Looking to buy a Markins ballhead

I did almost exactly as you are contemplating. I had the BH-55 for about two years. When I tested it (UNscientifically, mind you) side by side with my friend's Markins M20, I liked the lighter weight of the Markins, the smaller size, and it's drag was slightly better and easier to control. I did miss the extra drop notch on the BH-55 though.

As to the plate, I had the quick release plate on the BH-55 and was going to remove it to use on the Markins. No matter what I did I couldn't loosen the nut holding it on. I almost stripped it in fact.

So, I ordered the Markins with the screw tightener, or whatever you call it, instead of the quick release. I like it a lot, although it's easy to confuse the knob which controls the ball with the slightly smaller knob that locks the camera plate or lens plate in place.

me

MDJAK wrote in post #8823592
I did almost exactly as you are contemplating. I had the BH-55 for about two years. When I tested it (UNscientifically, mind you) side by side with my friend's Markins M20, I liked the lighter weight of the Markins, the smaller size, and it's drag was slightly better and easier to control. I did miss the extra drop notch on the BH-55 though.

As to the plate, I had the quick release plate on the BH-55 and was going to remove it to use on the Markins. No matter what I did I couldn't loosen the nut holding it on. I almost stripped it in fact.

So, I ordered the Markins with the screw tightener, or whatever you call it, instead of the quick release. I like it a lot, although it's easy to confuse the knob which controls the ball with the slightly smaller knob that locks the camera plate or lens plate in place.

me

must be an age thing . after almost dropping my 1ds mark III after accidently loosening the QR once again i swore of the screw type quick release -- which really should be called a slow release -- and upgraded my tripod and monopod to the RRS flip lever release.

ed rader

ed rader wrote in post #8821898
just one. screw everything down tight and give the arm of the QR a sharp rap with a rubber mallet in a counterclockwise direction. very easy to do. the guy at markins will tell you to use a regular hammer and a piece of wood but listen to me, not him .

ed rader

Ok cool. Thanks Ed!

colbyb25 wrote in post #8822889
I would be putting a PCL-1 on it anyway....how much are you trying to sell it for?

I see. I won't be purchasing it until I get back from my trip from California. I'm thinking along the lines of $380.00.

MDJAK wrote in post #8823592
I did almost exactly as you are contemplating. I had the BH-55 for about two years. When I tested it (UNscientifically, mind you) side by side with my friend's Markins M20, I liked the lighter weight of the Markins, the smaller size, and it's drag was slightly better and easier to control. I did miss the extra drop notch on the BH-55 though.

As to the plate, I had the quick release plate on the BH-55 and was going to remove it to use on the Markins. No matter what I did I couldn't loosen the nut holding it on. I almost stripped it in fact.

So, I ordered the Markins with the screw tightener, or whatever you call it, instead of the quick release. I like it a lot, although it's easy to confuse the knob which controls the ball with the slightly smaller knob that locks the camera plate or lens plate in place.

me

Thanks for sharing your experience Mark. Most likely go with the lever release. I like the convenience of going from landscape to portrait in a jiffy.

I'm resurrecting this thread bcoz' I just got a M20 on the sell forum. I was about to order one and while looking on the sell forum, I found one that is brand new and never used. Oh yeah!

Now, all I need is a rubber mallet to remove that plate. So, I can replace it with a RRS QRL.

As long as the clamp does not loosen from the ballhead instead of the stud, which is what happened to me.

Needed to get another stud, though Markins mailed it to me for free.

jdizzle wrote in post #9423649
Now, all I need is a rubber mallet to remove that plate. So, I can replace it with a RRS QRL.

If you have any issues with doing that, send the ballhead and the RRS QR back to Markins in Vancouver, and they will swap the QR's at no charge except the shipping. That's what I did with my Q3t.

I would recommend that, as it's a real process to do by one's self.

I switched to the RRS lever QR when I missed a shot as I tried to change from landscape to portrait with the screw slow-release.

It's actually quite easy to loosen. I used the plsatic handle of a large screwdriver and whacked the arm on the clamp 5 or 6 times. At first I was worried I would damage it but, giving credit to Markins construction and materials, it came out completely unscathed, other than the fact the clamp didn't loosen from the stud but the ballhead did

Asking Markins, after, they told me there is no way to save the stud when removing it from the clamp, to get another stud.

You might want to apply a little heat to the top of the clamp and stud to maximize loosening the clamp from the stud before wacking it.

Hindsight

I have tried doing that since, but I need a vice and a couple of wood blocks to grasp the stud and force the head off. Apartment dwellers have little use for that kind of stuff

When I visit my brother the next time, maybe. The Markins clamp, attached to the stud is sitting in a box... I'll probably wait till I have use for the clamp, if ever.

bohdank wrote in post #9427224
Hindsight

I have tried doing that since, but I need a vice and a couple of wood blocks to grasp the stud and force the head off. Apartment dwellers have little use for that kind of stuff

When I visit my brother the next time, maybe. The Markins clamp, attached to the stud is sitting in a box... I'll probably wait till I have use for the clamp, if ever.

I wish i still had my markins clamp. I threw it away because I asked a friend of mine to use his torch to at the top and he melted the level. Mine came off easily after he applied heat.
I ordered my ballhead last year but recently decided to go with the lever clamp after I got a RRS L plate. I used blue loctite which I ordered through RRS.

The new RRS 2010 catalogue that they send you with your order is a great idea, I just ordered their tripod bag to spend more money.

tvphotog wrote in post #9426313
If you have any issues with doing that, send the ballhead and the RRS QR back to Markins in Vancouver, and they will swap the QR's at no charge except the shipping. That's what I did with my Q3t.

I would recommend that, as it's a real process to do by one's self.

I switched to the RRS lever QR when I missed a shot as I tried to change from landscape to portrait with the screw slow-release.

This sounds like a good option. I'll try doing this myself but, if I fail, I'll send it out.

bohdank wrote in post #9424409
As long as the clamp does not loosen from the ballhead instead of the stud, which is what happened to me.

Needed to get another stud, though Markins mailed it to me for free.

I have to inspect the head to see what you're talking about. From looking at pics on their website, isn't the stud the piece they call the "titanium center bolt"? If it is, they should've designed to so that it's easily removable.