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adamdewilde
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p.2 #1 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Sorry BTW that we've hijacked your thread.. Honestly speaking though, the Markins Q3 is a great ballhead aside from the panning lock..
And in all reality unless you have a tripod such as an GT2531EX you shouldn't have a problem with the panning lock.
I assume by now you've gotten your answer, and will be buying a Q3.

Best,
Adam

Oct 14, 2008 at 06:13 AM

kenyee
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p.2 #2 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

look at pan lock knob...does it feel rubbery? My guess is no....so guess which one you have?

Oct 14, 2008 at 05:41 PM

dcains
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p.2 #3 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Not sure what you mean by that.

Oct 14, 2008 at 09:10 PM

adamdewilde
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p.2 #4 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Alright, so you're saying on the VERY new Q3's the locking pan knob is silicon?

AFAIK that isn't correct, the newest models have silicon knobs for the plate and the ballhead, the panning knob doesn't come in silicon as far as I know. Unless of course you're telling me that the JUST RELEASED newest ones have rubber there to, in which case A) they haven't even updated there websites, and B) I just picked mine up a week ago or so, so I'm SOFL.

Someone here please verify..

Best,
Adam

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:23 PM

adamdewilde
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p.2 #5 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Hey, I actually just seen a photo on the internet where the panning lock is also silicon...

Is this an older or newer model?
I'm guessing your right, it's the newer model...

I will contact markins about this, I'm curious if the newer model has fixed the panning lock problem.
Can anyone comment on that?

Best,
Adam

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:29 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.2 #6 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Maybe it's the new Q3 Travel that have a new locking knob for the panning base. The normal Q3 looks the same as always on the Markins website

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:36 PM

kenyee
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p.2 #7 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

If your fingers hurt from turning the panning lock, it's metal. I'm not sure how more clear I can get??

yep, panning lock has silicon...friend picked one up greymarket from a fleabay seller who bought it from markins directly.

Oct 15, 2008 at 03:25 PM

adamdewilde
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p.2 #8 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Yeah I just seen photos of them, I get what you mean kenyee....

They appear to have silicon knobs now on the panning base, I'm wondering though, since the markins website doesn't show them as being silicon, it must mean they're new?

This is the pictures of the Q3 with the silicon panning knob:
here

I'm curious if they've just added the knob, or if they've improved the panning lock, it's strange though, because they haven't added the silicon knob to the M10's or M20's as far as group shot I've seen where the Q3 is changed but they remain the same.
This begs the question, have they fixed the panning knob, I'm only curious because I have the opportunity to bring mine back to the store, and await the new shipment.

Best,
adam

Oct 15, 2008 at 04:51 PM

4x4rock
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p.2 #9 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

I just received a brand new Q3 from Korea (but not from markins) and the panning knob is not silicon. It's a beauty.

Test mount the 1D MK II and 300 f2.8 on it and it's solid. Can't say the same for my tripod.

Oct 15, 2008 at 06:43 PM

tanglefoot47
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p.2 #10 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Owned one once and love it another item I should have not sold

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:10 PM

adamdewilde
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p.2 #11 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Basically for the money, they're small light and hold a lot of weight. - My two cents for going off topic all this time.

BTW, kenyee I did the smart thing and msg'd Markins, they told me that the ones with the silicone panning knobs are actually the prototype models, the current models are the ones pictured on the markins america website, they're the ones that people will have now if they've recently ordered from markins. And the fact that the panning knob doesn't completly lock, is still a feature and something thats needed in order to insure a long lasting product.

Best,

Adam

Oct 16, 2008 at 02:59 AM

kenyee
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p.2 #12 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Thanks, Adam. I was wondering about that as well. FWIW, the friend who bought it from fleabay got one w/o the rubberized pan knob even though the seller put up a picture w/ the prototype knob. Weird that Markins decided to remove that on the production models though...

Oct 16, 2008 at 07:32 PM

dcains
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p.2 #13 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

The rubber probably didn't hold up well enough. Look at my panning lock knob and you'll see bits of skin that's been ripped off my fingers from trying to get the knob tight enough.

Oct 16, 2008 at 08:25 PM

JohnJ80
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p.2 #14 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Just as a note, the panning lock isn't bad on the ones that don't have the rubber ring. It is more than enough to hold your ballhead and lens in position without moving.

J.

Oct 19, 2008 at 02:32 PM

adamdewilde
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p.2 #15 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

dcains, that's exactly what I think too.

I just had a chance to use the Gitzo explorer and the Markins Q3, and I must say I'm really impressed with both, although I think the Gitzo takes a while to get use to.

The Markins is great, but I have another comment about it, it has a indent where you can turn the ballhead sideways but the knob gets in the way, so I wish there were two such spots on the ballhead.. (although, I'm sure most people just buy an L bracket, so keep in mind that you'll probably want an Lbracket)...

Best,
Adam

Oct 27, 2008 at 01:17 AM

JohnJ80
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p.2 #16 · Markins Q3 Ballhead - Is it the right one?

Lars Johnsson wrote:
I never use any loctite or wrench on the Q3 or any other ballhead that I own. Just hand-power is enough. And I like to have the option of changing the heads between my tripods without any hassle.
You really don't need to tighten the ballhead that hard on your tripod.

I'm with you. I never use loctite and never felt the need.

J.

Nov 01, 2008 at 01:37 PM


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