Got my Q3. What a difference!!!

Finally, after reading some posts here and several online reviews, I ordered the Q3 for my cf tripod. Wow, what a difference

I've been using the 488RC2 for a couple of years now and all this time I could not get it to work at once. Every time after the framing is done, I would lock it and ready to shoot only to see the gravity takes over from my view finder. So, I compensate and recompensate to get the angle. What the %$#@&*, I thought that was me. Well, that could well be me but I won't admit it

The 488 is good for the money but the Q3 is a very different level of quality and performance.

Yep, once you have a chance to use a better ballhead you realize that it isn't always user error.

I love my Q3t. And despite all the negative comments on the pano lock, I've never had a problem with mine.

You mean one guy making a negative comment That's all I remember. At the end of the day gear needs to be used within its limits and this is a small travel ballhead IMO and totally different to the likes of Kirk, RRS and the larger Markins.

I've read about the panning lock down issue but went for it anyway. It turns out that does not bother me at all.
Since I do not own any heavy lens yet, I just twist the knob and compose and twist it back to finger tight. No movements at all.
I'll save up for a M10 or M20 for my studio tripod.

The one guy is like a broken record, and is the only one i know doing pano shots with his 200mm+ lens while he have it mounted on a tripod and carry it over his shoulder doing the chicken dance...

MR do little wrote in post #8380581
The one guy is like a broken record, and is the only one i know doing pano shots with his 200mm+ lens while he have it mounted on a tripod and carry it over his shoulder doing the chicken dance...

Is that a insider joke? I'm totally lost here. Care to fill in more details?

No inside joke, but this one person seems to pop in into alot of Markins threads, just to share his peice of wisdom wich is that the pano lock is crap on Markins regardless of ballhead.


Now for most people who will use the pano lock as intended it works 100% without any issues at all. This because if you tighten it, it wont move unless you move the rig by force. In wich case it will give in and move, this so the camera or ballhead dosent get turned off the tripod.

Now the problem some people have is when having a large lens mounted io the tripod and then carry it over their shoulder, now the setup can move a little, not coming lose but it will budge. For those who run around with a larger setup on their shoulders there is collars to prevent this for most ballheads.

But unless you do panos with your big rig on your shoulder, it shouldnt really pose a problem in pratical terms, not that i can see anyway.

MR do little wrote in post #8380670


No inside joke, but this one person seems to pop in into alot of Markins threads, just to share his peice of wisdom wich is that the pano lock is crap on Markins regardless of ballhead.


Now for most people who will use the pano lock as intended it works 100% without any issues at all. This because if you tighten it, it wont move unless you move the rig by force. In wich case it will give in and move, this so the camera or ballhead dosent get turned off the tripod.

Now the problem some people have is when having a large lens mounted io the tripod and then carry it over their shoulder, now the setup can move a little, not coming lose but it will budge. For those who run around with a larger setup on their shoulders there is collars to prevent this for most ballheads.

But unless you do panos with your big rig on your shoulder, it shouldnt really pose a problem in pratical terms, not that i can see anyway.

I agree. I just don't get it - why would you want the ballhead to lock down uber tight only to have the torque cause the ballhead to unspin from the tripod or something else to break? I'd MUCH rather have the ballhead pan a bit. That's why Markins designed it as a brake instead of as a lock.

J.

Good point guys. My other ball head either move or lock, well, with some creep in between. The smooth brake is a much better function for sure.
As for carrying camera while mounted on a tripod, the cap is a great idea to protect the gear.