,
Nick
A lot of ballheads do not require you to change the clamp...the RRS, Kirk, etc have the proper clamp ready to go.
"Am I correct that the 468/488 require a new clamp in order to support AS plates?"
Yes! But in my way of thinking, money well spent. But that's a personal opinion supported by some here and not supported by others
Here's a pic of what the 468MG looks like on top of a 1321, which sits, of course, on top of a 1325 (like your legset) which was converted from a RC0 QR plate system to a RRS lever clamp. You decide
As to the cheap alternative, I did Thomas' second (and budget) recommendation: I started with a Manfrotto 488RC2 and recently changed the RC2 clamp with a Kirk Arca clamp (and picked up the necessary L brackets and plates). When you add in the $80 for the A/S clamp, it's still only about $170 for a pretty decent ball head. It's not the best, but it's pretty solid. I'd like to have a BH-55 or BH-40, but since my heaviest lens is only 3 pounds, I'm holding off. The 488 is supposed to hold like 17 pounds, and I think it would do a fine job of holding a 400 f/5.6, as that weighs about the same as my 80-200L. It's not quite as good as some of the more expensive options, but it works very well with a good Arca clamp.
Here's mine with my 80-200L mounted (sorry for the crappy photo, I just whipped out my P&S and shot this just now).
BeeMan458 wrote:
Yes! But in my way of thinking, money well spent. But that's a personal opinion supported by some here and not supported by others
Ahh but that's what makes these forums so useful. This really sounds like a good excuse to swing by Glazier's (large camera store in seattle) and see what they have on display.
Things I plan on buying:
RRS or Wimberley ArcaSwiss style clamp
RRS 20D L Bracket
Ditto on the 468MG/RRS combo. It is a great combination of technologies at a reasonable cost. It uses hydrolics and allows for secure clamping in less than one turn of the tightening knob. The load rating is twice that of a BH-40 but only weighs about 1.4 lbs with the RRS B2 Pro II clamp. Using the RRS clamp clearly improves the 468MG effectiveness. The cost of the combination is less than a BH-40. On top of my Manfrotto 055MF3, it handles my 1D2, 1.4x extender, and 300 f2.8L IS without a whimper. I would like to hear others experiences with combination with larger lenses.
Thomas, who thinks that the manfrotto is worth the time of day compared to the RRS lever QR? You're joking right? I have the 468RC2 and used it with the manfrotto's horrible equivelent to an L bracket. The day I spent the money on the RRS lever QR and a RRS L bracket was the day that I learnt that tripod photography is not an exercise in fustration but an enjoyable pursuit using incredibly well machined equipment that works as smoothly as it possibly could.
"Thomas, who thinks that the manfrotto is worth the time of day compared to the RRS lever QR? You're joking right? I have the 468RC2 and used it with the manfrotto's horrible equivelent to an L bracket. The day I spent the money on the RRS lever QR and a RRS L bracket was the day that I learnt that tripod photography is not an exercise in fustration but an enjoyable pursuit using incredibly well machined equipment that works as smoothly as it possibly could."
Beni? I'm shocked You might want to reread what I wrote and take a second look at the image I posted as I openly encourage the use of a RRS lever clamp and L-bracket.
From the prior thread page:
"There's too many choices that fit your above requirements, sans price restrictions. As a suggestion, realistically, bump your budget up to five or six hundred dollars as you'll find that after the ballhead you're going to have need of an L-bracket (can't live/function without one) and some lense plates."
And we have in my defense:
"I went, as my final choice, with a Bogen/Manfrotto 468MGRC0, removed the QR plate and replaced the plate system with a ReallyRightStuff (RRS) lever release arca swiss clamp and bought a RRS L-bracket for the 10D body."
Finally, in my defense, the image posted clearly shows an upgraded 468MG with RRS lever clamp attached.
Oh the pain of it all, being falsely accused in my prime
This week I received my copy of the RRS BH40 with B2 AS II clamp. I hope to decide the comming week on a trippod, I have to wait until I can test a few trippods in a shop.
These are my findings on the RRS BH 40 so far:
Pros:
- Low weight (500gr), low profile (77mm), build quality
- Firm locking of the ball and panning base
- Ball or base doesn't move at all when locking
- Smooth operation of the ball, but I don't think it's better than others (I have limitted excperience with other pro ball's)
Cons:
- The neck of the ball (distance between clamp and ball) is a bit too small. The clamp touches the drag setting knob and housing at some positions. The clamp can be moved about +/- 45 degreees except for the side where the knobs are located there it's about +/- 30 degrees.
- The panning base locking knob and drag setting knob are quite close to each other. However they have a totaly different shape so it's not likely you make a mistake.
About clamp and 350D plate: Excellent, the plate for the Canon 350D fits perfect on the camera.
Overall I am happy with it but I think the Manfrotto 468 with a RRS clamp is more value for the money, I also wonder if the larger brother -the BH-55- has the same 'design flaw' .
As Thomas said...we strongly advocate an Arca clamp, which help make the decent Manfrotto heads darn good heads. While I use a Kirk thumb screw Arca clamp rather than a RRS lever clamp, they both work very well. (Actually, a screw clamp has greater clamping power, but it usually doesn't make much difference.)
"Have you decided on a tripod budget as the range is wide and deep as to price and choices and what might work personally for you? "
Well I am afraid that this trippod will become more expensive then I had hoped for, but that is not to much of a problem, as long as the equipment is right and pleasant to work with. I liked both the BH40 and 468MG balheads, but adding the RRS clamps and plates to it would make it almost as expensive as the BH 40....unless you have to import it from the USA and need to pay VAT + customs. I took the gamble not having to pay this since I bought more stuf from the USA in the past few years, but then it was around $100 and I did not have to pay any VAT or customs, now it was different E 100,- euro customs and VAT...
I am looking for a trippod that fits easy in a suitcase for travelling and fits on a simple bag pack. I think that real small trippods, when folded are to flimsy and are to low, so I am thinking of the Basalts 1297/98 or the carbon 1257/58. At this moment I haven't got a good idea about the differences between CF and basalt and 3 or 4 sectioned trippods. Until know I was unable to compare this stuff side by side.
The haviest gear I plan to use is 70-200/f2.8 but more likely the 70-300 DO IS.
By the way the trippod (1257) you sugested costs E 489 ~$577 over here. Importing it has no use because of customs and taxes (I know now for sure )
BeeMan458 wrote:
"Am I correct that the 468/488 require a new clamp in order to support AS plates?"
Yes! But in my way of thinking, money well spent. But that's a personal opinion supported by some here and not supported by others
It was the 'not supported by others' that prompted my gasp of disbelief and that post, who doesn't believe that the RRS clamp is better than the manfrotto? I know you have the RRS on a 468MG, I've just put my order in for the 468MG myself and the RRS lever clamp is sitting on my desk just waiting. I'd show you a pic but I think the RRS people would faint if they saw how knocked about that clamp is after just 6 months of use!
"It was the 'not supported by others' that prompted my gasp of disbelief and that post,..."
Sorry if I caused you concern I was referring to the act of upgrading a 468MG as opposed to is the addition of a RRS lever clamp a good idea. Doh!
Looking forward to your review/opinion in regard to your experience of upgrading a 468MG by the addition of a RRS lever clamp and L-bracket and what you think.
I know you have the RRS on a 468MG, I've just put my order in for the 468MG myself and the RRS lever clamp is sitting on my desk just waiting. I'd show you a pic but I think the RRS people would faint if they saw how knocked about that clamp is after just 6 months of use! 