Besides the RRS 25 are there any other tiny ballheads that are any good? I need tiny to go on top of a slik sprint mini II. Dont like the quick release that came with the tripod. Dont trust it...
Oct 11, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
It depends on what you think is "tiny & good". I don't think the RRS 25 is good, but it's tiny. The Markins Q3 is good but maybe you don't think it's small enough
Lars Johnsson wrote:
It depends on what you think is "tiny & good".
Yup. I use a BH-25 on a Leica table tripod, and it's perfect for that use -- I doubt there's anything better in that size. It doesn't have anything like the Q3's smooth performance, though.
Its not so much a question of the size of the ballhead, but more as to how much weight your planning to use with said "tiny" ballhead
If your talking a little plasticy DSLR like the Canon Rebel or Nikon D40 with kit lens, then whats "tiny" and still "good" would be different than if we were talking about a larger DSLR like a Canon 5D or Nikon D700 and a 24-70 f2.8 zoom
Okay...my big rig is a nikon D3 on a rrs bh-55 and whatever the biggest 3 section gitzo is...i forget the number. Anyway i needed a lightweight set up as i am now hiking with a 23 pound 10 month old son on my back so i bought an olympus e-620 and a slik mini tripod. The camera weighs one pound..yes one pound...i just dont like the quick release on the slik ballhead. Its crap. But the whole set up is lightweight and miniature. So i want a decent tiny ballhead with a good quick release system. Smaller the better...wondering if options besides rrs-25 even exist... Thanks for any help!
I don't have the RRS - it's probably one of the best mini's out there - add a QR & "L" bracket - hard to beat for a lightweight set-up - priced to match.
I use a zero series Gitzo 0541 tripod with a Gitzo G1077M ballhead & Manfrotto quick release 323 RC2 / 200 PL-14 plate. Been using them for years with a 5D and lenses up to the 2 lb range. It's a tight little set-up & has never dropped the camera. The plate is very tight to the camera body. Gitzo also has that ballhead in a zero series - but doesn't weigh much less. I have tried out & researched a few other mini's - not worth mentioning.
I do a lot of backpacking & cut weight everywhere I can. The mini's do not have the smooth / positive feel of a full size ballhead. Their weakest point is going to a vertical position. Be sure your tripod & mount will allow the camera to turn down the 90 degrees to go to the vertical position with that short of a ballhead. Of course an "L" bracket makes that easier but adds weight.
Of course you won't be needing this tripod rig for very long - in a few months your son will be wanting to do some hand held shooting himself - good luck!
I have the BH-25, and, like Lars, I would say it is tiny but not good. It works for a 5D + short lens (like 17-40L or 24-105L) and with some discipline (like always keeping a hand near the camera, and holding it well before touching anything on the ballhead), on my Gitzo 1027. But I doubt it would work well with a D3, on a tabletop tripod.
The Q3 was not released when I got the BH-25. Now, I would definetely get the Q3, even though it is quite a bit heavier in proportion. I am still using the BH-25, when going on trips where every gram matters (like hiking).
If you are already using the AS type plates, then the BH-25 would seem to be the way to go - unless willing to go up to the Q3. I have a tripod using an integrated head like the Bogen 484rc2 and it's about the same size head. It's functional for smaller loads. Portrait is an issue at times but as others have pointed out, an L-bracket would reduce much of that problem by leaving the load more centered over the head. But if trying to use a small head and tiny tripod, the head isn't the source of the problems, it's the weight of the load. The tripod's size/weight and the small ball diameter are going to struggle with the load whichever head is selected.
If you went for any of the other small heads, I'd think you'd still want to use AS plates so the cost to refit the head puts you closer to the RRS price anyways.
You're putting it on a tripod that is little more than a table tripod, and which splits down the middle of the typical applications for these heads. The Q3 is a much more sophisticated tool -- and on something in the 2-3# Gitzo series 1 class, there's nothing better. The BH-25 is just about perfect on a Leica table tripod, which would be dwarfed by even the diminutive Q3.
The question is -- which direction do you nudge toward for this setup? If you want ultra-light at all costs, and you're ok with minimal stick/slip action (ie, always locking down for a shot), the BH-25 is the way to go. If you want a compact but full-featured head, the Q3 is the one for you.
They're complementary to one another, not competitors.
I personally think the 25 is great on a hiking tripod. It locks tight with normal equipment attached...anything under a 70-200 IMO. When I go on long hikes I do not worry about the system being perfect I just want it to get the job done. I cut my plastic spoon in half to save weight on long treks and no I'm not going to add another 1/2 lb to my bag unless I have to.
I used to have RRS 25 mini ballhead and it wasn't strong enough
for 5D + 24-70L or 135L. Had to tighten it up as much as possible and it didn't hold.
This is the best mini ballhead on the market right now:
The larger version of the Leica tabletop tripod head is really hard to beat: small, more slender than the knock-offs of Arca-Swiss designed heads -- you can put it in the pocket of a pair of jeans, and it is very, very strong: Once locked down It canhold a Nikon D3 series camera with a 300mm f/2.8 lens or similar with no post tightening creep. The only thing it lacks is a panning base and an Arca-Swiss type QR clamp on top.
