Anybody use this ballhead? I would like their opinion. I am looking to buy this. My present gear is a Gitzo 1230ex with a manfrotto ballhead (486RC4). My equipment is a nikon d300; the heavy lenses I have are the Nikon 80-200, the 80-400VR and the Sigma 50-500. Sometimes when I use these lenses on my present ballhead; the lens drops a little and I have to refocus.
Would like to have some first hand impressions of this ballhead. I have also looked at the Markins M10 and the RRS; but the gimbal style feature of the Acratech is appealing; but I am not sure if it is just a gimmick.
Santosh

I got this head a little over a month ago and initially liked it a lot, but the ball head shifts when tightening (sags and also towards the side), so I ended up returning it. I liked everything else about it, especially the fact that the ball is very exposed and you can easily clean it. However, ball head shifting when tightening is a pretty serious problem so I had to return it.

I called Acratech regarding this problem and the owner of Acratech was extremely polite and helpful. He told me that they actually offer lifetime warranty on their heads, and he gave me a refund on my head even though it was past the 30-day period.

Right now I use a Markins Q3 and haven't had problems with it. If you like the GV2, you can give it a try... it's possible that the one I received shifted more than normal. As far as customer service goes, Acratech is top notch.

Absolutely love my Acratech. No problems at all with slippage----there is a second tension knob that adjusts and locks movement.

Easily handles my Canon 1Ds Mark III and 300mm f/2.8IS and TCs.

Rock solid with my MFDB set-up.....

(IMO) the Acratech is a descent and rather good ballhead. But the others you have looked at are better. I have never used the gimbal feature on it. But I would not use it with a big and heavy lens like I do with the "real" gimbal heads.
It also cost more than the Markins M10 that you have looked at. The M10 is (IMO) a better ballhead and also has a bit lower price.

Thanks for all the comments I have had. Maybe I will go with the Markins as I had originally intended.
Santosh

i use this with Canon 600IS, Nikon 400VR, sigma 800 and have no problem whatsoever. It is very light weight. gimbal option is excellent. I don't have the problem as other member mention about.





and absolute stand still for macro?



So base on your lens listing, you SHOULDN"T have any problem. One reason i pick this one because the design of it. It is open and you don't have to worry about sand/dust stuck inside the ball area.

Lars Johnsson wrote:
But I would not use it with a big and heavy lens like I do with the "real" gimbal heads..

Really?. What kind of big and heavy lens are we talking about? It handles my 600IS smoothly. Is there a lens heavier than 600IS? This ballhead is extremely light weight. SOLID build.

Bubble wrote:
Lars Johnsson wrote:
But I would not use it with a big and heavy lens like I do with the "real" gimbal heads..

Really?. What kind of big and heavy lens are we talking about? It handles my 600IS smoothly. Is there a lens heavier than 600IS? This ballhead is extremely light weight. SOLID build.

Do you use the gimbal feature on the head for your 600 lens ?

Even Acratech say this about their ballhead "Our Ultimate GV2 Ballhead works well with lenses up to a 400 4.0"

So your lens is a lot bigger and a lot more heavy than they recommend.
I wouldn't use any ballhead with a 600 lens. Only Wimberley or other full Gimbal heads

Bubble wrote:
Lars Johnsson wrote:
But I would not use it with a big and heavy lens like I do with the "real" gimbal heads..

Really?. What kind of big and heavy lens are we talking about? It handles my 600IS smoothly. Is there a lens heavier than 600IS? This ballhead is extremely light weight. SOLID build.

I just looked at the video on the Acratech website. There they show their heads and also say that super-tele's and lenses like the 600/4 don't work good on this ballhead. For these big lenses they say that you must use their Acratech Long Lens Head instead.
Take a look at their movie on the website.

I'd think you'd be better of with a Markins Q3. Your 468 is no slouch either. you can also look at taking the RC2 clamp off and replacing it with an Arca Swiss clamp. That would also be a pretty nice set up but a bit heavier.

J.

Do you use the gimbal feature on the head for your 600 lens ?


yes i did. Keep in mind that the OP lens selection is really light so he shouldn't have any problem with it. It would be nice to give out your comment if you actually own the product instead of just assuming.

Hauling the WH-200 with tripod and long lens for a long walk/hiking is not fun at all.

Bubble wrote:

Do you use the gimbal feature on the head for your 600 lens ?


yes i did. Keep in mind that the OP lens selection is really light so he shouldn't have any problem with it. It would be nice to give out your comment if you actually own the product instead of just assuming.

Hauling the WH-200 with tripod and long lens for a long walk/hiking is not fun at all.

I don't assume. Or do you say that Acratech don't know what they say and write. They clearly stated both on their website and in their movie that this ballhead don't work with a 600/4 lens.
For the OP it will work. But that's not what you wrote before

I use the Acratech GV2 on my Gitzo GT3530L with lens up to 300mm that the Acratech handles easily. When using my 500mm I use a Jobu Black Widow gimble head that is better suited to the welght of the 500mm.