The Quest for the Holy Ball Head of Antioch

[Bobbo]

The cheap Bogen 486RC2 living on my 3001 pro is ticking me off. I need a new ballhead.

I'd like something with an Arca-type QR mount and enough dampening I can use my D90 with a set of bellows and a 105mm lens for closeup work or a 180/2.8, 80-200/2.8 or 300/4 lens (I don't have such lenses now, but want them in the future) without wanting to throw it out the window. No big 300/2.8 lenses for me, and I doubt I'll have anything bigger than a D700 or a Hasselblad/250mm combo in the future.

My price requirement is under $200. Used is OK with me. I'm not a brand snob, so whatever works in my price range is fine.

So, fire away🙂.

--Bob

 

[ChrisN]

Let's see how long this post survives. 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

"ONE! TWO! FIVE!"

I really like my Acratech, I got it used for about $100. It's like this one except no bubble level.

http://j.mp/vLgzUz

 

[TXForester]

"ONE! TWO! FIVE!"

Beat me to it. :bang: 😀

 

[Bruin]

Look for a used Markins Q3 or PhotoClam. RRS is probably out of your price range. The Korean makers really offer a lot of bang for the buck.

 

[Robert Lai]

I use the Markins. It is really, really solid! It is rated for 80+lbs. I bought it when I found out that my cheaper ballhead could not keep my Nikkor 300 f/4 AFS + motor driven F3 stable. This is on a Gitzo 1530 carbon fiber tripod.

For something less demanding the Linhof small ballhead has been very versatile for me. It has only two controls: one large knob for lockup, and a small screw for panning lock. It is only rated for 15lbs, but it is entirely adequate for most jobs. It is mounted to a junky set of aluminum legs that I first got 25 years ago.

For clamps, I use the Wimberley Arca Swiss types. Very solid, less expensive than the others, and they have a security system when used with their plates that prevents the camera from sliding out if the knob is not fully tightened.

 

[peter_n]

I third the recommendation for the S. Korean ballheads. I use Linhof, Markins and Arca-Swiss heads and briefly used a Photo Clam. The best small head is the Markins Q3T or Q3 and the best value is probably a Photo Clam. The PC-36N is just under your budget at $189, and the PC-40N is just over at $219. Try to stretch for the PC-40N; a bigger ball diameter will be smoother and will deal more comfortably with your 300mm.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sadly, there's not much substitute for spending the money. When you try heads like Arca-Swiss and Novoflex, you see where the money goes -- especially when it comes to decades of hard use. Yes there are cheaper heads that are good too (I have a 30-year-old Kennet/Benbo head) but they're never as smooth and nice.

Because Frances covers tripods and heads at photokina, I get to handle quite a lot of them. She rates Novoflex highest (and uses them, as I do), but if I could persuade myself I really needed another head, I'd buy the 'baby' Arca-Swiss (photokina 2010).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Rob-F]

"ONE! TWO! FIVE!"

I really like my Acratech, I got it used for about $100. It's like this one except no bubble level.

http://j.mp/vLgzUz

I'm really fascinated by the Acratech. I see you have the "Ultimate'" and that seems to be the one I want. Apparently they don't come with a QR plate included? Or do they? Either way, I think there is one in my future.

I have an inexpensive eBay special ball head. I could recommend it to the OP, as it is really quite good. The name is on the box, though, and not on the head itself. Unfortunately I can't find the box. I'll keep looking. It has a separate small knob for adjusting the tension, and a larger one for locking it. That way you don't have to start all over adjusting tension every time you loosen it to move it. If I can come up with the name, I'll post it.

However, I can't get the Acratech off my mind. It kills me that it costs more now than my Leica M2 cost new (in 1960, though). Gee.

Ye Edit: The model number is "FT6665H PRO Fluid Drag Ball Head." I bought it from Lumiertech_com and have emailed for the name of the head.
Ye Update: It is called a "Fancier. Here's a link:

"http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fancier-FT-6665H-Fluid-Pro-Camera-Tripod-Ball-head-/180638557616?pt=AU_TripodsMonopods&hash=item2a0ee5a5b0#ht_1859wt_1165

And the seller has already emailed back and says the brand is "WeiFeng." So I imagine it is a product marketed under more than one name.

 

[majid]

I would recommend against Arca-Swiss. I had an Arca-Swiss B1 that "froze up" once too many, and irreversibly to boot, so I switched to the Acratech and never looked back. It doesn't have the elliptic progressive damping, but the open design is more resilient, not to mention the dramatic weight savings. I haven't tried Markins ballheads but I have some of their plates and leather wrist straps, which are all made to the highest standards.

 

[Rob-F]

Pictures of my Fancier in use:

 

[bbrovold]

I have a Linhoff but then I have had it for probably 20 years and it still looks the business.