p.5 #1 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
alundeb wrote:
Yes, that sounds right. Then I would assume that for fine adjustment at a given position, the aspheric ball is no different from a spheric ball tightened a bit more. I can't see how it would help reduce creep unless the creep is very large.
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As the camera is tipped over further and further from the vertical the more gravity will tend to flop it over. The aspherical ball adds progressive resistance the further you get from vertical, making fine adjustments at larger angles easier and more precise. This is where it helps with creep. Another thing that helps is a short moment arm. The inverted Arca heads (P0, P1) have both. In fact, it's pretty easy with the P-series Arcas to load the head fully before locking (at least with shorter lenses) which is what really gets rid of creep.
p.5 #2 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
molson wrote:
I'm going by over a year of hands-on field use with the BH-55, and now several years of using the Z-1 since then. I know that my trivial amount of personal use pales in comparison to DPReview's exhaustive 30-second test, so you should probably buy what they tell you to.
I understand that the aspheric ball helps with the handling, and that the results will also be improved in certain situations. But it is not plausible that the Z1 gives zero creep while the rest creeps. If I bought a Z1, I would likely not see any big difference in my first 30 seconds test either.
p.5 #5 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
gdanmitchell wrote:
Have you used the RRS heads extensively?
I used the BH40 quite extensively and was never quite satisfied with it because it was not smooth. The Markins M10 is excellent when used with a RRS plate system.
p.5 #6 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
davewolfs wrote:
I used the BH40 quite extensively and was never quite satisfied with it because it was not smooth. The Markins M10 is excellent when used with a RRS plate system.
That is a useful data point. I have not used the BH40, so I can't add anything. I have used the BH-55 and the one of the smaller ones (BH-25 I think, though I'll have to check) without noticing any issues with smoothness of operation, so perhaps the BH-40 is different?
p.5 #7 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
gdanmitchell wrote:
That is a useful data point. I have not used the BH40, so I can't add anything. I have used the BH-55 and the one of the smaller ones (BH-25 I think, though I'll have to check) without noticing any issues with smoothness of operation, so perhaps the BH-40 is different?
Dan
I think an important point that folks do not always report when discussing ballhead smoothness is whether or not it is under tension. I used to have the BH-40. As I noted in my post above, when loose, I really cannot see how one can expect it to be any smoother, at least, without changing the ambient friction of the the atmosphere of our current planet. When completely loose, it is, for all practical purposes smooth as anyone can want much less need under any circumstance. It is when under drag/tension/friction that is an ugly wreck, sticking and slipping. Perhaps this is what the poster to whom you responded meant? In comparison to the RRS, the Markins just glides from start to finish of the motion, regardless of whether it is completely loose or under drag/tension.
p.5 #8 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
gdanmitchell wrote:
That is a useful data point. I have not used the BH40, so I can't add anything. I have used the BH-55 and the one of the smaller ones (BH-25 I think, though I'll have to check) without noticing any issues with smoothness of operation, so perhaps the BH-40 is different?
Dan
Or perhaps we have different tolerances A fair amount of people have said that the Markins balls are smoother. I'm surprised they aren't more popular.
p.5 #9 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
jeetsukumaran wrote:
I think an important point that folks do not always report when discussing ballhead smoothness is whether or not it is under tension. I used to have the BH-40. As I noted in my post above, when loose, I really cannot see how one can expect it to be any smoother, at least, without changing the ambient friction of the the atmosphere of our current planet. When completely loose, it is, for all practical purposes smooth as anyone can want much less need under any circumstance. It is when under drag/tension/friction that is an ugly wreck, sticking and slipping. Perhaps this is what the poster to whom you responded meant? In comparison to the RRS, the Markins just glides from start to finish of the motion, regardless of whether it is completely loose or under drag/tension. ...Show more →
The problem with the BH-40 being loose is that it will sag. If it is tight it will not sag but than it will stick. The Markins will not sag nor will it stick. It will glide easily without sagging when letting go. Meaning that I find it easier to achieve a tightness where I don't have to worry about things falling over and it is also easy to adjust in fine point increments.
I encourage you to try and let me know if you notice any differences. Perhaps than you can report back to us on how you think the ambient friction of the atmosphere of our planet impacts the design of these ball heads
p.5 #10 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
davewolfs wrote:
The problem with the BH-40 being loose is that it will sag. If it is tight it will not sag but than it will stick. The Markins will not sag nor will it stick. It will glide easily without sagging when letting go. Meaning that I find it easier to achieve a tightness where I don't have to worry about things falling over and it is also easy to adjust in fine point increments.
I encourage you to try and let me know if you notice any differences. Perhaps than you can report back to us on how you think the ambient friction of the atmosphere of our planet impacts the design of these ball heads ...Show more →
Hah! If I only had a control for these planetary experiments ("give me a place to stand on and I will move the earth")!
But yes, that is my point: the BH-40 is smooth when loose, but under tension it is jerky enough to be essentially a non-functional mode of operation for most uses (that I have anyway).
And you do raise a good point about why one might want to be able to adjust the ballhead under drag, even if its smooth when loose and you are used to the "unlock-shift-lock-shoot" workflow: the slight shift when locking up can be annoying with some applications (e.g., extreme close up).
p.5 #11 · Best Ballhead Markins or RRS or Arca Swiss or Kirk for 5diii and TS Lens
What you describe as "unlock-shift-lock-shoot" is exactly what is required with the BH-40. I can't comment if the BH-55 is the same. I can say that it is NOT required for a Markins Head. It is also quite possible that the Arca Swiss heads do not require this but they are also much heavier than the Markins (at least the M10).
The BH-40 is a fine piece of equipment and did serve me well. I just like the smoothness and ability of not having to lock the head each time of the Markins better.
