Looking into various ballheads (and maybe a camera plate at some point as well), and have a few questions about RRS - those of you who use their ballheads, were you happy with the purchase? Durable? They're local to me but unfortunately their business hours correspond exactly with my own work hours which just figures, and of course I'd like to hear from other photographers that use their gear in general. I like buying the best quality I can so that it lasts a long time and works well, and the RRS gear seems to have an excellent rep on that front.
Thinking of going with one of the midrange ones with the quick release clamp (though I'm still attempting to get through their extremely cumbersome website ) - I don't need a really heavy duty one as I plan to use it mostly for landscape and street stuff but I don't think the ultra lightweight one is going to be QUITE durable enough for what I want to do. Still shopping for legs, if that makes a difference, and the current setup weighs around 2 1/2 lbs (though there will be an upgrade to full frame in my future).
We use RRS L-plates for three different cameras and have all three sizes of the ball heads with quick releases. For most stuff the BH-40 seems the best compromise for strength and weight. Every item is top quality and they are good people to deal with.
The L-plate for my wife's Pentax K10D is not perfect for portrait mode and using a cable release. Only about a third of the plate can sit on the ball head because of the positioning of the cable. They mentioned getting a Kirk spacer block to solve the problem. We have bought a wireless remote release instead.
Sometimes some items are slow to be available. Case in point was their B-150 macro focusing rail. I bought when they were changing the design and the order took a couple of months to be filled.
I have no hesitation in recommending their products. You can download their catalogue then just find what you want on their site.
I am taking my Gitzo carbon fibre legs and the BH-40 on this years trip to Patagonia and Antarctica and don't anticipate any problems with the gear.
on the positioning of the i/o ports on certain cameras (including my own) in reference to L plates. the L plate was designed to give your camera the ability to reposition quickly and within a certain margin of error accurately from horizontal to vertical. now as the camera designers put i/o in various locations on the camera body real estate. they introduce limitation to said setups using the L plate. both RRS and Kirk have done their best to surmount these challenges put forth by the manufacturers. there comes a time though where it just is not going to work the way all would like it too. the camera makers could care less about RRS/Kirk and their products. it is, as one would' say not their problem. they put the standard tripod hole in the bottom of the body. so there. both Kirk and RRS have different approaches for work arounds to make their products more usable.
you need to decide which one works best for you
Both RRS and Kirk are for the most part custom makers of products. this being said the issues of long lead times for certain specialized items as they are introduced and or again delays between stocking is attributed to their status as custom makers. Kirk is a full time machining facility where RRS is a design and prototyping setup. Kirk is meat and potatoes output. RRS is more design and integration oriented and in my opinion more innovative and advanced. again my opinion and is not debatable.
Durability: if you manage to break/destroy any of these makers items i strongly suggest you look over what it was attached to it because it most likely is totally obliterated. both products are built well beyond your cameras or tripods standards.
i have been using RRS products since 1991. they have evolved into a fully integrated yet for the most part open system based on the arca swiss clamp and plate assy. they offer the widest array of options for your use based on the said system
Very happy with both my BH-40 and BH-55 heads, L-plates and lens plates. As mentioned, the RRS products are much stronger construction than most cameras.
I ordered a L-bracket and a RRS-40 ball head last month. The fit&finish are excellent as well as the operation. That said, I preferred an Arca-Swiss Z1 to the RRS-40, so called them up to return the ballhead but keep the bracket. The return was very smooth. All in all, very professional.
don't have the ballhead, but wished I did.
but I do have a fair bit of their gear and would recommend it anytime day or night.
Service is great, I have to thank Casey for, making sure I ordered everything and didn't double up on anything i didn't need. You don't get that many places...where they look up your old order and check that you have such and such part in your kit.
I have also purchased from them for a number of years now and the L-plate is gold, it is actually better on the Canon MkIII then it is on the original 1Ds.
I have the BH-55L and their L bracket. The lever quick-release makes it a breeze to switch from landscape to portrait orientation in a snap.
All very strong and stable, and also very smooth to operate. Highly recommend them!!
I am very happy with my BH-40 and quick release plate and I get the impression that it is a seriously durable ballhead, certainly the standard of manufacture is outstanding.
I've been using the BH-40 LR with quick release plate and an RRS L plate on my camera for almost 3 years now with zero problems. I think they do an incredible job and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
I have only good things to say about RSS equipment.
All of their stuff is built well beyond any standard you would expect to see.
Ballheads are excellent. I have both the quick release and the normal plates and really can't decide which I like best. Its probably psychological, but I use the long base normal plate for my telephoto lens on my heavy tripod, and the quick release plate for normal and wide angle stuff on my lighter "walk around" tripod. I replaced the feet on my 70-200 and 300 f/4 with the RSS feet, and still think it was a smart move.
I have no problems highly recommending RSS to you.
The RRS L-plate I have on my Canon 40D has a slot on the bottom. If you loosen the screw that mounts it to the body, you can slide it to the left creating room for a remote cable release to be used with the L bracket in the vertical position. Kind of a PITA to have to do that, but it does work.
I also have their BH-40 ball head and like it a lot. I used to have a Markins M10 and like the BH-40 better.
Michael Nelson wrote:
The RRS L-plate I have on my Canon 40D has a slot on the bottom. If you loosen the screw that mounts it to the body, you can slide it to the left creating room for a remote cable release to be used with the L bracket in the vertical position. Kind of a PITA to have to do that, but it does work.
The one non-RRS (Kirk) L-bracket I own is for my 40D, because of what Michael mentions above. The Kirk doesn't require any fiddling to use a remote cable.
I have an RRS L-plate for my D300 and love it. I also have a pano rail from RRS and it too is a joy to use (as well as to fondle ... don't tell my wife). As for ballheads, I found the BH-40 nice when I used a friends, but I prefer the Markins Q3. That said, if I had the RRS I don't think I'd sell it for the Markins as they are both quality kit. BTW, I also have a replacement foot from Kirk for my 70-200VR and the stuff from all three companies work well together.
"RRS" just "SUCKS" The money right out of your wallet that is. Some of the best machined stuff around, great CS to boot. One year I opted not to get a lens or 2 and picked up a bunch of RRS stuff. Things like a Ballhead, Plates, Leveler Clamps, Flash Brackets and Micro-Rail. About $2K then I was done. The only thing I got rid of was the Micro-rail and I got almost full value here at B&S. Really love their stuff.
) - I don't need a really heavy duty one as I plan to use it mostly for landscape and street stuff but I don't think the ultra lightweight one is going to be QUITE durable enough for what I want to do. Still shopping for legs, if that makes a difference, and the current setup weighs around 2 1/2 lbs (though there will be an upgrade to full frame in my future).
Looking through their catalog is like a kid in a candy store...