Help with ballheads

[sneak3]

Hello!

I'm about to buy a new tripod, whether it is the Induro 8x CT0114 or the CT114, I still dont know.

The first one's max load is 5 kg while the latter's is 8 kg.

Is there a guideline for ballheads regarding its max load? I mean, should it match the tripod's? Can it be lower?

So far Im thinking about the Joby ballhead X, giotto MH1302 or giottos MG1301.

What do you think?

 

[SCraig]

The ballhead (AND tripod) should be able to hold about 1.5 times the load you plan on placing on it.

 

[runnah]

The ballhead (AND tripod) should be able to hold about 1.5 times the load you plan on placing on it.

Yup, tripods are cheap, cameras ain't.

 

[David444]

Don't skimp on the ball head, the head is just as important, if not more important as is the tripod. The Markins Q3 would be a excellent head for either the CT0114 or CT114.

Unless you need a lightweight traveler tripod I would recommend a 2-series like the CT213 with a Markins Q10 if it will be your only tripod.

Markins: Home of Markins Q-Balls >> Products

 

[sneak3]

Actually im buying the Induro exactly for travelling as light as possible, while still maintaining some stability.

Markins Q3 is way over my budget. I wouldnt like to spend more than $100 on the ballhead.

So far Ive liked the giottos MH1301/1302 and the joby ballhead X.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[David444]

I don't have any experience with the Giottos ball heads. But the reviews look good and they are Arca-Swiss compatible. My brother had the Joby ball head X and I wasn't impressed with it at all.

 

[SCraig]

I don't have any experience with the Giottos ball heads. But the reviews look good and they are Arca-Swiss compatible. My brother had the Joby ball head X and I wasn't impressed with it at all.

SOME are Arca-Swiss compatible. Like many head manufacturers they have several different styles of each head; one with no quick-release mounting plate (only a threaded stud on a round plate), one with their proprietary plate, one with Arca-Swiss, etc.

They are good heads. I have one and it works quite well as long as I don't use my 150-500 lens.

 

[sneak3]

I don't have any experience with the Giottos ball heads. But the reviews look good and they are Arca-Swiss compatible. My brother had the Joby ball head X and I wasn't impressed with it at all.

What was the matter with the ballhead x?

 

[David444]

It felt like a toy in use, kind of like it's matching tripod.

 

[Derrel]

The ballhead (AND tripod) should be able to hold about 1.5 times the load you plan on placing on it.

I think that's a good starting point; take the 1.5x and then double that, then add 50%...

Ball heads are like...bankrolls....da bigger, da better! Seriously--a LOT of smaller ballheads suffer from slip when locked down, and they really, cannot TRULY handle even a d-slr and a 70-200's weight...my normal ballhead is spec'd for 25 pounds, and even though it's magnesium, it weights almost as much as my carbon fibre tripod legs...

 

[cgw120 145]

The ballhead (AND tripod) should be able to hold about 1.5 times the load you plan on placing on it.

I think that's a good starting point; take the 1.5x and then double that, then add 50%...

Ball heads are like...bankrolls....da bigger, da better! Seriously--a LOT of smaller ballheads suffer from slip when locked down, and they really, cannot TRULY handle even a d-slr and a 70-200's weight...my normal ballhead is spec'd for 25 pounds, and even though it's magnesium, it weights almost as much as my carbon fibre tripod legs...

Generalizations and "formulas" aside, it's totally dependent on the type and weight of the kit--which the OP doesn't mention. Manfrotto lists(conservatively) the load max on their heads.

I use a smallish Manfrotto 486RC2 with a Bronica SQ-B which, as a 6x6, isn't flipped around much. Same goes for a honking Mamiya RB67 Pro S whose rotating back cuts camera movement to a minimum.

 

[sneak3]

The ballhead (AND tripod) should be able to hold about 1.5 times the load you plan on placing on it.

I think that's a good starting point; take the 1.5x and then double that, then add 50%...

Ball heads are like...bankrolls....da bigger, da better! Seriously--a LOT of smaller ballheads suffer from slip when locked down, and they really, cannot TRULY handle even a d-slr and a 70-200's weight...my normal ballhead is spec'd for 25 pounds, and even though it's magnesium, it weights almost as much as my carbon fibre tripod legs...

Generalizations and "formulas" aside, it's totally dependent on the type and weight of the kit--which the OP doesn't mention. Manfrotto lists(conservatively) the load max on their heads.

I use a smallish Manfrotto 486RC2 with a Bronica SQ-B which, as a 6x6, isn't flipped around much. Same goes for a honking Mamiya RB67 Pro S whose rotating back cuts camera movement to a minimum.

Ill be using a 70-300, d7000, sb700, grip maybe.

 

[cgw120 145]

I think that's a good starting point; take the 1.5x and then double that, then add 50%...

Ball heads are like...bankrolls....da bigger, da better! Seriously--a LOT of smaller ballheads suffer from slip when locked down, and they really, cannot TRULY handle even a d-slr and a 70-200's weight...my normal ballhead is spec'd for 25 pounds, and even though it's magnesium, it weights almost as much as my carbon fibre tripod legs...

Generalizations and "formulas" aside, it's totally dependent on the type and weight of the kit--which the OP doesn't mention. Manfrotto lists(conservatively) the load max on their heads.

I use a smallish Manfrotto 486RC2 with a Bronica SQ-B which, as a 6x6, isn't flipped around much. Same goes for a honking Mamiya RB67 Pro S whose rotating back cuts camera movement to a minimum.

Ill be using a 70-300, d7000, sb700, grip maybe.

The CT114 is load rated at around 17 1/2 lbs(8kg). Do the math for your kit. Something like the Manfroto 498 has the same load max rating(8kg). I you want/need a higher load max, you're looking at a heavier tripod/head combo. Your D7000-based kit isn't exactly heavy. If anything, I'd pay at least as much attention to the size and surface area of the QR plate. It's possible to have a large-ish head and small plate that slips more than a smaller head with a large plate. The surface area difference between a Manfrotto RC2 and RC4 or older hex plate isn't minor.

 

[sneak3]

Generalizations and "formulas" aside, it's totally dependent on the type and weight of the kit--which the OP doesn't mention. Manfrotto lists(conservatively) the load max on their heads.

I use a smallish Manfrotto 486RC2 with a Bronica SQ-B which, as a 6x6, isn't flipped around much. Same goes for a honking Mamiya RB67 Pro S whose rotating back cuts camera movement to a minimum.

Ill be using a 70-300, d7000, sb700, grip maybe.

The CT114 is load rated at around 17 1/2 lbs(8kg). Do the math for your kit. Something like the Manfroto 498 has the same load max rating(8kg). I you want/need a higher load max, you're looking at a heavier tripod/head combo. Your D7000-based kit isn't exactly heavy. If anything, I'd pay at least as much attention to the size and surface area of the QR plate. It's possible to have a large-ish head and small plate that slips more than a smaller head with a large plate. The surface area difference between a Manfrotto RC2 and RC4 or older hex plate isn't minor.

My kit weight's is 3kg, exaggerating a bit. So 3 kg x 1,5 = 4,5 kg.

According to the rule, 5kg max load would be fine. But im not sure if Ill get any benefits if I go with 8kg. Would it be overkill?

I dont plan to upgrade either.

 

[Mully]

I bought this one about a month age for an older tripod that I liked with a worn head. I was impressed with the quality of this one ...just under $50