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#1
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
I'm looking for a ball-and-socket head to replace my trusty old Leitz head,
which just came apart in my hand. Actually the base of the head was attached to a copy stand, and the platform was attached to my camera... which just happened to be safely supported by my hand when the breakup occurred. I'm rather shocked that a Leitz product could fail this way, even after years of good service. I want to buy a replacement that will hold my camera with the optical axis precisely vertical, without drooping or slipping, and will NOT let go without warning. What should I look at? |
#2
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
"Jonathan Sachs" wrote in message
nk.net... I'm looking for a ball-and-socket head to replace my trusty old Leitz head, which just came apart in my hand. Actually the base of the head was attached to a copy stand, and the platform was attached to my camera... which just happened to be safely supported by my hand when the breakup occurred. I'm rather shocked that a Leitz product could fail this way, even after years of good service. I want to buy a replacement that will hold my camera with the optical axis precisely vertical, without drooping or slipping, and will NOT let go without warning. What should I look at? http://acratech.net/ http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...?msg_id=008IPQ -- Regards, Matt Clara www.mattclara.com |
#3
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
"Matt Clara" wrote in message
.. . http://acratech.net/ http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...?msg_id=008IPQ The Acra head looks impressive, and it certainly meets my requirements, but I think it's overkill for my needs. My camera weighs just under 3 pounds, so I don't really need a head that is very conservatively rated at 25 pounds! Also, while I rebel against the idea that a $60 head's eventual failure could put a $700 camera at risk, it seems absurd to pay $280 to eliminate the risk. That makes cheap equipment and insurance sound a lot more sensible. I would hope that I can get a well-designed, reliable ball head for a small camera without paying $279.95 for an Acra, just as I can get a well-designed, reliable car without paying $60,000 for a Mercedes-Benz. |
#4
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
"Jonathan Sachs" wrote:
I would hope that I can get a well-designed, reliable ball head for a small camera without paying $279.95 for an Acra You cannot. That is the "ball head conundrum". |
#5
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
TP wrote:
"Jonathan Sachs" wrote: I would hope that I can get a well-designed, reliable ball head for a small camera without paying $279.95 for an Acra You cannot. That is the "ball head conundrum". Nonsense. A basic Manfrotto mini-ball is both well designed and reliable for use with a small camera. I'm not claiming it is as good as an Arca, but certainly more than enough for a small camera kit. -- --e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.-- |
#6
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
Alan Browne wrote:
TP wrote: "Jonathan Sachs" wrote: I would hope that I can get a well-designed, reliable ball head for a small camera without paying $279.95 for an Acra You cannot. That is the "ball head conundrum". Nonsense. A basic Manfrotto mini-ball is both well designed and reliable for use with a small camera. I'm not claiming it is as good as an Arca, but certainly more than enough for a small camera kit. No, it isn't nonsense. Of course you are confusing "Arca" with "Acratech", which was being discussed as "Acra". It is a lot cheaper than an Arca. I suspect the brand name was chosen specifically in order to confuse, and it certainly worked on you! But Manfrotto are yet to make a decent ball head; they have made junk ballheads for years and the current, revised range are no better. Giottos are worse; they look as though they might work but the precision engineering just isn't there. Slik are a joke. Velbon are, well, they're just Velbon, made from that wonderfully flexible alloy that no other manufacturer offers. Gittzo are OK but they're just too quirky for most people. Benbo are well made but just too basic. So what does a keen shooter choose? Arca, Acra(tech), Kirk, Wimberley, Novoflex ... they are all expensive, but they all work well for people who need a competent, reliable tripod head. But for people like Alan Browne, who appreciate mediocrity in all things, anything will do, and a Manfrotto is probably overkill. |
#7
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
TP, perhaps you have given me my answer.
If the Benbo is "well made but just too basic," it may be exactly what I am looking for. I need something to level the camera on the copy stand, and occasionally let me swing it 90° (to the position that would be vertical if I were using a tripod). You can't get much more basic than that. Is there anything about it that would need to "basic" for this? |
#8
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
"Jonathan Sachs" wrote:
TP, perhaps you have given me my answer. If the Benbo is "well made but just too basic," it may be exactly what I am looking for. I need something to level the camera on the copy stand, and occasionally let me swing it 90° (to the position that would be vertical if I were using a tripod). You can't get much more basic than that. Is there anything about it that would need to "basic" for this? Hi Jonathan, I think you may have left the words "be more than" out of your last sentence. The Benbo would probably be a good choice for copy work. Other ball heads in its price range would also do the job, but the Benbo is particularly well made. It comes in two sizes; the compact head suits the Benbo Trekker range of lightweight tripods and the professional head suits the rest. There is a basic version of the compact head which doesn't have a panning base and a more expensive version which does. The compact (Trekker) head would be adequate for a small/medium SLR and a lens up to 135mm. For larger 35mm SLRs and/or longer lenses, plus medium format you need the larger head. Prices at B&H PhotoVideo, New York, NY: Compact, fixed base $59.95 Compact, panning base $79.95 Professional, panning base $119.95 I hope this is useful. Tony |
#9
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
Compact w/o panning head sounds fine for my needs... professional will be
nice if I find a fantastic deal or suffer an attack of wealth in the next couple of weeks. Thanks. |
#10
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Who makes a good reliable ball-and-socket head?
"Jonathan Sachs" wrote:
Compact w/o panning head sounds fine for my needs... professional will be nice if I find a fantastic deal or suffer an attack of wealth in the next couple of weeks. Thanks. You're welcome. |
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