Ballhead recommendations for 70-200 2.8IS

[Headshotzx]

Hey guys! My dad just blessed me with a 70-200 2.8IS lens a few days ago. It's awesome and all, but I believe my current china-made gitzo-copy ballhead is definitely not sturdy enough to support it.

So here I am, looking for a ballhead. I'm completely confused with all the ballheads out there, and require some help.

What I want:
Accepts arca-swiss plates (am planning to get an L bracket/plate for my 400D+grip and future cameras)
Can support a 4kg load
No movement when locked
Does not turn the ballhead much when locked (meaning when I compose the shot and I lock it, I don't want my viewfinder to move too much)

Price is of a concern of course, plus I have no budget at the moment. Give me a figure and a model and I'll work towards that by saving my allowance money.

No manfrotto ballheads please.

Cheers,
Zexun

[northfaceboy]

i would suggest you have a look at the RRS BH40 ballhead... it is very nice. but it is pricey... it is worth the price tho..

[argyle]

Markins M-10 (includes an A-S screw clamp) for $340 USD or the RRS BH-40 (the BH-40 Pro II includes a screw clamp for $350 USD, or the BH-40 LR II which includes the much preferred lever clamp, about $390 USD). I'm partial to the Markins, but either of these heads would be all that you'd need for a very long time...I paired an RRS lever clamp with the Markins M-10.

[Lowner]

Another vote for the M10 and RRS lever clamp.

[Headshotzx]

Hm, why not the markins q3? it's cheaper :mrgreen: Thanks for the replies so far.

[jhom]

The Q3 is an excellent ballhead for the lens. However, if you are planning on larger lenses in the future the M10 will give you more potential.

[TaDa]

I've actually seen a decent amount of Arca B1 heads going used on FM and here, since people are upgrading to the Z1. I snagged one and it's an amazing ball head

[Mark]

if you want to stay cheapish go 488 with no rc plate and buy a RRS clamp for it, should do the job nicely...

[ooo]

If you take the 488 base and a RRS clamp, how much weight would the ballhead support or would it still be the same? If that's the case why get an RSS clamp / plate.

[Mark]

If you take the 488 base and a RRS clamp, how much weight would the ballhead support or would it still be the same? If that's the case why get an RSS clamp / plate.

It would be the same, but would allow you to buy into the RRS plates/brackets etc.. until you can afford a Gitzo and top end ball head

I am currently using the RC2 system and it sucks, I just don't use a tripod enough to invest in the proper stuff...

my 190xprob and 488rc2 hold my 70-200 and 1d3 perfectly well and stable from the collar, while allowing me to keep it loose enough to move around easy, will even hold it all from the body, but if I do that it looses the ability to move around easy..
The RC2 is decent if the tripod is just for occasional night/hdr shot, but if you use it alot buy the good stuff (gitzo and RRS/Acra Swiss)
But if you want to stay cheap get the 488 and a RRS clamp until you can afford the A-S or RRS heads...

[Jon]

Weight limit would be essentially the same (modulo the difference in weight between a Manfrotto RC2 and a RRS QR mechanism). But Manfrotto's L plates are kludgey so OP wants to get an A-S L plate not RC2.

[Headshotzx]

Hmm, okay so here's my plan. I bought the current tripod / ballhead cheap from this local online store. Since I've been helping him out a lot, he's allowed me to get a Benro KS-0 tripod head (8kg weight limit, friction control etc) for cheap. I'm thinking S$60 (cost price- about US$40) wouldn't hurt to try. If it still can't stand my 70-200, it would still be better for my other lenses (compared to the one I have now). So that settles my ballhead problem for the near future. The KS-0 has is A-S compatible, so I can stock up on A-S plates immediately (including the L plates from RRS/kirk).

However, for the good stuff, I've been reading a lot of reviews lately. It seems like the A-S Z1 is really good, but I've been hearing lots of bad rep about some sort of stem failure. Then there's the Q3 which looks very tempting for the price-- small, light, but high load weightage. The M10 is the bigger brother, and I don't see why I would need that (70-200 will be my heaviest for a long time). Haven't seen many reviews on the BH-40 from RRS and the Kirk ones.

I'm not into manfrottos because I don't like what I'm missing-- that with all the friction control and stuff. For the price of the manfrotto, I won't complain, but no, I don't want to spend money on mf heads.

[EbbeJ]

Look for a Gitzo GH2780QR. www.gitzo.com/Jahia/site/gitzo/pid/17214

Kind regards,

Ebbe

[4x4rock]

The Q3 will handle all your gears without any problem. I had a 1D+70-200 on it and it was stable and fine. You'll be happy with it.
You don't need to change the QR clamp to RRS either. The one that comes with it is a very good one.

[argyle]

Hmm, okay so here's my plan. I bought the current tripod / ballhead cheap from this local online store. Since I've been helping him out a lot, he's allowed me to get a Benro KS-0 tripod head (8kg weight limit, friction control etc) for cheap. I'm thinking S$60 (cost price- about US$40) wouldn't hurt to try. If it still can't stand my 70-200, it would still be better for my other lenses (compared to the one I have now). So that settles my ballhead problem for the near future. The KS-0 has is A-S compatible, so I can stock up on A-S plates immediately (including the L plates from RRS/kirk).

However, for the good stuff, I've been reading a lot of reviews lately. It seems like the A-S Z1 is really good, but I've been hearing lots of bad rep about some sort of stem failure. Then there's the Q3 which looks very tempting for the price-- small, light, but high load weightage. The M10 is the bigger brother, and I don't see why I would need that (70-200 will be my heaviest for a long time). Haven't seen many reviews on the BH-40 from RRS and the Kirk ones.

I'm not into manfrottos because I don't like what I'm missing-- that with all the friction control and stuff. For the price of the manfrotto, I won't complain, but no, I don't want to spend money on mf heads.

Before you buy a Benro, check this link:

Benro Ballhead (http://www.tomwebsterphoto.com/Essays/Benro/benroks2.htm)

[4x4rock]

Before you buy a Benro, check this link:

Benro Ballhead (http://www.tomwebsterphoto.com/Essays/Benro/benroks2.htm)

If you were going to post that link, you should also include the teardown link from one of POTN member too :rolleyes:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=284431&highlight=teardown

Not to disrepect Tom Weber but I found his report is pretty worthless. The test was at least 3 years old and the ballhead was found to be different than the one squiress tested. They could improve over the years.

There are many happy Benro users from other forums as well.

They don't have the reputation here but seeing that link posted each time benro name mentioned is pretty tiring.

I was sure when Markins started out, alot of people knocked on them as well (and still do).

[Headshotzx]

If you were going to post that link, you should also include the teardown link from one of POTN member too :rolleyes:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=284431&highlight=teardown

Not to disrepect Tom Weber but I found his report is pretty worthless. The test was at least 3 years old and the ballhead was found to be different than the one squiress tested. They could improve over the years.

There are many happy Benro users from other forums as well.

They don't have the reputation here but seeing that link posted each time benro name mentioned is pretty tiring.

I was sure when Markins started out, alot of people knocked on them as well (and still do).

Hey that review didn't seem so bad after all. I'll be able to check the build quality of the head

I'm very tempted by the Marking Q3 now. Sheesh, you guys really know how to make people spend money :p

[Headshotzx]

Is the RRS website down? I want to check the pricing for their L plate for 400D gripped, but it's not working for me.

[funhouse69]

There are a lot of good choices out there... I couldn't agree more with you on going with Arca-Swiss Plates, they are a standard that is used by a lot of the top companies. Unfortunately a lot of those products tend to be a little on the pricey side.

You really can't go wrong with Kirk, Really Right Stuff or Markins. These are the ones that I have personal experience with. I am sure that there are others that are just as good.

I would take a look at maybe a Kirk BH-3 this is a very high quality ball head that locks down solid. You can occasionally find one used or even a blemished one on e-bay directly from Kirk. If they ever come back with the live cash back this might be a perfect option. I got one off Craig's List for $200 and see them on e-bay once in a while.

Also I have a combination of Kirk and RRS Plates again you can't go wrong with either company. I have the Kirk Lens plate for my 70-200 f/2.8L and it is great. It is custom fit and no movement at all. I also have the custom body plate (don't use the generic ones if you don't have to as you will get movement) and just picked up a used RRS L Plate for my 40D from a fell POTN Member for a really good price. Again keep an eye out on e-bay and in the Marketplace here and you can get some good deals.

Unfortunately these are not cheap accessories but they are some of if not the best out there.

Hope this helps.

[Headshotzx]

There are a lot of good choices out there... I couldn't agree more with you on going with Arca-Swiss Plates, they are a standard that is used by a lot of the top companies. Unfortunately a lot of those products tend to be a little on the pricey side.

You really can't go wrong with Kirk, Really Right Stuff or Markins. These are the ones that I have personal experience with. I am sure that there are others that are just as good.

I would take a look at maybe a Kirk BH-3 this is a very high quality ball head that locks down solid. You can occasionally find one used or even a blemished one on e-bay directly from Kirk. If they ever come back with the live cash back this might be a perfect option. I got one off Craig's List for $200 and see them on e-bay once in a while.

Also I have a combination of Kirk and RRS Plates again you can't go wrong with either company. I have the Kirk Lens plate for my 70-200 f/2.8L and it is great. It is custom fit and no movement at all. I also have the custom body plate (don't use the generic ones if you don't have to as you will get movement) and just picked up a used RRS L Plate for my 40D from a fell POTN Member for a really good price. Again keep an eye out on e-bay and in the Marketplace here and you can get some good deals.

Unfortunately these are not cheap accessories but they are some of if not the best out there.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply. I went over to my local camera store today and took a look at their markins Q3 and it was awesome. Small, yet study enough to support my load.

Then one person came in with a D3 + Sigma 120-300 2.8, and put it on the Markins Q3. It was able to support the load very well, and he got the sweet spot for the friction control straight away. I was certain it'd be great BH for me. I am looking in that direction now.

My local camera store sells wimberley and markins lens plates, so I'll get one from either brand for my 70-200 2.8IS. For the body, i'll save up for an RRS L plate (depends if I am going to upgrade my body anytime soon).

Thank you all for the very informative discussion!

Cheers,
Zexun

[ATI058]

Another vote for the M10 and RRS lever clamp.


Ditto . . . an excellent combination with Gitzo legs ;)

[tvphotog]

Markins M10.