p.1 #1 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
I had an Induro big ballhead and it was pretty good but I lost it with my big gitzo tripod a week ago. I am looking to buy the best large ballhead for landscape photography. I use my tilt shift lens the most so not usually trying to do pano's with the ball head. I have an acratech on my small legs but don't like acratech for big weight. [ Acratech spelling fixed]
I have 5diii and the largest lens I would anticipate putting on it would be 70-200 or TS17. But I want the best ball head. If I put my 600 on it will be with a wimberly type head.
Markins M20 Weight 1.2lbs, 110lbs capacity, ~$400
Arca Swiss Z1, Weight 1.5lbs, 122lbs capacity, ~$400 [ corrected here based on B&H for $]
Kirk BH-1, Weight 1.9lbs, 50lbs capacity, ~$420
Really Right Stuff B-55, Weight 2.1lbs, 90lbs capacity, ~$450 [corrected to bh-55 - can't fix poll]]
I went with Markins; I had to order it, yeah, but their customer service is great. And the ballhead (M20) and quick releases are holding up well in the face of, shall we say, my somewhat cavalier treatment...
p.1 #4 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
I've had a Kirk BH-1 and a Markins M10 (different sizes, I know). The Markins was really top-notch (finish and all), and the Kirk was huge and could probably survive a nuclear blast. I think the "finer adjustments" that Scott refers to were better on the Markins, between those two.
p.1 #5 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
Tenn.Jer: Thanks for the vote on Markins and the real world experience.
Thanks- jasoninak - thanks or your input on Kirk and Markins. Based on wwhat you say, I would give the edge to Markins.
Nov 15, 2013 at 02:35 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
RRS B-1 maybe it's the BH-55?
I own the RRS, Arca-Swiss and Markins ballheads. And they all have their strong points. (IMO) the Arca-Swiss has the smothest ball to move around. Probably also the best locking of the ball. The RRS have the best knobs and panning base. Markins is good at everything without being the best in something special.
p.1 #7 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
A non vote here, Acratech was not listed, I've their GP ballhead, other accessories and am very happy, they are local, just a few hours drive, support is fantastic.
p.1 #8 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
Lars Johnsson wrote:
RRS B-1 maybe it's the BH-55?
I own the RRS, Arca-Swiss and Markins ballheads. And they all have their strong points. (IMO) the Arca-Swiss has the smothest ball to move around. Probably also the best locking of the ball. The RRS have the best knobs and panning base. Markins is good at everything without being the best in something special.
Thanks Lars - you are right. I fixed in my text but can't in the poll.
Per your input, that would put Arca Swiss and Markins ahead of RRS because I prefer lighter and don't do a lot of panning.
p.1 #9 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
StillFingerz wrote:
A non vote here, Acratech was not listed, I've their GP ballhead, other accessories and am very happy, they are local, just a few hours drive, support is fantastic.
I have an acratek and like it for hiking (light, strong) but based on my experience, it is more of a medium weight ballhead.
It seems to flex with my big TS-17 when I put it on and that makes me nervous.
I also don't ever feel confident with it holding with the quick release clamps. They unclamp too fast.
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I don't consider it a good heavy weight ballhead. But its on my lightweight hiking legs.
p.1 #14 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
Most of my experience is with the Really Right Stuff BH-55, but it serves me very well. I really like the big knob it has, and I can always find it and use it without taking my eye off the camera viewfinder. And for nearly all uses, simple fingertip type tightening holds you rig well. The low profile design combined with a large ball diameter and plenty of metal used to clamp the ball means the BH-55 is very rigid and very strong, but that is perhaps overkill for many uses. And obviously the BH-55 is heavy compared to the others you listed, but unless I need to walk a fair ways, I live with the extra half pound.
The load ratings that ball head and tripod manufactures state are not based on any standarized test methods, so do not think of them as very useful for accurate comparisons between models. The values are of some general use, but do not fixate on them.
You mentioned nothing about the clamp you would want on the ball head. I am a long term user of the RRS lever release clamps, and find them easier and faster and more reliable to use than a screw clamp. If you are interested in a RRS lever release clamp, and using it with a camera L bracket, and you were considering a ball head other than the BH-55, you may want to investigate which models can be ordered without a clamp, and which models can directly accept the RRS clamps.
p.1 #15 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
I went through all of the options a few months back, and ended up weighing in favor of the arcaswiss with the regular twist lock vs quick clamp. I have been extremely happy with it - minus one spot that rusted during a shoot in the amazon. It was subjected to significant rain though and no dry time. Given that, I am still happy and would make the choice with the Z1 again.
p.1 #16 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
Roland W wrote:
Most of my experience is with the Really Right Stuff BH-55, but it serves me very well. I really like the big knob it has, and I can always find it and use it without taking my eye off the camera viewfinder. And for nearly all uses, simple fingertip type tightening holds you rig well. The low profile design combined with a large ball diameter and plenty of metal used to clamp the ball means the BH-55 is very rigid and very strong, but that is perhaps overkill for many uses. And obviously the BH-55 is heavy compared to the others you listed, but unless I need to walk a fair ways, I live with the extra half pound.
The load ratings that ball head and tripod manufactures state are not based on any standarized test methods, so do not think of them as very useful for accurate comparisons between models. The values are of some general use, but do not fixate on them.
You mentioned nothing about the clamp you would want on the ball head. I am a long term user of the RRS lever release clamps, and find them easier and faster and more reliable to use than a screw clamp. If you are interested in a RRS lever release clamp, and using it with a camera L bracket, and you were considering a ball head other than the BH-55, you may want to investigate which models can be ordered without a clamp, and which models can directly accept the RRS clamps. ...Show more →
Good question - I like the slow release screw off f variety. It take longer to screw up than with my fast turning acratek or a lever. I value security over speed.
p.1 #17 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
I've owned both the RRS BH-55 side by side with a Markins M20. I kept the Markins.
Noticeably lighter, and smoother in operation than the BH-55. The RRS has a bit of a stick-start-stop jerkiness to it when moving the ballhead at low drag, where the Markins was smoother. The Markins is also more compact overall.
Both are rock solid when tightened down. I've even had a 600 f/4 mounted on the Markins with no gimbal/wimberly.
p.1 #18 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
Several years ago, when I said the Markins is smoother, and is in general a better ball head than the BH-55, more than a dozen people jumped out and criticized me. Now I am glad that the Markins is given credit where credit is due.
p.1 #19 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
I currently use the arca swiss z1 with a rrs lever clamp. Works great! My only problem about the arca swiss would be that I'd like more separation between the main tension knob and the panning knob (which could also be a bit bigger). With that said, it's only a small issue and has worked flawlessly from day 1. I would highly recommend it!
p.1 #20 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
Well after all of the above, I am inclined to the arca swiss. There are two versions - a single and dual pano version. The single is like a regular ballhead, but the dual lets you level the ball head and then rotate. This sounds great but increases the price from $350 to $550.
It is great in theory because you don't need to level the legs, just the ball head to shoot panorama shots.
Anyone have experience with the dual pano settings. Do they decrease the reliability / decrease the stability?
maybe it's the BH-55?