Which RRS head for Gitzo tripod?

Folks,

I will be purchasing the Gitzo GT 2351 tripod for 5D MKIII and 70-200 II or some UWA/WA lenses. I wanted to get the Gitzo head, but was told they are heavy and not as good as some alternatives like Markins or RRS.

I see two options from RRS:
1. BH-40 LR II: Mid-sized ballhead w/ AS II
2. BH-40 PCLR: with Lever-Release Pan Clamp

There is a significant price difference. Does it mean I cannot do a Panorama with the first option?

Before you decide and go with RRS, be sure to consider Markins. I like their heads a lot more since they are similar in holding strength/stability, lighter in weight, smaller in size and cheaper. For the 2 series Gitzo you are considering the Markin Q10 would be the ticket. That combo is VERY tried and true and is a perfect all around support setup. Check the Tripod Support Sticky as there are a couple reviews on similar combos.

ben_r_ wrote in post #16392776
Before you decide and go with RRS, be sure to consider Markins. I like their heads a lot more since they are similar in holding strength/stability, lighter in weight, smaller in size and cheaper. For the 2 series Gitzo you are considering the Markin Q10 would be the ticket. That combo is VERY tried and true and is a perfect all around support setup. Check the Tripod Support Sticky as there are a couple reviews on similar combos.

Ben, I see that the price is exactly the same: 379 Markins vs 390 RRS.
So it must be something else...

Markins is better for the same price? What I do not like about this type of design (my Benro looks identical) is that it is not very comfortable for vertical camera positioning. In case of RRS, I see that there are more opportunities for this.

light_pilgrim wrote in post #16392813
Ben, I see that the price is exactly the same: 379 Markins vs 390 RRS.
So it must be something else...

Markins is better for the same price? What I do not like about this type of design (my Benro looks identical) is that it is not very comfortable for vertical camera positioning. In case of RRS, I see that there are more opportunities for this.

No, thats correct, its just that the BH-40 isnt even NEAR the same class of ballhead as the Q10. Compare the load capacities of the two... The RRS is EXTREMELY overpriced IMO and wont be even close to as stable as the Q10.

And why wouldnt the Markins be the same for vertical positioning? You should be using an L plate on your body and therefore both ballheads would stay in the same spot with either orientation.

ben_r_ wrote in post #16393373
No, thats correct, its just that the BH-40 isnt even NEAR the same class of ballhead as the Q10. Compare the load capacities of the two... The RRS is EXTREMELY overpriced IMO and wont be even close to as stable as the Q10.

And why wouldnt the Markins be the same for vertical positioning? You should be using an L plate on your body and therefore both ballheads would stay in the same spot with either orientation.

Thanks, Ben. Leaning towards Q10 thanks to your suggestion. I contacted them and they said that I also need 2 plates on top - one for 5D MKIII and another for 70-200 II. Is that correct?

If I want to do vertical panoramas, what else is needed? Is this head good or I need a different one?

light_pilgrim wrote in post #16393394
Thanks, Ben. Leaning towards Q10 thanks to your suggestion. I contacted them and they said that I also need 2 plates on top - one for 5D MKIII and another for 70-200 II. Is that correct?

If I want to do vertical panoramas, what else is needed? Is this head good or I need a different one?

So here is where it gets interesting. While I love and always recommend Markins ballheads, I buy everything else RRS. Including their lever clamps. So on my two Markins heads I have RRS Lever clamps. Now, you can stick with the Markins Lever clamp that it comes with, or you can order the Q10NQS that comes with no clamp, or you can sell the Markins clamp and use the money to buy an RRS. Ill leave that up to you as either way you are good to go. BUT I would recommend getting the L Plate for your camera from RRS and the lens plate for the 70-200 from RRS as well. Dont worry the RRS gear IS compatible with the Markins Lever Clamp, I just prefer the RRS one and like having all the same brand for as much as possible. That being said if you are serious about doing single row panos then do yourself a favor and get the RRS pano kit: LINKThere really isnt anything as nice. No matter what kit you do youll need to have a nodal slide to keep perspective correct per lens so that makes the RRS kit nice because it comes with one and it works into your already existing RRS support gear. Here is all their pano gear: LINK and have a look at their videos: LINK

Ben, good discussion and thanks for the help. Just thinking.....if everything else is RRS, will it not make sense to get the RRS head? It is just a plate, so how big of a difference it really makes, I mean the RRS vs Markins? Ballnead, I understand....but the Plate? Thanks for more info

light_pilgrim wrote in post #16392714
1. BH-40 LR II: Mid-sized ballhead w/ AS II

Considering the BH-40 with LRII is the same price as the Markins Q10, I would go with the RRS. 100lbs load rating is just marketing, few setups in the world weigh that much and RRS is purposely conservative with their load ratings (like the TQC-14 holding the owner of RRS as he swings from the apex, it has a 25lb load rating). There are many more things to consider than load ratings like ergonomics, feel and operation of the main locking knob, choice and variety of clamps (very important) and overwhelming customer satisfaction to name a few. I have the BH-55 and BH-40 and love them both equally.

With the 70-200, yes you will want to get an arca-swiss style plate for the tripod collar, as the lens balances around that point. It would not be a good idea to mount the camera body to the ball-head with that lens attached, you want to mount the lens with tripod collar and plate on the ball-head. The RRS plate for the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II is the L84 plate.

Regarding panoramas, you can do panoramas with these heads, provided the subject is far away, but for real panoramas in order to avoid parallax issues you will want to use a nodal rail and locate the no-parallax-point of the lens (and use the panning clamp, not the panning base of the ball-head), multi-row panoramas will require even more equipment (and measuring).

If everything else is RRS, then that's another good reason to go with the RRS ball-head as well.

The idea behind going with a higher load capacity than you need (100lbs vs 25lbs) is increased stability and less droop. But if you want to go all RRS go for it. Im just speaking from hangin 'round these parts for many years and from the experience I have gained from reading others thoughts and comments combined with my own.

If you only want to do single row panoramas occasionally, you can level the tripod legs in a couple of minutes with a bubble level, and then use the panning base of the ballhead. I prefer to use a nodal rail to maintain maximum sharpness, rather than have the software correct for poor technique.

When I tested them both, I found the M10 to be slightly sturdier with its slightly larger diameter ballhead than the BH40, though not a huge difference. More important is good technique.

I understand completely. One could simply prefer the knob on the Markins, and that would be more than enough justification to go that route. Or the reassurance of having a slightly larger ball diameter (44mm vs 40), all-black colored etc, those preferences should definitely factor in choosing a head.

Personally I have experienced no droop or sag with the BH-40 using a 1D4 and 70-200 II. Droop is definitely one of the most annoying aspects of a ball-head, but I haven't experienced it with the RRS heads.

Here we go again Was almost decided to go for Markins...............

Manufacturer stated load capacities are bunk. If you like the RRS, get the RRS - you won't be disappointed and it's more ball head than you probably need (that's a good thing). If you like the Markins (and many do - you can't create a thread around these parts without the usual suspects bringing it up. On PhotoTalk, for instance, their vocal minority is big on Photoclam and Arca-Swiss and spam every thread regardless of advice asked.) But, nearly universally, everyone who invests in RRS are pleased as punch. And as a bonus, if you keep it in good condition you can resell it for dang near what you paid for it. (No joke, a TQC-14 just went for $850 plus $15 dollars shipping, USED(!) on eBay. That seller lost literally $0.00 if they bought new. That's unheard of anywhere else, even in our demand driven hobby.)

Bottom line, get what you want and be happy. I'd wager it will not be hard to be happy with whichever way you decide.

I've had a lot of ballheads, wanted that that didn't dip after framing the shot. I'd buy them, try it and if it moved after framing the shot it would go on Ebay. This included two Markins, I think the numbers were Q10 and Q20, they both landed on Ebay. The only head that didn't end on Ebay is my RRS BH-55, I'm still using it. It has the lever clamp.

Rick, which ballheads have you tested?