Manfrotto Ball Head

[Fallingup]

I'm looking to get a Manfrotto Ball Head for my tripod but there are too many to choose from and the Googled reviews are very contradictory (as usual). Has anyone got one that they would recommend. It will be used for everything from landscape, wildlife, to star shots.

[RobDickinson]

IMO go get a different company ball head that uses arca swiss system unless you have a real thing for manfrotto gear/qr plates

none of mf's ball heads are particularly impressive

[Fallingup]

RobDickinson said:

IMO go get a different company ball head that uses arca swiss system unless you have a real thing for manfrotto gear/qr plates

none of mf's ball heads are particularly impressive

Okay. That's interesting. Can you suggest anything in particular.

[RobDickinson]

Whats your budget?

I'd look at the Sirui K-20 or K-30
I also have a markins q3t but thats spendy
RRS is also spendy

[DavidY]

Manfrotto do make an Arca compatible ball head

MHXPRO-BHQ6 in fact I believe any if the head part numbers ending in Q6 will have the same plate.

I have one, it works well enough, but there are times when a simple Arca head might be better.

[RobDickinson]

AH must be newish looks ok

[Fallingup]

Thanks for the info guys.

[DavidY]

RobDickinson said:

AH must be newish looks ok

I've had mine nearly 2 years!! The only issue is that very occasionally the spring doesn't release the locking plate correctly, and when tightened it can actually ride under the plate on the camera, so now your camera is secured by gravity alone! It caught me out once, won't again, but as I said before maybe a simpler bracket would be better.

Mine probably wasn't helped in the fact that on the first day out with it, I took a tumble down a slope, and the head ended up in several inches of mud. I took at all apart, and rebuilt, but it might be my 'accident' that has caused the spring issue. I probably need to take it apart and clean again!

[singlecoil]

I've got a Manfrotto ball head and I'm happy with it. In fact I've got two, come to think of it.

[C&C]

As per the other thread "Tripod Head", I can recommend Redsnapper heads.

The RSH-12 is pretty heavy duty and to me seems very well engineered. No problem with 4+ Kg camera/lens combination. I understand the head is actually rated to handle up to a 10Kg load.

It's also good value at £60.

[Derek Smith]

Fallingup said:

I'm looking to get a Manfrotto Ball Head for my tripod but there are too many to choose from and the Googled reviews are very contradictory (as usual). Has anyone got one that they would recommend. It will be used for everything from landscape, wildlife, to star shots.

Will you use it for video?