Which Tripod head you are recommended?

I use an arca swiss z1 with an RRS QR plate on it. If you have trouble switching between landscape and portrait, invest in an L plate for your camera...it makes things a LOT easier.

Just went with the Sirui. Lets hope it works.

bigjohninva wrote in post #17227892
Just went with the Sirui. Lets hope it works.

It probably will. I have the K40X and it is a fine piece of kit and will happily hold any of my lenses - but I don't have anything bigger than a Canon 800 F5.6 L IS.
The K series Sirui heads are very good and not too expensive.

johnf3f wrote in post #17227994
It probably will. I have the K40X and it is a fine piece of kit and will happily hold any of my lenses - but I don't have anything bigger than a Canon 800 F5.6 L IS.
The K series Sirui heads are very good and not too expensive.

Got the k-30x blows away the 498rc2.

Congratulations!

bigjohninva wrote in post #17245875
Got the k-30x blows away the 498rc2.

Luckily for me a friend bought a Manfrotto ball head before I did - saved me some money! Since then I have only owned 2 ball heads (Sirui K40X and Triopo RS3) and cannot find any reason to change either of them. I have tried a number of expensive ball heads but found most of them lacking and only a few that will equal these two but they are 3 to 10 times the price!
Bit of a no brainer really!

I'm going to chime in here. Not to rain on anyone's parade but just to let you all know. I'm on my second K30 Sirui ball head. I'm now experiencing the same symptoms that caused me to send the first one back to Sirui.

The ball randomly binds in the socket from time to time...growing more and more often as the days go on.

So even though the Sirui is seemingly a great buy for an Arca ball head, there might be a design problem with them somewhere. I'll be contacting them again to sent this copy back.

Interesting ptcanon3ti.
I have not heard of any issues with Sirui heads and certainly have none with mine. Hope they can sort it out for you.

johnf3f wrote in post #17246535
Interesting ptcanon3ti.
I have not heard of any issues with Sirui heads and certainly have none with mine. Hope they can sort it out for you.

Which model do you have? I don't understand what it can be.

Mine is the K40X which has been very good - so far!
I have had mine about 2+ years. It doesn't get a huge amount of use as most of my photography is with a long lenses on a gimbal head.
Although I don't use very large lenses on a ball head, as I feel they are not suitable, my K40X will happily hold any lens that I have.

P.S. As stated above I have not, personally, heard of problems with these heads - but that does not mean that all of them are perfect. If you are having problems then we need to be aware of it.

I'll be calling tomorrow to start the return process again.

Paul,

Sorry you are having issues. Haven't had any problems with my 40 but I don't shoot near as much as you do. I use it whenever possible, even when light would allow hand-held. Obviously I shoot wildlife from the kayak hand-held. Thing is I only get to every month or two.

If you figure out what is happening let us know.

C Scott IV wrote in post #17247526
Paul,

Sorry you are having issues. Haven't had any problems with my 40 but I don't shoot near as much as you do. I use it whenever possible, even when light would allow hand-held. Obviously I shoot wildlife from the kayak hand-held. Thing is I only get to every month or two.

If you figure out what is happening let us know.

Hi Charles...yeah I'll let everyone know what I find out. I still have the guys name I spoke to last time. Fortunately the HQ for the Sirui brand is in Northern NJ. So the mail won't be too much of a hold up.

I selected the Oben BC-166 - so far loving it. No issues at the moment.