Ball Head choices....?

Top brands of ballheads over the past 20 years have included (not an exhaustive list):
Arca
Kirk
RRS
Linhof
...and more recently
Markins

These product cost in the hundred of dollars, unlike the typical product aimed more to the hobbyist and snapshooter, which are not as precise in their actions.

Roadrunnr wrote in post #5491600
Well, I'm leaning towards the M10 just based on how many who has it and loves it... I haven't read too many ppl with the BH-40 so I'm just going with what has been proven by most already... as for the Z1, I've read somewhere that ppl have problems with the ball ceasing? (can't recall where I've read it).

The toss up for me is the fact that I'm in Canada, and there is a Markins store in Canada (near Vancouver), but there is a price difference of $40 (after shipping is included) between Canadian and US price - even though the exchange rate is pretty much par! I already called Markins and they sad that they will not adjust the pricing to reflect a more accurate exchange rate for me

So now I'm thinking: Q3 or M10? Q3 being much cheaper and affordable for me at this point... but will it hold up to my gear list?

I would love to hear more thoughts from you guys.

I have the Q3 and love it. It will easily handle your gear. I frequently mount my 300 f2.8L IS on it and it handles it quite nicely.

So I take it that you trust a 1 Series camera with a 300 f2.8? I have been looking at ball heads recentely to replace me 486RC2 and thought that a good repalcement for this type setup would be the M10. I might have to get this smaller head .

Jim-
I notice you have the Markins ball head, but I also see Really Right Stuff's logo on some of the parts of it. I'm confused!
And do you have the head mounted on top of something that goes between it and the tripod?
And which L-Bracket is that--Markins or Really Right Stuff?
(I mentioned above that I know nothing about this stuff!! Sorry if these are dumb questions!!)
Thanks for posting the picture!

sml wrote in post #5494664
Jim-
I notice you have the Markins ball head, but I also see Really Right Stuff's logo on some of the parts of it. I'm confused!
And do you have the head mounted on top of something that goes between it and the tripod?
And which L-Bracket is that--Markins or Really Right Stuff?
(I mentioned above that I know nothing about this stuff!! Sorry if these are dumb questions!!)
Thanks for posting the picture!

My general purpose lightweight setup is a Gitzo 2530 with a Markins Q3. I switched out the Markins Quickshoe that comes with the Q3 with an RRS lever clamp. In addition, I have the Markins TB20 tripod base on top of the 2530 and between the Q3. I have RRS L brackets on all my camera bodies and RRS lens plates on my 300 and 70-200.

Bumgardnern wrote in post #5494362
So I take it that you trust a 1 Series camera with a 300 f2.8? I have been looking at ball heads recentely to replace me 486RC2 and thought that a good repalcement for this type setup would be the M10. I might have to get this smaller head .

I don't have a 1 series Gitzo. But, the Markins Q3 works wonders on a 1 series. I have read several user comments from photogs I respect who use a Q3 and 1 series Gitzo to hold a 300 while on the road. It is not their common setup but it will do fine for occasional use. I'm sure their long lens techniques help insure a positive experience with such a setup.

Hmmm. I'm not sure if that's an "endorsement" for Markins or RRS!!!
(You also answered another question I've been thinking about--get the L bracket. But, does one leave that on the camera all the time or just when you plan to use the tripod?)

sml wrote in post #5494793
Hmmm. I'm not sure if that's an "endorsement" for Markins or RRS!!!
(You also answered another question I've been thinking about--get the L bracket. But, does one leave that on the camera all the time or just when you plan to use the tripod?)

I like the products from both companies. However, both companies offer different items that I have come to prefer. In particular, RRS makes a lever clamp. Markins doesn't. I prefer to keep my clamps and plates as compatible as possible. So, I have all RRS plates and clamps. I like the tension system and smoothness of the Markins ballheads.

With regard to the L bracket, I keep them on all my camera bodies all the time. The RRS brackets are custom made and "form-fit" to the specific cameras. Once on a body, you quickly adapt to its fit. The L brackets make support systems a breeze to use.

I was going to get all RRS ballheads and plates and clamps and so, but really that Markins heads looks sexier [hehehe], so i was going to get Q3 with RRS clamp and RRS L-bracket for my 1-series Gitzo and then get RRS ballhead for my 5-series Gitzo.

sml wrote in post #5494793
But, does one leave that on the camera all the time or just when you plan to use the tripod?

You leave it on: It connects to the camera with a hex screw.
Camera with L-bracket fits the hand better in portrait orientation then the camera with CR2 QR IMO.

L-bracket is the best money I've spent recently. I got mine used off ebay, for quite a bit less then what RRS charges. Might want to try that.

René Damkot wrote in post #5496240
You leave it on: It connects to the camera with a hex screw.

What about when you want to put your flash bracket (Custom Bracket CB Junior, in my case) on the camera?
For that matter...what if you want to mount the flash bracket and camera on the tripod!!

sml wrote in post #5496510
What about when you want to put your flash bracket (Custom Bracket CB Junior, in my case) on the camera?
For that matter...what if you want to mount the flash bracket and camera on the tripod!!

I cannot talk about CBs, but I can about what I did with my Newton brackets, which is probably similar.

I did not use the Newton supplied attachments for my Foldling Flash Rotator (FR) or Camera Rotator (CR) brackets. When I used the RC2 QR system, I modified the brackets to use them and have a RC2 plate below to mount to a tripod.

When I recently moved to Arca-Swiss QRs (RRS), I replaced the RC2 QRs with the RRS levers and plates. These attach to the RRS 'L' plate on my 5D.

Here is the FR with RRS lever clamp & plate

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jhom wrote in post #5494874
I like the products from both companies. However, both companies offer different items that I have come to prefer. In particular, RRS makes a lever clamp. Markins doesn't. I prefer to keep my clamps and plates as compatible as possible. So, I have all RRS plates and clamps. I like the tension system and smoothness of the Markins ballheads.

With regard to the L bracket, I keep them on all my camera bodies all the time. The RRS brackets are custom made and "form-fit" to the specific cameras. Once on a body, you quickly adapt to its fit. The L brackets make support systems a breeze to use.

jhom, I notice that you have the Markins Tripod Base TB-20, my question is, is this a MUST have if I were to buy either the Q3 or the M10 for the Gitzo 2540 tripod?https://photography-on-the.net/forum/member.p​hp?u=99218

Roadrunnr wrote in post #5499697
jhom, I notice that you have the Markins Tripod Base TB-20, my question is, is this a MUST have if I were to buy either the Q3 or the M10 for the Gitzo 2540 tripod?

Jim (jhom) believes that he gets increased control of viabration with the base....which replaces the center column.....and he may.

However, it is NOT a MUST have. I have the M10 on a GT2541 (taller version of the 2540). Works just fine. Personally, I am willing the trade off of having the column for some minor height adjustments (just a few inches at most) when needed.

jrsforums wrote in post #5500354
Jim (jhom) believes that he gets increased control of viabration with the base....which replaces the center column.....and he may.

However, it is NOT a MUST have. I have the M10 on a GT2541 (taller version of the 2540). Works just fine. Personally, I am willing the trade off of having the column for some minor height adjustments (just a few inches at most) when needed.

I was JUST going to ask this!! Good timing...
If one goes with a tripod without the column, I've been told you get better stability. Can you still have the "ease" of vertical control for composing shots (isn't that what the column provides?). And then, do you "need" a taller tripod? (I'm 5'7")
The reason I was gonna ask about this is that someone suggested that I go with the larger Gitzo tripod (the 3540 LS) and the RRS BH-55....a "no post" setup. Much larger than the 2530 with the BH-40 or Markins M10.
(The more I "investigate" this, the more confused I get! I'm further behind in this process now than I was a week ago!!)