Review: Really Right Stuff BH-55

nice PCL-1... Any sample panos? (off to check your link now)

gooble wrote in post #7311851
I have the same legs, 488RC2 head and camera that you have and have just been researching RRS gear and I plan on getting the exact setup that you got so this review is perfectly timed. Thanks.

I have a question about the lever release. Does it have a safety like the 488RC2? What if yo catch it on something will it open? I watched a video on the RRS website and it didn't look like there was any safety on it. My biggest question now is whether to get the lever release or the knob one.

No safety catch on the leaver release. It is tucked a fair way around the plate and I've never had a issue with something catching on it. They do recomend you use a knob on the plate for a monopod, probably because you are more likely to catch it on something as you are carting it around. If you did catch the leaver release solidly behind something you could open it up but the leaver has to flip almost 180deg around before the plate releases from the clamp so it's not that likely.

I prefer the leaver release to the knob, the panning head has the knob and it is a little slower to use.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Legs.html#spec​ifications

Is anyone familiar with the Basalt legs, I know they make a 3 series but I haven't found anyone who carries them. The link for the middle sized ones I posted above are suppose to be able to handle 22 pounds which should make it pretty sturdy. I do want the center column for table top but if I take it outdoors I'd like to be able to remove the column. To date, I've used a tripod for mostly table top and portrait shooting and would prefer a larger head simply from an operational point of view and if the legs are a little heavier that is okay, I don't however want something that is cumbersome. My Brother works with the RSS heads and absolutely loves them. Eventually I'd also like to get the L plate for my MKIII.

Well I just ordered the 55 head with the lever release and an L bracket for my MKIII. Will use it for a while on my Manfrotto 055MF4 legs until I can afford the Gitzo GT 3531 legs. Actually I've realized when shooting table top I don't even use the bottom extension on the legs and not all of the next extension either so I'm feeling pretty good about this. I figured the weight will be close to 5 3/4 lbs with the new head on my o55MF4 if I take out the center column if I want to use it for travel and with the head on it's going to be 25" long but of course the head can be taken off and then the legs alone are almost 21 1/5".

Well here I am again, I tend to work at something until I'm satisfied. I bought a Basalt medium Gitzo from my store, a very nice tripod. Got home and I felt I just wanted to have something heavier under that RSS BH-55LR so I went back and exchanged it for the Gitzon GT 3551, it is soooooo sweet, this is my brothers favorite setup and he kind of tried to coach me into this from the beginning but this much for a tripod is pretty hard to stomach. But then again I expect to use this forever and now it's done, just got notice that RRS just shipped the head so now I wait...