Cold-weather head?

lambertpix · Feb 9, 2014

I've got a Giottos ballhead that I'm generally pretty happy with, but when I was shooting yesterday in cold-ish (teens F) weather, and the head seemed really viscous -- both the ball itself and the horizontal panning motion. I tried loosening the tension knob to no avail -- I assume this was probably a function of the housing contracting more than the ball, but regardless, it was unwelcome.

Does anyone have a favorite ballhead (with panning) that they've used successfully in below-freezing weather?

table1349 · Feb 9, 2014

Full-sized ballhead with B2-Pro II clamp

Derrel · Feb 9, 2014

[h=2]Cold-weather head?[/h]

I'm all for it!!!

table1349 · Feb 9, 2014

Don't get too quick to like the head I posted a link to, not until you see the price.

lambertpix · Feb 11, 2014

gryphonslair99 said:
Don't get too quick to like the head I posted a link to, not until you see the price.

Yeah, the price is steep. Is there something about the construction of that head that helps specifically with cold weather (materials, etc.)?

I'd love to find something a little less stratospheric, but if that's the only way to solve this particular problem, I'll put it on my wish list and get to it sometime in the next eleventy-seven years or so.

table1349 · Feb 11, 2014

Not that I am aware of. It just works.

sk66 · Feb 11, 2014

Acratech is my favorite maker of general purpose ballheads. Open design doesn't collect junk and it's a dry design so no grease to gum up. I haven't had a single issue with one and I'm not very nice to my gear.

lambertpix · Feb 11, 2014

sk66 said:
Acratech is my favorite maker of general purpose ballheads. Open design doesn't collect junk and it's a dry design so no grease to gum up. I haven't had a single issue with one and I'm not very nice to my gear.

That's a *little* better. ;-) Time to save my pennies!