Advice on ballhead for Gitzo 1340

[RogueCylon]

Hello, I just purchased a Gitzo 1340 as my first Gitzo tripod. What would be the recommended ballhead to go with, and do I need anything else?

I use a D90 with Nikon 70-300 zoom, 105mm macro lens and I may get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 later.

Would I be better going for a Arca or Markins ballhead? If so which one?

Thanks,
Jim

[Biff Wellington]

No experence with Arca, but my Markins m20 is a work of mechanical art!

[Mike66]

I bought a used Gitzo 1325 and have Markins M20 ball head for it. Unfortunately, the 1325 is still in the postal system somewhere, but I have the M20. I bought my new M20 from a eBay seller in Korea (where the M20s are made) for $320 with free shipping and it took about ten days to arrive. Considering my APO address, that is not bad.

I have the D90 with the 18-200mm lens and bought a Kirk L-bracket for it from B&H Photo for $130. The bracket fits nicely on the M20 in horizontal and vertical orientations and does not move unless I want it to.

I also bought the Op/Tech Pro Loop strap from B&H to replace the Nikon neck strap. It is great and I can carry the camera for a long time with no fatigue. After about ten minutes, the Nikon strap started to annoy me.

I wish I could tell you how sturdy this tripod and head setup is in the field, but the best I can say is that it is solid on my desk top.

[dryadsdad]

I bought my Markins from probably the same Korean vendor as Mike66 but I got the Q3. I'm perfectly happy with it. Based on my research, which I won't say is complete, the only step above the Markins is the RRS. The cost difference is significant while FOR ME, the benefits weren't.

[RogueCylon]

I'm steering towards either the Markins Q3 or M10. The m20 seems total overkill for my needs. In the future I can see myself with a D700 type camera body with battery grip and perhaps a 300mm f/2.8 or at the very top end a Nikon 200-400 f4. So we're looking at 10-11 Ibs of payload max.

I will likely add a Kirk L-bracket to the mix. Anything else?

[Mike66]

Here is a Pro Ball Head Review that shows several brands of ball heads, and if you scroll down a little, there is a picture of the Q3, M10, and M20 in a row for a visual comparison.

For the difference in price between the M10 and M20, about $30, I would choose the M20. It is certainly overkill for my needs now, but I don't know what I will be attaching to it a year from now. The heads can take a high compression load, around 100 pounds, which exceeds the capacity of any tripod I will likely own. However, the larger ball surface and internal clamping should offer more resistance to creep when attaching long lenses or positioning the camera at angles when the load is not centered over the head. I have never owned a ball head, so I cannot compare the M20 to anything else, but I do not plan on buying another ball head for a long time.

An additional purchase to consider is the $12 MP-3 ball head cover. If you are going to carry the tripod in a case or bag, this cover might not be required. I don't have a case yet (and might not buy one), but this cover fits perfectly over any of the Markins ball heads. When I bought mine, it was in stock and shipped quickly. Now I see that PhotoProShop has about a four-week lead time for them. The ebay seller from whom I bought my M20 has them for $27.

[Nikonfreak]

I have the markins and I really like it.

Next ball head I get though is going to be the RRS monster. There's just no two ways about it. The camera doesn't budge regardless of angle. that's my next head. Won't even blink twice about it when I buy it.

[Ed Shapiro]

Manfrotto makes some good ball heads- I have a few in different sizes and the all work well, are durable and long lasting. Interestingly enough, Manfrotto has purchased GITZO- I wonder who makes what for whom! I think one of my BIG Monfrotto heads is heavier that my Gitzo carbon-fiver tripod.

Ed

[ohenry]

I have a RRS BH-55 on my Gitzo 1325 that I love, even tho it is WAY overpriced. I've heard positive things about Markins heads, as well.

[20DNewbie]

I've got the M20 also and have zero complaints about it. Sure the RRS heads may be prettier, but as far as I'm concerned being pretty doesn't warrant the additional cost over the Markins heads.