brad-man wrote:
I bought my Q3 and later Q20 off eBay from a Korean seller around 10-12 years ago. I'm not aware of a US distributor then or now. Since I never needed any repair work done, the potential warranty issue never happened. Markins heads are so superior in strength and fluidity to any other head I've ever tried that the warranty risk is worth taking. The AS Monoball used to be my gold standard, now it is the Q20. RRS can't compare in any way other than pretty. They are pretty.
My Markins products (Q20i, Q3i-Tr, Markins spiders for Gitzo, etc.) were shipped from Canada, i.e., Markins North America when they existed.
Like many of you I used the A-S B1 (2) for many years before the BH-55, which was purchased for the pano kit of that time. The ball sure seemed less smooth than the B-1, so I tried the Z1 DP. Unfortunately the Z1 had a mediocre panning base for heavy off-axis loads. The BH-55 is still great for panning due to the heavy duty base, 2.5° graduations and strong, yet adjustable lock. The Q20i base is good, but just a step below and has only 5° graduations. I think the Q20i sans BV plate is better looking than the RRS, though my blue Q3i-Tr looks quite nice. sjms has a very cool discolored M10.
I bought a Q20i with the Markins panning clamp last year. It is by far the smoothest ball head I ever used (and I have used RRS, Arcratec, AS B-1, Foba), and locks down incredibly tight. The panning claim just oozes quality as well.
At the time, Markins North America had it listed on Amazon, at a great price. I certainly do not regret the purchase and I don't see ever buying another ball head (unless I want a smaller one for hiking).
I’ve had a Markin M20 for a long time now, and it is still performing as if it were new. Got it the same time when the BH-55 first came out. I bought both and returned the BH-55, because the M20 is much smoother. It doesn’t stick one bit until it is fully locked down, making accurate framing so much easier. The panning base is not very smooth because it uses sleeve bearing, but it doesn’t wobble. I usually don’t lock the panning base fully because the ball head is so stiff that it has very poor damping if the panning base is fully locked.
Since some of you had difficulty contacting Markins, I would like to share my recent experience with their service.
I have a Markins Q3 ball head that was missing the Torque Limit dial button. The Markins in USA has a website, but no phone number or email address. My internet search gave me this email address: [email protected].
I sent them an email requesting information, and was surprised when I received a reply 2 hours later. They told me I can order the part, which would cost me $1.00, plus $30.00 for shipping. I placed the order, paid by PayPal, and received the part today, just 4 days after they shipped from Korea.
They said in an email: “Unfortunately, our US distributor is closed. For purchase, repair, or inquiry, please contact us.”
So if you need their service, just email them. In general, they replied each of my emails in 2-3 days. Their phone number in Seoul Korea as printed on the invoice is +82 2 2676 1771
Brian_B wrote:
Since some of you had difficulty contacting Markins, I would like to share my recent experience with their service.
I have a Markins Q3 ball head that was missing the Torque Limit dial button. The Markins in USA has a website, but no phone number or email address. My internet search gave me this email address: [email protected].
I sent them an email requesting information, and was surprised when I received a reply 2 hours later. They told me I can order the part, which would cost me $1.00, plus $30.00 for shipping. I placed the order, paid by PayPal, and received the part today, just 4 days after they shipped from Korea.
They said in an email: “Unfortunately, our US distributor is closed. For purchase, repair, or inquiry, please contact us.”
So if you need their service, just email them. In general, they replied each of my emails in 2-3 days. Their phone number in Seoul Korea as printed on the invoice is +82 2 2676 1771
I don't think they ever had a US distributor, just the one in Canada mentioned previously.
They used a .US domain. It's too bad they cannot find a US distributor as that would make it easier.
I just ordered a TH-230 directly from their Korea headquarter, and it arrived after only 3 work days. The only downside is that I need to pay a little extra for international shipping ($40 in this case).
Good choice. I have TH-200s for the older legs GT-2531/2541 IIRC.
It is a nice, rigid and lightweight piece, and even the color works well with the Gitzos.
EB-1 wrote:
Good choice. I have TH-200s for the older legs GT-2531/2541 IIRC.
It is a nice, rigid and lightweight piece, and even the color works well with the Gitzos.
EBH
Exactly! It matches so well with my GT2542. I really like the legs of the GT2542 mountaineer, which are a lot more rigid than past generations, but the center post and the apex are heavy and fiddly. TH-230 solved the problem for me, and it is now my most used tripod.
not "discolored", uniquely colored. its a deep Mil green body and ball (matched my then gray/green Gitzo 2540) direct from Markins in the early 2000's. still have and use it occasionally. i do prefer my BH-40 (personal taste)
That incident which partially melted the polymer ball cup was related to a series of industrial shots and a relatively high level of Duh! on my part (keep a good eye on your tools and keep other people away from them). It was sent to Markins America which at the time was located just west of Toronto back then. They had never seen that particular color offered to replace it with a new one in of course black. I had gotten that original color due to its uniqueness and its near match to the gitzo cf legset which I really think markins SK had in mind to begin with.
sjms has a very cool discolored M10.