Markins Q3T vs. Really Right Stuff BH30

I have a Gitzo 1541T and I know everybody recommends theQ3T, but does anyone used the BH30 on the 1541T here? if so, how was it? can you post some pictures too?

thank you.

There are some pictures of that combo in my review thread. Here is one set in particular: LINK

The RRS BH-30 is not a bad head by any means. However, it was no designed to work specifically with the 1541T as the Markins Q3T was and the max loads are not as high as they are on the Q3T. While those differences may mean little to some, the real kicker is the fact that the legs on the 1541T do not fully close when using a BH-30. For me this was a deal breaker. The whole point to going with the 1541T is to get the most compact and ver stable tripod solution out there. The BH-30 simply is not as conducive to that goal as the Markins Q3T is. But thats kinda what youd expect when there is a top end manufacturer (like Markins) who makes a ballhead SPECIFICALLY for a top end tripod manufacturers (like Gitzo) Travelers series tripods.

I have this combo. I took it out today for the first time and it was great. It folds very compact on the head. Maybe not as close as the Markins but close enough for me. I am a big fan of RRS and their quality.

wow, this is tough....

I think i would go for the markins, I'll just order it without the loctite, order the rrs clamp, sell the markins clamp, have best of both worlds...

thanks guys for the input...

tagakweens wrote in post #11837663
wow, this is tough....

I think i would go for the markins, I'll just order it without the loctite, order the rrs clamp, sell the markins clamp, have best of both worlds...

thanks guys for the input...

Good choice on the markins. Just fyi but the markins lever is very similar to the rrs one. If I had to choose, I would choose the rrs but for the price the markins is great also.

tagakweens wrote in post #11837663
wow, this is tough....

I think i would go for the markins, I'll just order it without the loctite, order the rrs clamp, sell the markins clamp, have best of both worlds...

thanks guys for the input...

Thats exactly what I did.

The "30" in BH-30 stands for the diameter of the ball. The Q3t has a 38mm ball. The larger the ball, the easier it is to move with weight on it, the more stable it is---there is less potential for droop with a heavy lens.

Yup! And bigger ball and smaller base are pretty much exactly what makes the Q3T the best option for the 1541T!

Here is a follow-up to my post above (#3). Let me start off with how much I really love RRS ballheads, plates, clamps and their service. I have the BH-55 I use with my Gitzo 3541LS; MH-01 with my monopod; and lens and L body plates. When I bought the Gitzo 1541T I thought I would stay with RRS and ordered the BH-30 and tried it for a couple of weeks. It really is a great little ballhead. After reading all of the Markins Q3T reviews, thanks ben_r_, I decided to also order the Q3T and B2 LR II clamp to compare and keep the one that worked the best for me. Well I returned the BH-30 and kept the Markins Q3T and I’m happy I did. I like the knobs better, the larger ball diameter and the overall larger size. Now I have my traveling tripod complete. Thanks again ben_r_ for all of your dedication to this combination.

Pat B wrote in post #11981112
Here is a follow-up to my post above (#3). Let me start off with how much I really love RRS ballheads, plates, clamps and their service. I have the BH-55 I use with my Gitzo 3541LS; MH-01 with my monopod; and lens and L body plates. When I bought the Gitzo 1541T I thought I would stay with RRS and ordered the BH-30 and tried it for a couple of weeks. It really is a great little ballhead. After reading all of the Markins Q3T reviews, thanks ben_r_, I decided to also order the Q3T and B2 LR II clamp to compare and keep the one that worked the best for me. Well I returned the BH-30 and kept the Markins Q3T and I’m happy I did. I like the knobs better, the larger ball diameter and the overall larger size. Now I have my traveling tripod complete. Thanks again ben_r_ for all of your dedication to this combination.

Glad I could help.

I took my 1541T and Q3T into the field all of last week and loved it. I'm still getting used to using a ballhead, but I loved the compactness of the kit.

I was considering the 1541T until I read your comments above. I need to use an RRS ballhead because I already have their quick-release brackets. It would be ideal if I can use the BH-55 ballhead that I already have. I need a good lightweight travel tripod that folds small like the 1541. I prefer that it doesn't have a center column so I can get low to the ground. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

mgetto wrote in post #15855835
I was considering the 1541T until I read your comments above. I need to use an RRS ballhead because I already have their quick-release brackets. It would be ideal if I can use the BH-55 ballhead that I already have. I need a good lightweight travel tripod that folds small like the 1541. I prefer that it doesn't have a center column so I can get low to the ground. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

Well, you can remove the center column on the 1541.

mgetto wrote in post #15855835
I need to use an RRS ballhead because I already have their quick-release brackets.

The clamps on ballheads and the L-plates on cameras roughly adhere to a standard that was popularized by the Arca-Swiss company. The components are mostly interchangeable between manufacturers, for example I have an Arca-Swiss ballhead with a Markins clamp, and a RRS clamp on an Acratech ballhead. Both of those clamps work with camera plates from a variety of companies including RRS. I don't use a RRS ballhead and I don't have to just because I have RRS brackets; there is wide manufacturing interchangeability within the A-S quick-release system.

mgetto wrote in post #15855835
It would be ideal if I can use the BH-55 ballhead that I already have. I need a good lightweight travel tripod that folds small like the 1541.

A RRS BH-55 ballhead would likely be too much for any travel tripod I would think.

mgetto wrote in post #15855835
I was considering the 1541T until I read your comments above. I need to use an RRS ballhead because I already have their quick-release brackets. It would be ideal if I can use the BH-55 ballhead that I already have. I need a good lightweight travel tripod that folds small like the 1541. I prefer that it doesn't have a center column so I can get low to the ground. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

The Markins lever clamp can be adjusted for and bracket....and any screw type clamp can also, so you should have no problem with your RRS brackets.

I have all RRS brackets and like the RRS lever clamp. Therefore I have those clamps on all my Markins heads, as well as my Arca-Swiss head.