ball head help

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stevewrx

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steven
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Hi all what ball head would you advise me to get am useing monopod and canon 7d and a sigma 150-500 am shooting wildlife and sport need sum thing that can be moved fast
thanks
Steve
 
I recently saw some SunwayPhoto monopod heads, that looked very nice. Not expensive, I think...

Prices vary a lot... RRS springs to mind :D so what's your budget?
 
None....
A ballhead on a monopod is just a mess. A single axis tilt head (monopod head) is no better than leaning the monopod over a bit. I just use an arca clamp as all of my lenses have arca plates permanently attached.
 
sk66 said:
None....
A ballhead on a monopod is just a mess. A single axis tilt head (monopod head) is no better than leaning the monopod over a bit. I just use an arca clamp as all of my lenses have arca plates permanently attached.
Click to expand...

:plusone:

Ball head on a monopod is a nightmare, as said at the most all you need is a single axis head. I have one but never bother using it now, just the naked monopod.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-234-Monopod-Tilt-Head/dp/B000KHZ8AA
 
I have a Manfrotto 234RC2 atop my monopod to allow easy up and down tilting. Landscape to portrait orientation is dealt with by loosening the collar on the lens's foot (if the lens has one.)
 
I sometimes use a ball head but it's not ideal for bigger/longer lenses - need a monopod head. The little Manfrotto linked above doesn't lock very securely - check out Sunwayfoto, RRS, Hejnar, Custom Brackets.
 
whiteflyer said:
Ball head on a monopod is a nightmare, as said at the most all you need is a single axis head. I have one but never bother using it now, just the naked monopod.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-234-Monopod-Tilt-Head/dp/B000KHZ8AA
Click to expand...
Nod said:
I have a Manfrotto 234RC2 atop my monopod to allow easy up and down tilting.
Click to expand...
The Manfrotto 234RC2 really isn't suitable for larger lenses. According to Manfrotto it's only rated at 2.5kg load capacity. Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable even trusting it with a 70-200mm f/2.8, let alone anything bigger.

HoppyUK said:
I sometimes use a ball head but it's not ideal for bigger/longer lenses - need a monopod head. The little Manfrotto linked above doesn't lock very securely - check out Sunwayfoto, RRS, Hejnar, Custom Brackets.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
I lashed out on an RRS Hi-Capacity monopod head from Ebay and I've used it with a 500mm F4 and currently with a 300mm F2.8 with a 1.4x TC.
Although I'm generally confident with it I still have a strap from the body around my neck, just in case!

When shooting football I agree that the tilt mechanism is not required but the flexibility when shooting wildlife is very useful.
 
I do have the Sirui monopod head. I got it cheap used. It's basically the same as all the others... a little hard to set the tension just right. I like it because I can just clamp it into the arca clamp that's already on my monopod... FWIW, if I had to recommend the best version for the best money I would have to say Hejnar Photo... I've worked w/ Krystoff many times and I've always been very happy with his products (He custom manufactures some items for me).

I don't like it because it's a wobbly head on a monopod... I've never actually found use for it.
Here's my take on it. To get any benefit from an adjustable head it needs to be locked down. If it's not locked down it quickly gets out of alignment and it's not really helping support the weight...especially a ballhead. Since you have to lock it down it's about pointless for action work. And if it's not action work, then the right tool is really a tripod. Even a "lightweight" tripod would probably be more stable than a monopod (within reason).

IMO the only head that works well w/ heavy lenses and action work (i.e. not locked down) is really a gimbal type... on a tripod.

FWIW, I hate monopods...and I hate tripods 3x as much. But sometimes they are necessary evils.
 
Here's my monopod head, the RRS MH-01 Hi Capacity Monopod Head:-

image75.jpg


It holds up to 34kg so reassuringly strong for your 150-500mm. I use it on a 5 series Gifzo monopod and supports a gripped 5D Mark II and Canon 100mm f2.8L IS lens.

There is no UK RRS distributor so with import duty factored in, it cost me £235.00.
Money well spent as I know this set up is future proof if I decide to invest in long glass further down the line (if I win the lottery lol)

Mark
 
Just to throw another brand in; Kirk and the MPA-2 monopod head.

Anyone has / has had experience of this head?

Mark

PS. Steve - what is your budget for a ball head / monopod head?

Mark
 
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Hi mark just got a 7d and sigma 150-500 so not a lot at the moment I like the look of the tilt heads they look a lot more controllable its just the price of them
Steve
 
stevewrx said:
Hi mark just got a 7d and sigma 150-500 so not a lot at the moment I like the look of the tilt heads they look a lot more controllable its just the price of them Steve
Click to expand...

I have had a look for you and the cheapest tilt head which has a sufficient support load is the Custom Bracket ones at WEX (£150).

Benro make the BJ-80 and 90 heads but they only support 2.5kg.

Next cheapest would be the Kirk model I mentioned above at £179 and the Hejnar with import duty etc would bd around the £200 Mark after duty and tax is factored in.

If ballheads really are the only realistic option, I would recommend Giottos or Feisol on a limited budget.

Mark
 
Hi mark I would like on of the rrs mh 01heads as the weight they can support would be good with my dear looks like I will have to do sum saving up for one don't like the ball head on a monopod looks abit hard to control
Steve
 
You could try a "Y" shaped support, just drop the lens into it really flexible for wildlife but takes the weight, I got one from "7day shop."
 
The Manfrotto 393 Long Lens Bracket is about £120 I think if you shop around. (or less used)
 
stevewrx said:
Hi mark I would like on of the rrs mh 01heads as the weight they can support would be good with my dear looks like I will have to do sum saving up for one don't like the ball head on a monopod looks abit hard to control
Steve
Click to expand...

That RRS head looks strikingly similar to the Sirui I have... to include the crappy delrin (teflon) bearing surfaces/washers.

The problem w/ the delrin is it is "soft" so it has a pretty quick tight/loose transition... It's more like "on/off." And it can hold grit if you are not kind to your equipment (it can get embedded in the teflon).

I'm not very fond of lever clamps because I have a wide variety of plates which vary slightly in size. It can be a problem...
 
OldCarlos said:
The Manfrotto 393 Long Lens Bracket is about £120 I think if you shop around. (or less used)
Click to expand...

I know Manfrotto says it was developed for use on a monopod but I've never seen anyone using one that way...
In my mind it just seems like a hassle/mess....but monopods kind of suck anyways.
 
sk66 said:
I know Manfrotto says it was developed for use on a monopod but I've never seen anyone using one that way...
In my mind it just seems like a hassle/mess....but monopods kind of suck anyways.
Click to expand...

I use it on a monopod (& seen others too) ;)

The OP uses a monopod & is asking for suggestions for wildlife/sport @ not a lot of money.
 
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sk66 said:
That RRS head looks strikingly similar to the Sirui I have... to include the crappy delrin (teflon) bearing surfaces/washers.

The problem w/ the delrin is it is "soft" so it has a pretty quick tight/loose transition... It's more like "on/off." And it can hold grit if you are not kind to your equipment (it can get embedded in the teflon).

I'm not very fond of lever clamps because I have a wide variety of plates which vary slightly in size. It can be a problem...
Click to expand...

You can get the MH-01 monopod head without a lever style clamp, see here:-

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=MH-01-Pro&type=0

As far as the delrin goes, I have been able to slacken off the tightness to create a friction setting but as regards whether doing so will wear down the material, I guess only time will tell.

Grit wise, I haven't had anything encroach the moving parts that I would envisage problems with whatsoever, but I do clean the head regularly with my rocket blower. Of course, if anything sticks on the delrin type locking pad then it will score the c shaped locking tracks. I would imagine that would only be a significant problem in windy and damp conditions.

Mark
 
I'm using the 234RC on a monopod with a Sigma 300mm F2.8 + 2 x convertor..
It seems to work fairly well & no issues yet with the weight .
Think its only 2.5kg....honest...:D
 
markta said:
As far as the delrin goes, I have been able to slacken off the tightness to create a friction setting but as regards whether doing so will wear down the material, I guess only time will tell.
Click to expand...

I doubt the delrin will wear out anytime soon...it's actually a very good wearing surface material for this type of application. It's just "spongy."

I'm very "not nice" to my gear sometimes, and I definitely do not clean tripod heads after use (unless it's seen saltwater or mud etc)
 
sk66 said:
None....
A ballhead on a monopod is just a mess. A single axis tilt head (monopod head) is no better than leaning the monopod over a bit. I just use an arca clamp as all of my lenses have arca plates permanently attached.
Click to expand...

whiteflyer said:
:plusone:

Ball head on a monopod is a nightmare, as said at the most all you need is a single axis head. I have one but never bother using it now, just the naked monopod.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-234-Monopod-Tilt-Head/dp/B000KHZ8AA
Click to expand...

I cannot disagree more, after using both I find a ball head essential.

My combination is.......
http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/three-section-monopod
http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/mini-ball-head-with-rc2
 
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