Getting ready to buy a ball head for the first time and am looking for some advice on which to buy. I will be using it mostly for portrait stuff with my 1DX and at the most a 70-200 II. I have a 300 but I doubt I will ever have be using it when mounted on the tripod.
I have looked at the RRS, Gitzo and Kirk stuff with the understanding that they are at the top of the food chain. I have also looked at others that are much less expensive. I know lower cost does not always translate into poor quality but the probability of poor quality is always higher. I don't want to break the bank but I do want to buy something of quality.
The other thing that I am slightly confused about is the QR systems. I know the Manfrotto plates/L brackets are not interchangeable with RRS, etc., but are Gitzo, RRS and Arca Swiss interchangeable between each other?
RRS, Kirk, Wimberley etc. (all the manufacturers who say Arca Swiss compatible) use interchangeable camera and lens plates provided a screw clamp is used. Not all variations will work perfectly with all lever lock clamps. In my experience Wimberly plates are the best for compatibility across clamp brands and types. There are details about these issues on both the RRS and Wimberly sites. I chose RRS over Arca Swiss for my head and clamp because the AS lever clamp is fiddly to use. There is an old saying about ball heads - you can buy a RRS or AS now or buy it later after wasting money on lesser heads.
jstntym wrote:
+1..recently purchased this same setup for a 5D MkIII. I'm quite impressed by the quality and how easy it is to use!
Another +1 for Markins. But I bought one without clamp, and put an RRS "B2 LLR II" lever clamp on it. And then RRS plates on everything. I've been very pleased with that setup for 3-4 years now.
vsg28 wrote:
I recently bought an Induro BHL3 that came with a nice QR plate, 10 year warranty and handles my gripped 60D w/70-200 II and a 2x II with ease.
I must mention I got it for just $245 new from the B&H student discount program so that was a big factor too.
+1 I'm very happy with my Induro can't be beat for the price and only matched by more money IMHO.
rtrainer wrote:
Getting ready to buy a ball head for the first time and am looking for some advice on which to buy. I will be using it mostly for portrait stuff with my 1DX and at the most a 70-200 II. I have a 300 but I doubt I will ever have be using it when mounted on the tripod.
I have looked at the RRS, Gitzo and Kirk stuff with the understanding that they are at the top of the food chain. I have also looked at others that are much less expensive. I know lower cost does not always translate into poor quality but the probability of poor quality is always higher. I don't want to break the bank but I do want to buy something of quality.
The other thing that I am slightly confused about is the QR systems. I know the Manfrotto plates/L brackets are not interchangeable with RRS, etc., but are Gitzo, RRS and Arca Swiss interchangeable between each other?...Show more →
Feisol make superb tripods and IMHO best value, not sure about the ballheads, But Markins make superb heads very smooth in operation. The panning lock people complain will not be a problem with your light set up
