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Really Right Stuff BH-30

PIOK
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

How is your Really Right Stuff BH-30. Could you compare to BH - 40
I am thinking to get lighter Ball Head for I some travel when I want to carry less. Biggest lens 70 - 200 2.8

Jun 16, 2024 at 02:29 PM

sjms
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

i prefer the 40 over the 30. i do use the 30 on a platypod plate

here is a 40 sitting on top of a TQC14 doing its thing with my Z9

Edited on Jun 22, 2024 at 03:26 AM · View previous versions

Jun 16, 2024 at 02:41 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

I'd rather get the Leofoto version of either before the RRS but that's just me. RRS is hilariously overpriced and Leofoto is making great equipment at less than half the price.

Jun 16, 2024 at 03:04 PM

sjms
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

well its an opinion. but then i doubled down on mine. 2 BH40s and they get a fair amount of use. its been quite a few years for the first (8 years so far) so i got a second here on the B&S. even like the newer clamp assy (ARC-LR) available so i have it on both.

there is always a choice. i made mine 2x

i also consider my sources.

Edited on Jun 22, 2024 at 04:50 AM · View previous versions

Jun 16, 2024 at 03:20 PM

nhanzero
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

Switching from knock-off Leo to the real RRS has been quite a great experience for me, I no longer have to fight the stupid tension drag on-off only, the coarse movement of the LH-40, the BH-40 just works nicely, I even mount light astro mount on it, set the tension right and viola, smooth adjustment despise it is smaller than Leo LH-40. Quality speaks for itself.

Jun 16, 2024 at 07:39 PM

zugzwang2
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

PIOK wrote:
I am thinking to get lighter Ball Head for I some travel when I want to carry less.

Since you're considering the RRS BH-30 and BH-40, you might consider one of the new FLM ball heads in that approximate size range. The FLM 36GX, for example, sits about in the middle of those two RRS products. By way of comparison:

Like the BH-30, the 36GX lacks a dedicated friction control, but, again like the RRS ball head, it allows some degree of tension adjustment via the main locking lever. The 36GX has a larger ball (36mm vs. 30mm) than the RRS BH-30, and so should, I suppose, be able to handle at least as much as the BH-30. It weighs less (without a clamp, 183g vs. 218g), it can take a clamp with either 1/4 or 3/8 thread (secured by Loctite), and it's very smooth in use with no stick-slip. It also has an asymmetrical ball, which increases the tension as the camera is moved away from the center point. I think that's quite useful on a small ball head. It's less expensive than the BH-30.

For about 3/4 of an ounce more than the BH-30 you could consider the FLM 47GX with its 47mm diameter ball. You can find a brief review at DPReview in the Accessories forum.

For less even weight than the BH-30 (or the 36GX) you might consider the 132g FLM 32G. Again, a larger diameter ball than the BH-30, probably similar or greater locking strength (32mm ball vs. 30mm) and much less expensive. I believe that the 32G has the same sort of asymmetric ball that is on the 36GX--but apparently not found on the larger FLM GX series ball heads. I thought that the 32mm ball head would be great for travel, but I ended up buying the somewhat larger head with a 36mm ball. I really like it.

Edit:

Here's the link for a mini review of the FLM GX47:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4731038

I believe that only the two smallest ball heads (the 32G and 36GX) have asymmetric balls--a feature that I think is likely more useful on small units than on larger ball heads that can easily generate more friction.

I've been using the FLM 36mm version extensively this past week while hiking in the eastern Sierra Nevada. I think that it's a good match for a series one tripod and that it's excellent for (at least my kind of) travel.

Edited on Jun 22, 2024 at 08:10 PM · View previous versions

Jun 21, 2024 at 11:17 PM

sjms
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

i had the AS with the original asymmetrical ball way back when. it was an "idea" but overall, it was not the best for some purposes. an acquired taste to say the least and had its issues.

there are things that you'll have for years and keep on going because they work and keep things simple. then there are those that keep you looking for something else.

Jun 22, 2024 at 03:43 AM

rdcny
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

RRS ball heads do "break" - see past comments from me detailing the problem, and RRS not owning up publicly they made a bad batch of ball heads (the BH-55). Literally fell apart in my hands - fortunately I caught the telephoto lens before it hit the ground.

Anyway, as much as I want to buy American, RRS for me is a company to avoid because of what I experienced with one of their products...and past political stances their owner(s) have taken.

Robert DeCandido PhD
NYC and currently in NE Australia

White-cheeked Honeyeater in Yungaburra (Australia) - 7 July 2024

Jul 12, 2024 at 10:25 AM

sjms
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

don't ask him the whole story. it's full of holes. but he likes to keep trying.

now what he says about a RRS tripod breaking is true but like anything it can happen. nothing is perfect all of the time. also the scenario makes all the difference. they do carry a warranty so keep your receipt as i do. for someone with a set of credentials one would expect some better. by the way they were willing to repair it but it was going to be his responsibility to pay.

Jul 12, 2024 at 01:29 PM

rdcny
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

sj - I am surprised after all these years...no person, business, sports team is perfect. Rather than being a cheerleader, become a philosopher weighing good/bad of what businesses produce. Sometimes they produce a dud - and need to own up to it...as what happened with my BH-55. Goodness knows how many others had this problem...or should have been made aware of it.

Corporations, businesses can only get better if their faults/mistakes are brought to light. Praise is warranted too, when earned.

(I tracked down the bill of sale - once I get back to NYC I'll print it here.)

Robert DeCandido PhD
NYC and Australia

Lovely Fairy-wren in Diwam (Australia) along the road to Cape Tribulation

Jul 12, 2024 at 01:42 PM

sjms
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

you said you received it as a gift from a friend who purchased it from a store (your words). back then the only place that you could have purchased it from was RRS directly. so i hope it is RRS receipt. you should have done this a long time ago. "finding" it must have been fairly recent as you were still telling the story. will be standing by.

i have pretty much all my receipts. its business.

Jul 12, 2024 at 01:48 PM

rdcny
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Really Right Stuff BH-30

sj:

wow - you should be as diligent, thorough and critical of rrs. Any "good" company would have (a) apologized and offered to fix the problem (failure of their equipment) for free including shipping; and (b) alerted their loyal customer base to be on the lookout for ball heads that might fail (based upon serial numbers) - or at least what to look for to determine if the ball head was about to fail/break.

I think I will also bring back that discussion from several years ago about the politics of the owner of the company...I think his name is "Joe"....does rrs still campaign (and fund political groups) against same sex marriage? That was sad when I read about it...I bet a lot of loyal rrs customers are in a same sex relationship.

In a nutshell, that is why Deborah and I don't buy rrs...don't support rrs, and encourage others to steer clear of their really expensive stuff.

Robert DeCandido PhD

Jul 13, 2024 at 12:49 AM


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