New Ball head

[peter nap]

I have Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs and am using a Balljoint head. The legs are great although a little heavy. The head sucks. I'm going to buy a new ballhead. Any suggestions?

[gdietzman]

What are you considering for price range?

[Bonish Photo]

What's your price range and how much weight do you plan on supporting with it?

Those two factors will really change the answers

I use the Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ballhead and love it for it's fast manuverability, but it isnt the best for my bigger lenses.

For that, I'm saving up for the Wimberly which costs more than the dang camera body itsel

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 ... lhead.html There is the link to the 322RC2 if you want to look at which one I'm talking about

[peter nap]

Price isn't the most important thing (I've found that with guns and cameras, I am unhappy when I get cheap) ..but I'm also not sure I use a tripod enough to justify a 400.00 ballhead.

I have looked at all the Manfrotto heads and the weight seems to be the issue with the Ballheads. I don't have any really large lenses but in the old days I did have a couple of large L series...so maybe someday I will again.

My biggest lens now is a 70-300 zoom and a 2X Teleconverter. While not heavy, it is muzzle heavy and gets the jitters in high wind. That is correctable with a lens ring.

The next issue and really important, is speed. Most of what I take pictures is wildlife and they just don't cooperate. I was taking pictures of bears yesterday and having a time with that ball joint mount. I have been thinking about the Grip Action Ballhead but since no one sells them locally, I can't look at one. If it locks up tight enough to really hold the camera steady, it would be my first choice.

[Bonish Photo]

Mine locks up tight enough to hold Canon's 28-300L lens which is one heavy sucker.


This was a pretty windy morning and I got some nice shots from the combo. Thats a 1D body hanging behind the grip too!

Here was the shot looking the opposite direction and what came out of the camera

[peter nap]

Thanks Everyone! I just ordered a 40D...so I may wait a few weeks on the ball head but I think I'll get the Grip.

This is an expensive hobby

Pat, I've been looking over your site. You take some stunning pictures!

[Bonish Photo]

Thank you Peter. My trick is to visit stunning places

Thanks really!

[Tom B.]

I have both the tripod (i love it!) and the ball head (I love it too).......but, Pat is right - if you are going to use a big lense, the ballhead might be a tad light. I use my 100-400 with this ballhead, and feel that if it weighed anymore, I might have an issue with the ballhead being able to handle it...None the less, I really do like these two pieces of equipment....

Tom B.