Recommend me a Head please!

Jesus Quintana

Jesus Quintana

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I've just treated myself to a Gitzo 5532LS so would like to order a head for it. I do want to buy once so I'm looking for longevity. For me, buying once doesn't mean buying the most expensive stuff, but gear which is very well built and does what it is supposed to. I'm looking at stuff around the £300 mark but I don't have a clue. I don't want to waste my money so I'm asking here!

I know very, very little about heads I'm afraid. I think I want a ball head. I think I want QR. I've looked at RRS and Gitzo but I'm fully open to suggestions. My cameras are D810 with the odd chance of a D5 or D750 being stuck on there. Lens will most likely be a Sigma 20mm ART as I'd like to give landscape a go. My Nikon 24-70 will have to do until I decide on a lens for landscape.

Fire away!
 
Diving Pete said:
I use one of these when the wim's not plugged in..

Arca-Swiss Monoball B1 Ball Head Review - The Digital Picture

But there are lots of very good quality heads for that money..
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Arca-Swiss Z1 is the newer version of that, and it's really excellent - the King of ball heads TBH. I use an Arca-Swiss P0 that I actually prefer for various reasons (weight, and operating mechanism mainly) though it works best with an L-bracket (you should really have one of those too). BTW, I don't like Arca-Swiss's own brand clamps much, and I'm not alone in changing them.

Other heads I really like include the underrated Manfrotto 468 Hydrostatic with Arca-Swiss type clamp (excellent friction control and massive strength) and the beautiful Acratech, though it's prone to slight positioning shift on lock-down. The list goes on - Feisol 40D, Markins Q3, Manfrotto 057, Sunwayfoto DB44, and the new Gitzo GH3382. I've not been able to test Really Right Stuff - they don't seem interested in marketing outside the US but given the very high cost after shipping and duty/VAT, I'd pass.
 
Cagey75 said:
Just look for one that can hold a 6-7kg load and you're good. Something like This would do the job maybe.
Click to expand...

Big, heavy, and not a ball head. Load ratings are a poor guide to anything meaningful - most manufacturers simply make them up (fact!).
 
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Thank you all for the suggestions so far, I appreciate it. I'm just Googling the models posted above. Cheers.

*Edit. I'm off to Vegas in a couple of weeks hence me putting RRS on my list. Anyway, looking at the above, thanks.
 
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If you like the look of Markins be sure to check out Photoclam, allegedly made in the same factory.

Who knows, but I've had both and in every respect there's nothing between them except price.
 
I have the RRS BH-55 and it's nothing short of a work of art. It's attached to my Gitzo 5542LS and I will use it with my D4s/D800, together with everything from 15-30, all the way up to my 600mm f/4 (in the side rotation). Bear in mind, it's heavy. If you're shooting landscapes, you won't want to lug all that kit miles and miles in to the mountains.

I als have the Acratech GV2 on a 3342 and it's normally what I'd take for landscapes. Tight, convenient and nearly 2kg lighter than the 5542 and BH-55.
 
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Before you fix on the idea of a ball head, consider a geared one like the Manfrotto 410. Easy to do rough aiming using the thread/gear decoupler knobs and then quick to get pinpoint accuracy with the gears. In real life, if pinpoint accuracy is important, it's just as quick as faffing with a ball head and making several adjustments to allow for the settling. IIRC someone makes an Arca-Swiss converter for the 410 - Hoppy can advise on that!
 
Phiggys said:
Have to say I'm very impressed with the quality of the one I got from Redsnapper via this group superb quality and no problem with pro Nikon body with 300mm f2.8 or my 500mm prime.
But I do tend to use a a gimbal with my 800mm prime

http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RSH-12_Ball_head.html#nogo
Click to expand...

Redsnapper RSH-12 is unbeatable value. Nothing to touch it for £60, with performance well on par with heads costing twice as much. Very nice mechanical action, smooth and precise. Though I didn't rate it quite strong enough for big and heavy telephotos, Phiggys seems to be happy enough and it's certainly more than adequate for normal stuff.


Nod said:
Before you fix on the idea of a ball head, consider a geared one like the Manfrotto 410. Easy to do rough aiming using the thread/gear decoupler knobs and then quick to get pinpoint accuracy with the gears. In real life, if pinpoint accuracy is important, it's just as quick as faffing with a ball head and making several adjustments to allow for the settling. IIRC someone makes an Arca-Swiss converter for the 410 - Hoppy can advise on that!
Click to expand...

Can't say I agree. Geared heads are great for precise positioning, but the Manfrottos (I've owned both the 410 and 405) are certainly not fast to use compared to a good ball head, decoupler or not! And they're very heavy.

As Nod says, they're easy to convert to Arca-Swiss type quick release. You can buy custom adaptors (Hejnar) but the quick and dirty route is basically the same and way cheaper - just buy an Arca-Swiss clamp off Amazon/ebay for a tenner (longer handle version for preference) and screw it onto the Manfrotto plate.
 
HoppyUK said:
Big, heavy, and not a ball head. Load ratings are a poor guide to anything meaningful - most manufacturers simply make them up (fact!).
Click to expand...


I read the first post and made a suggestion on the info actually given ;) OP didn't mention anything about wanting a light-weight head or a ball head either. As for load ratings, this is why I always look at models that claim about 2KG more than I need. It's rare anyone will be using more than 6KG. OP says he will mostly be using wide angle lenses for landscape. For now he's using the 24-70 with the D810, that's less than 4KG combined. Most decent heads that claim anything above 6KG will have no trouble with that. I use this one here: http://photogear.co.nz/giottos-mh-5001-3-way-pan-tilt-head.html Which claims 6KG, I've used the D800E with a 300mm F4 lens on there and it's not budged.
 
HoppyUK said:
Can't say I agree. Geared heads are great for precise positioning, but the Manfrottos (I've owned both the 410 and 405) are certainly not fast to use compared to a good ball head, decoupler or not! And they're very heavy.
Click to expand...

At the moment we don't know which of precise positioning, weight and speed of use the OP wants, ball heads have been recommended in the main but that's just because that's what the OP mentioned. If its speed and weight that are preferred then yes a ball head would be preferable, but if precise positioning is the priority then geared heads are far superior in my experience.
 
Jesus Quintana said:
I've just treated myself to a Gitzo 5532LS so would like to order a head for it. I do want to buy once so I'm looking for longevity. For me, buying once doesn't mean buying the most expensive stuff, but gear which is very well built and does what it is supposed to. I'm looking at stuff around the £300 mark but I don't have a clue. I don't want to waste my money so I'm asking here!

I know very, very little about heads I'm afraid. I think I want a ball head. I think I want QR. I've looked at RRS and Gitzo but I'm fully open to suggestions. My cameras are D810 with the odd chance of a D5 or D750 being stuck on there. Lens will most likely be a Sigma 20mm ART as I'd like to give landscape a go. My Nikon 24-70 will have to do until I decide on a lens for landscape.

Fire away!
Click to expand...
lol when i first saw the title I thought i was in the wrong forum lol
 
I'm selling a Sirui K30x which is well under budget but might suit your needs. Has 30kg load capacity apparently.
 
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Evening all. I've decided on a ball head. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. It's not easy trying to take on everyone's thoughts and experiences but these have helped. I've changed my mind about six times if that's any consolation!

I've decided on the Arca Swiss P0 flip lock thingamajig https://www.robertwhite.co.uk/arca-...-socket-p0-with-quickset-fliplock-device.html and I'm going to give these guys a go. I decided on a flip lock as I really don't like a knob which I may mistake for ball movement instead of camera release!!! Quite unlikely I know...but stranger things have happened. I've watched video after video on Youtube and I do like the idea of this head.

Thanks again
 
Jesus Quintana said:
Evening all. I've decided on a ball head. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. It's not easy trying to take on everyone's thoughts and experiences but these have helped. I've changed my mind about six times if that's any consolation!

I've decided on the Arca Swiss P0 flip lock thingamajig https://www.robertwhite.co.uk/arca-...-socket-p0-with-quickset-fliplock-device.html and I'm going to give these guys a go. I decided on a flip lock as I really don't like a knob which I may mistake for ball movement instead of camera release!!! Quite unlikely I know...but stranger things have happened. I've watched video after video on Youtube and I do like the idea of this head.

Thanks again
Click to expand...

Sweet :thumbs:

FWIW, I don't care for lever-locks, of any brand. My preference is for a simple screw knob, preferably with a fast thread like Kirk, Acratech and actually quite a few others that don't even bother to mention this very handy feature! And of course with lever-locks there is the potential problem of QR plates not locking exactly right if you mix brands.

But you might just love it, many people do, but the point of this post is really to say that it's actually quite an easy job to remove Arca-Swiss clamps and swap them for something different, despite what you might read. All it needs is heat applied carefully to the bolt (and a little courage ;)). The clamp on my A-S P0 is this excellent quality cheapy that's fits rather well, and has a fast thread knob too https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andoer-Rel...d=1477334445&sr=1-5&keywords=arca+swiss+clamp
 
HoppyUK said:
Sweet (y)

FWIW, I don't care for lever-locks, of any brand. My preference is for a simple screw knob, preferably with a fast thread like Kirk, Acratech and actually quite a few others that don't even bother to mention this very handy feature! And of course with lever-locks there is the potential problem of QR plates not locking exactly right if you mix brands.

But you might just love it, many people do, but the point of this post is really to say that it's actually quite an easy job to remove Arca-Swiss clamps and swap them for something different, despite what you might read. All it needs is heat applied carefully to the bolt (and a little courage ;)). The clamp on my A-S P0 is this excellent quality cheapy that's fits rather well, and has a fast thread knob too https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andoer-Rel...d=1477334445&sr=1-5&keywords=arca+swiss+clamp
Click to expand...

I get the lever lock thing. Marmite.

As for plates, I'm planning on buying gen Arca plates. I partly do wish they advertised fast threads....that was one of the other reasons I went for a lever. Oh well...bought now so we will have to see! Gitzo arriving tomorrow along with a genuine MB-D12. I added a Little stopper and a couple of other bits to my order tonight...better ease off otherwise I'll have no money for Vegas.
 
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