Quick Change System Recommendation Needed

If one has this ball head:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ofessional_ft_s​eries.html

What quick change system would you recommend? I would like to stick with an Acra style system.

Thanks.

Do you want a lever or screw clamp?

Replace the whole head with a RRS BH-55 LR. Bigger and more solid ball head. If you don't want to go that far, at least get an Arca-Swiss style clamp. My preferences are for the RRS lever-release clamps.

v35skyline wrote in post #17032305
Do you want a lever or screw clamp?

I prefer the screw clamps.

Thanks.

Jon wrote in post #17032427
Replace the whole head with a RRS BH-55 LR. Bigger and more solid ball head. If you don't want to go that far, at least get an Arca-Swiss style clamp. My preferences are for the RRS lever-release clamps.

Have you used the FLM ball head that I linked to?

Thanks.

I have the Flashpoint equivalent; it's too small for your 150-500.

I just realized I linked to the wrong ball head in my first post to this thread. I fixed the link.

I'd take that 77 lb. capacity with a very large grain of salt. "Load capacity" is a very subjective measure. The RRS I linked to has a larger ball (more surface to "grip" when locking it down, thus a more solid hold) and isn't as high (less leverage available to introduce wiggles). It's also heavier, an indication of a more solid construction.

Jon wrote in post #17034344
I'd take that 77 lb. capacity with a very large grain of salt. "Load capacity" is a very subjective measure. The RRS I linked to has a larger ball (more surface to "grip" when locking it down, thus a more solid hold) and isn't as high (less leverage available to introduce wiggles). It's also heavier, an indication of a more solid construction.

Thank you very much for your opinion. I'll update this thread once I've got some "stick time" on the ball head. Hopefully I haven't made a mistake.

I'm thinking of going with this QC system.

http://www.markinsamer​ica.com/MA5/QS.php?req​=QR48S

The FLM-58 ballhead tested very well in dpreview's test: http://www.dpreview.co​m …ans-top-ball-heads-tested

So I'd expect the -48 to be quite excellent as well. If my Z1 wasn't already darn near perfect, I'd check out the FLM heads.

The Markins clamp should be good too. Most well-known, well-liked brands are fine (better than fine) and it comes down to a matter of taste and what works for you. I tested a Markins Q20 which also has a 48mm ball and it was solid, held my 100-400 easily at any angle, so I expect the FLM will do fine with your 150-500.

Let us know how it works in practice.

sawsedge wrote in post #17036419
The FLM-58 ballhead tested very well in dpreview's test: http://www.dpreview.co​m …ans-top-ball-heads-tested

So I'd expect the -48 to be quite excellent as well. If my Z1 wasn't already darn near perfect, I'd check out the FLM heads.

The Markins clamp should be good too. Most well-known, well-liked brands are fine (better than fine) and it comes down to a matter of taste and what works for you. I tested a Markins Q20 which also has a 48mm ball and it was solid, held my 100-400 easily at any angle, so I expect the FLM will do fine with your 150-500.

Let us know how it works in practice.

That's encouraging. Thanks!

It's a month later and B&H still can't give me a shipping date for the FLM ball head so I cancelled the order. So now I'm looking at these three as possible choices.

• Arca-Swiss Monoball Z1 sp
  
• Markins Q20
  
• Really Right Stuff BH-55

If Really Right Stuff is an option, Really Right Stuff is the answer...

The Arca Swiss Z-1 is an excellent option, but only if you order it thru Wimberley ($445) with their C-12 clamp replacing the Z-1's (Wimberley buys 'em without a clamp). Alternatively, you could buy the Z-1 without the clamp and install your own Markins or RRS screw or lever clamp. I have and enjoy the Z-1 with a Wimberley C-10, using it to occasionally mount a Wimberley Sidekick (gimbal head).