Ballhead suggestions?

AshleyC

AshleyC

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,956
Name
...
Edit My Images
No
I need a ballhead with a top plate that has open ends. I have an L-Plate on my camera that lets me switch between portrait and landscape but it needs an open sided top plate to slot into.

I have a redsnapper ballhead at the moment which allows this but it has a screw lock, id prefer one with a trigger lock as its a lot faster to switch around.

Can anyone suggest something? I had a look at the manfrotto's but they all seem to have a small lip on the sides that stops the plate from sliding in. It has to be quite sturdy as a D800 + Lens is quite lumpy and a smaller head wont keep it stable.
 
RedSnapper RSH-12 has an Arca-Swiss type quick-release plate. It's as close to a universal QR system as there is in tripod heads, used by most of the higher end brands. Nothing else will fit your L-bracket.

This is good news, less good are the lever-lock clamps IMHO. Try before you buy. They attempt to solve a non-existant problem and introduce several more issues in doing so.

If you get on with the RS head, cheapest/easiest way is to swap the screw-clamp for a lever-lock. They're not easy to remove though, Loctite'd on, maybe get RS do it. Have a look at clamps by SunwayFoto from CameraGear UK http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Camera-Gea...sid=4097057&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=2 Or get one of their heads with a lever-lock clamp already on. SunwayFoto is very high quality.
 
Last edited:
nice one, thanks for the link :) Their dlc-50 seems to fit the bill. What are the issues with trigger releases? Do they just work loose eventually or something?
 
Last edited:
essexash said:
nice one, thanks for the link :) Their dlc-50 seems to fit the bill. What are the issues with trigger releases? Do they just work loose eventually or something?
Click to expand...

They really only work with plates that are the exact correct size, while the screw-type clamps will fit a much wider range of sizes. I have the lever clamp on my RRS MH-01 monopod head and it works perfectly with my Kirk plates. But I've got a few cheap plates from Ebay that work fine with all of my screw clamps but are slightly too small for the RRS lever clamp and just fall off.
 
essexash said:
nice one, thanks for the link :) Their dlc-50 seems to fit the bill. What are the issues with trigger releases? Do they just work loose eventually or something?
Click to expand...

As Frank says. They sound great, just push the lever over and they're locked. Except...

Arca-type plates vary, only tiny fractions of a mm, but that's enough. I have five different brands, and they're all different, including a couple of the same brand. Which means, if they're not exactly the same, you have to fiddle with the fine adjustment control each time. This is tedious and very annoying, though some lever-clamps, like the SunwayFoto and Acratech (prolly some others) have an easy adjustment screw on the opposite side.

The other thing is, they generally need two hands to release, one to hold the thing and another to release the safety catch. This is another PITA, and it's sometimes hard not to jog the camera at the same time.

And they're more expensive, but what's the point? Nothing could be easier than a simple one-handed screw-clamp! I hate those lever things. I was speaking to a major retailer last week and they're now warning customers about them, mainly re the plate/size issue, as they're getting so many returned from frustrated customers.
 
I would agree with Hoppy, avoid the lever lock units, nothing beats the simpler screw thread and thumbscrew.
 
RRS ballhead is what i use and very happy with it [BH-55], but i also have Markins Q3T for travel with RRS clamp, and all cameras are with RRS L-plates except those without one available.
 
Martyn... said:
I would agree with Hoppy, avoid the lever lock units, nothing beats the simpler screw thread and thumbscrew.
Click to expand...

Speed. Unscrewing and screwing back up is annoying. I had a manfrotto one for a few days before i took it back and the safety catch wasnt annoying, i could open both with the index finger. I can see your point about size tolerances so will have to see how it goes. Ive got a kirk l-plate rather than some chinese knock off so fingers crossed it fits well, Ive still got the screw plate to fall back on if this doesnt work.

Looking at the screen shots of the plate on the ebay site it suggests that the lever springs open both sides, so you might tighten it up with the screw and pop both sides with the lever, this would allow a little leeway with size issues. Could be wrong though, cant tell till it turns up.
 
Last edited:
essexash said:
Speed. Unscrewing and screwing back up is annoying. I had a manfrotto one for a few days before i took it back and the safety catch wasnt annoying, i could open both with the index finger. I can see your point about size tolerances so will have to see how it goes. Ive got a kirk l-plate rather than some chinese knock off so fingers crossed it fits well, Ive still got the screw plate to fall back on if this doesnt work.
Click to expand...

The QR lever on the Arca Swiss one I have is adjustable to accommodate the tolerance in plate manufacture, I have all Kirk plates, and they all differ slightly, nothing major, more an inconvenience when you switch lenses and have to carry out a micro adjustment on the lever, but not the end of the world :thumbs:
 
Daryl said:
Pistol grips are the best. turn fast as you do. Quick release to remove camera.

would use nothing else. can not even think why a tog would want to faff about with screw tight and screw tight there...

pistol grips are tops.
Click to expand...
In your opinion and for what you do, maybe. I can think of many applications when pistol grips are far from the best.
 
I have an Acratech GV2 head which is superb - expensive but beautifully made.

So good that, having stupidly sold one, I had to go and buy another. Works perfectly with RRS/Kirk plates
 
At 300 quid I would expect it to be good! And keep my bacon sarnies warm.
 
I have a Feisol cb-70 again a little expensive but camera porn....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top