Giotto 1001-652 Ball head

I am looking to replace my Studioball tripod head (too heavy). I am looking at the Giotto 1001-652 Tripod head. All the reviews seem favorable, but I wanted some advice from the forum. I will be shooting with a Canon 7D and a 300 2.8 lens with a teleconverter (10.5 lbs), and I wondered if this would be a good ball head.

Thanks

Dave

Generally the Gitzo heads are not looked on as the best option for the money. Most, including myself would much more highly recommend a Markins, Really Right Stuff, or Arca-Swiss head. Also the Gitzo quick release plates are proprietary which is very no good.

EDIT: And Im retarded, I thought the thread title said Gitzo and not Giotto. I apologize, sometimes I read things to fast around here. I really dont know anything about Giotto heads, but my statement about Markins, RRS and Arca-Swiss still stands.

I had a Giotto's head once a long time ago. Different model, but pretty much the same size/weight class. While it was far from being junk, I just didn't like it that much. Ball always moved on me when I tightened it and it just never seemed to be smooth or strong enough, even for a lens like a 70-200/2.8.

While I know a good head like an Arca-Swiss can cost a lot, I would think that for your 300/2.8 something like a Z1 would be a lot more appropriate than the Giotto's. Lot of weight/wind sail/money on the top of that tripod.

ETA: Just noticed a couple things -

1 - A teleconverter - 1.4 to 2X a 300mm lens needs just that much more stable a platform
2 - The weight - your rig is just barely under the weight rating of that Giottos. I'd think you really want something a LOT more robust than that head.

I have been looking at Giottos ball heads. I don't know anything about the 1001 but have studied the 1300. I had about decided on a Giottos MH1300-657 ($166 at B&H camera). I looked at and handled this ball head at a good camera shop. All the salespersons in this particular shop are part-time professionals. The one waiting on me owned 2 Giotos ball heads and did not use anything else. He mounted it on a Manfrotto tripod and placed a Nikon D7000 on the ball head with a 70-300 mm zoom and then let me play with it. It worked flawlessly, had no creep, and locked securely. But then he showed me the Sirui K40x (same price). He said if he was buying today he would buy it. I also tried it out and it actually seemed to work better when released enough to reset it. He says they just started carrying this Sirui and it is designed by a Canadian firm and made in China under contract. He went on to say that they have approximately copied the Arca (similar to the South Korean Markins at a much higher price). If you want a smaller head try the Giottos MH1301-656 for $145 or the Sirui K20X at $120. I know both of these are above the price you quoted but you might be a lot happier with a head that you know will be stable.

So the Arca Swiss is similar to the Markins?

RandyS wrote in post #13634916
So the Arca Swiss is similar to the Markins?

Markins are one company making clamps and release plates of the generic "Arca-Swiss" style, originated by the company Arca-Swiss. Other companies making clamps/plates to this style include Really Right Stuff, Adorama Flashpoint (in part), PhotoClam, Wimberly, Jobu . . . There are often slight differences in plate widths, though with a screw-type clamp that really doesn't matter. If you opt for one of the (not common) lever-type clamps, however, you want to stick to plates from a single maker.