Markins Q-3 initial impressions

[btaki]

Build quality:
High quality machined aluminum finish, is a matte vs the glossy on the Arca Swiss, the ball is a glossy super smooth finish. The main knob is slightly smaller than that of the Arca Swiss.

The smaller Knob (panning) doesn't have a rubber grip and the metal groves slip between your fingers instead of helping you lock the base.

You can not lock the panning base, it'll slip, having tested 2 of these, something is defective in the design of the panning base lock. I'm not sure why but this is unacceptable in a $270 (Markins USA) Ballhead vs a $180 Benro J-3.

Quick Release:
Nothing but praise here, Big rubber grip, smooth locking, and a safety pin .
I tried some genuine Arca Swiss and Giotto's plates without any issues.

[tvphotog]

Build quality:


You can not lock the panning base, it'll slip, having tested 2 of these, something is defective in the design of the panning base lock. I'm not sure why but this is unacceptable in a $270 (Markins USA) Ballhead vs a $180 Benro J-3.


I've never had this problem with normal use, either with my 24-205 or 100-400 lens. This is an oft-mentioned criticism by one member here, when it occurred while carrying a body and heavy lens on the sticks over his shoulder.

Has anyone else found this issue worse with Markins than with any other high end ballhead?

[jhom]

Unless you are slinging a heavy setup over your shoulder, the pan lock on the Markins are more than ample to hold its position while shooting. As has been mention numerous times, the pan lock on the Markins is more like a brake. When I sling my heavy gear onto my shoulder, there will be some slippage at times. I do not find it a problem. In fact, when it does slip it centers the weight and makes carrying the gear more comfortable. The alternative is to have your whole ballhead loosen from the tripod stud.

When I use normal gear, 70-200 and smaller, I have never had a problem with the Markins pan lock. Also, if you are using longer and heavier gear 300 and longer, I prefer a Wimberley.

[NYPhotog]

Every Markins head that I have used has had a weak panning lock. And, far from being a "feature", as some claim, I consider it a basic design flaw.

[Lowner]

It's a design fault for sure, My M10 is exactly the same. But a fault I am happy to live with for the other benefits the head brings me.

[ben_r_]

It's a design fault for sure, My M10 is exactly the same. But a fault I am happy to live with for the other benefits the head brings me.
Agreed. Plus I have never had to lock down my panning base anymore than the Markins allows anyway.

[ed rader]

Every Markins head that I have used has had a weak panning lock. And, far from being a "feature", as some claim, I consider it a basic design flaw.


i'd have to agree....you should be able to lock the base plate. but it doesn't bother me.

ed rader

[JohnJ80]

I disagree. Locking the base as opposed to being a brake is not good. You can either let it slide as brake or torque your ballhead-tripod connection. Me? I'd rather have it slide slowly. I consider a total lock to be a design flaw. While I don't loctite my ballhead to the tripod, nor carry my tripod with a camera and lens mounted, the few times I did with my other ballhead (since sold), the ballhead came loose.

Anyhow, this is a Chevy vs Ford thing. It makes little to no difference in actual practice.

j.

[ed rader]

I disagree. Locking the base as opposed to being a brake is not good. You can either let it slide as brake or torque your ballhead-tripod connection. Me? I'd rather have it slide slowly. I consider a total lock to be a design flaw. While I don't loctite my ballhead to the tripod, nor carry my tripod with a camera and lens mounted, the few times I did with my other ballhead (since sold), the ballhead came loose.

Anyhow, this is a Chevy vs Ford thing. It makes little to no difference in actual practice.

j.


just because you could lock the head doesn't mean you have to.

some of you guys who've used other ballheads .....do the panning bases lock? is there another ballhead that does not have a locking panning base?

ed rader

[JohnJ80]

Why would you want to totally lock it so it's completely immovable - presuming you wanted to, of course?

J.

[ed rader]

Why would you want to totally lock it so it's completely immovable - presuming you wanted to, of course?

J.


well i seldom use the feature so i wouldn't mind locking it out. like i said in my earlier post it really doesn't effect me either way.

i'm wondering how the other ballheads are. if the others all lock the markins is either revolutionary or flawed .... take your pick :D.

as i recall the manfrotto 488 locked, and my ballhead never came loose.

ed rader

[goldboughtrue]

Glad to know I'm not the only one that found the "braking" pan knob annoying.

[btaki]

How dare you guys question the wisdom of whoever claims to have badly copied ,Cough, I mean badly modified the design after getting sued for stealing the original Arca Swiss design?

[btaki]

Why would you want to totally lock it so it's completely immovable - presuming you wanted to, of course?

J.
What do you mean completely immovable, What does locking mean?
Of all the ball head I have tried, Arca Swiss, Benro, Giotto's, Manfrotto, Really right stuff, none have this issue. Let me re-iterate, it's not a feature it's a design flaw, furthermore the knob that locks the panning base is by far the worst I've seen on any ballhead. It has no grip whatsoever, which is a real bummer because this ballhead is quite impressive for its size, weight and load capacity when compared to other ballheads out there.

[btaki]

Every Markins head that I have used has had a weak panning lock. And, far from being a "feature", as some claim, I consider it a basic design flaw.
Second that.

[btaki]

I consider a total lock to be a design flaw.
bw! Thanks for enlightening us on the design flaws throughout this industry, where only Markins was able to find a solution. On a less sarcastic note, you can easily lock the panning base to your liking on every other ballhead.

[MR do little]

So how many people here have had their ballhead move accidently (panning base) while locked ? (in acutal use not, slinging 1,5kg+ lenses over your shoulder)

Now if you claim thats happened to you, there is only one fault and thats your own. Why ?

Because the panning lock wont come lose, it will "slip" a little and only if its forced to do so, meaning that you will have to grab the lens/camera and twist it in either direction with force.

I have no problem with the panning lock knob, it allows me to lock the base more then enough for it to be secure when i use it.

The lock isnt designed to "lock down" this to prevent the head from coming lose it self.

Manfrotto ballhead like the 468MG locks down so hard that often you need a "plier" to losen it. Its very easy to overtighten the panning lock. Using heavier lenses while carrying the rig over your shoulder would losen the actual ballhead from the tripodbase instead of the ballhead slipping a little.

Nyphotog is like a broken record when it comes to Markinballheads.

Btaki get a ballhead that suit your needs.

[NYPhotog]

S
Nyphotog is like a broken record when it comes to Markinballheads.


As Btaki says, apparently Markins is the only manufacturer that has a solution for panning locks that actually work - design a head with a panning lock that slips and call it a "feature".

[btaki]

So how many people here have had their ballhead move accidently (panning base) while locked ? (in acutal use not, slinging 1,5kg+ lenses over your shoulder)

Now if you claim thats happened to you, there is only one fault and thats your own. Why ?

Because the panning lock wont come lose, it will "slip" a little and only if its forced to do so, meaning that you will have to grab the lens/camera and twist it in either direction with force.

I have no problem with the panning lock knob, it allows me to lock the base more then enough for it to be secure when i use it.

The lock isnt designed to "lock down" this to prevent the head from coming lose it self.

Manfrotto ballhead like the 468MG locks down so hard that often you need a "plier" to losen it. Its very easy to overtighten the panning lock. Using heavier lenses while carrying the rig over your shoulder would losen the actual ballhead from the tripodbase instead of the ballhead slipping a little.

Nyphotog is like a broken record when it comes to Markinballheads.

Btaki get a ballhead that suit your needs.
Who said I carry my tripod with my camera on top?
that's an accident waiting to happen...
again, no need to get all defensive when a design defect is recognized for what it is, that's what would alert the manufacturer to fix the problem in future revisions.

[MR do little]

Who said I carry my tripod with my camera on top?
that's an accident waiting to happen...
again, no need to get all defensive when a design defect is recognized for what it is, that's what would alert the manufacturer to fix the problem in future revisions.

I didnt said you did.

You do realize thats how many photogs transport their cameras when moving around on a sports event etc. ? (For those who do there is a locking collar.)

Im not defensive im stating my opinion just as you do.

You seem unable to understand that the manufacturer dont see it as a defect, its there by design.

Again how many times have you had your rig (panning base) move while using it ?

If this is a dealbreaker get a ballhead that fit your needs instead of waiting for Markins to change a "defect" they incorporated by design.

[MR do little]

As Btaki says, apparently Markins is the only manufacturer that has a solution for panning locks that actually work - design a head with a panning lock that slips and call it a "feature".

Its their solution/design, and obviously not the only one.

Iv yet to hear a single valid complaint how this would affect real world use when the tripod is on the ground with camera mounted.

[NYPhotog]

You do realize thats how many photogs transport their cameras when moving around on a sports event etc. ? (For those who do there is a locking collar.)


For the record, I always carry my rig with long lenses over the shoulder, as do most people I know. I have used RRS, A-S, Foba and Linholf heads and never had a problem with the ballhead loosening when the panning lock is tightened down properly. I have, however, had problems with my camera/lens swinging when carrying my gear mounted on a Markins M20 because of the weak panning lock. At least with my other heads I have the option of loosening the panning lock (to behave like the Markins) if I ever felt there was an issue.

[btaki]

I didnt said you did.

You do realize thats how many photogs transport their cameras when moving around on a sports event etc. ? (For those who do there is a locking collar.)

Im not defensive im stating my opinion just as you do.

You seem unable to understand that the manufacturer dont see it as a defect, its there by design.

Again how many times have you had your rig (panning base) move while using it ?

If this is a dealbreaker get a ballhead that fit your needs instead of waiting for Markins to change a "defect" they incorporated by design.
Who are these "photogs" that use the Q-3 at "sports event", if you're not talking about the Q-3 then it's irrelevant to our conversation.
I'm very competent mentally, mechanically, and design wise (i.e. engineering background) to be able to ascertain what is truth and what is pure BS, I could care less what the manufacturer claims in this instance. Going by what manufacturers claim about defects, Arca Swiss' locking ballhead due to "user error" would've never been fixed ...

I'm not waiting for Markins to do anything, this is a first impression thread, a full review will follow in a few days. I'm not going to go back and forth about this with you, if you have some beef with my observations, send me a pm.

[MR do little]

For the record

No need to go on the record. We know your stance.

[NYPhotog]

No need to go on the record. We know your stance.

Just making sure ;)

[MR do little]

Who are these "photogs" that use the Q-3 at "sports event", if you're not talking about the Q-3 then it's irrelevant to our conversation.
I'm very competent mentally, mechanically, and design wise (i.e. engineering background) to be able to ascertain what is truth and what is pure BS, I could care less what the manufacturer claims in this instance. Going by what manufacturers claim about defects, Arca Swiss' locking ballhead due to "user error" would've never been fixed ...

I'm not waiting for Markins to do anything, this is a first impression thread, a full review will follow in a few days. I'm not going to go back and forth about this with you, if you have some beef with my observations, send me a pm.

The panning lock is designed exactly the same on the M20,M10,Q3.

Good for you, im not sure what that has to do with the panning lock on the Q3 though.

Yea im sure you are, if you dont want to "belive" them by all means, then again why would you even bother with such a product from a company that put out bs in the first place ?

No beef with your observation, its your opinion and nothing more. You still havent answered my question ? How does it affect real world use ?

[NYPhotog]

Yea im sure you are, if you dont want to "belive" them by all means, then again why would you even bother with such a product from a company that put out bs in the first place ?

No beef with your observation, its your opinion and nothing more. You still havent answered my question ? How does it affect real world use ?

I think that I have explained the issues that I have with Markins heads, which I no longer use.

[Tsmith]

Um, my Q3 has worked flawlessly in my use. Wouldn't have anything else on my tripod setup.

[ben_r_]

Um, my Q3 has worked flawlessly in my use. Wouldn't have anything else on my tripod setup.
Same here.

[MR do little]

I think that I have explained the issues that I have with Markins heads, which I no longer use.

Well the question was not aimed at you. ;)

It was aimed at the guy..

Who said I carry my tripod with my camera on top?
that's an accident waiting to happen...

[20DNewbie]

Um, my Q3 has worked flawlessly in my use. Wouldn't have anything else on my tripod setup.

Same here.

+1
Not the Q3 but I've never noticed any slippage on my M20 when slinging gear over my shoulder.