Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

A couple of years ago, I bought a Vanguard tripod, with a ball-head. Can't remember the model of the tripod (285?) but I think it is an SBH-100 head. As an offer when I bought the tripod, they had a mail-in rebate for a free pan/tilt head.

When I got the head, I bought a set of Slik legs (700 Pro, or something) to go with it.

For some inconceivable reason, the 2 heads, both Vanguard, have different QR plates, which are not compatible with each other. This is a real PITA when I grab one of my cameras to go do something and find I have the wrong plate mounted...

I am thinking about a Peak sling strap, which comes with a plate which is Arca-swiss compatible. I am pretty sure that neither of mine are. I have also looked at the Cotton Carrier system after reading some posts on here about it, and maybe if/when the money is a bit more abundant I might think about that, but it also is arca-swiss compatible

It seems that the sensible thing to do is replace my current heads with ones which *are* compatible. The search function on Amazon matches to any word in the given string, so searching for 'arca-swiss ball head' will match any ball head, plus footballs, baseball gloves, swiss cheese, and books on how to make a baseball glove out of swiss cheese...

I found one this morning by Sirui which looks pretty nice, but it quite a lot of moolah and 2 of them would more than break my bank. So...

I am looking for suggestions for good *reasonable* ball-heads. Save your effort from suggesting something from Really Right Stuff for $400, as it would take me 2 years to save up for two of those. I can stretch to $100, maybe $150 each if I look away and whistle when pressing the 'buy now' button...

I don't need the pan/tilt, since my only video stuff is mounted and unaccompanied. My heaviest equipment is the 7D (original) with battery grip, fitted with 75-300mm zoom. I do not anticipate being able to afford anything heavier any time soon...

Please don't let this degrade into a "mine is bigger/better/badder than yours" type argument. I know that is asking a lot on here, but let's try, ok?

Thank you all in advance for your accumulated wisdom!

phkowalchuk Loc: Aurora, CO

I don't see the problem with two tripods and one head. My head isn't on my tripod. When I go out, I pick the tripod and attach the head, either before leaving or in the field. If you are arca compatible, you'll have no problem switching cameras; all my cameras have their own plates. However, this won't work if you're shooting two tripod-mounted cameras at the same time. However, you say above that this is a PITA when you "grab one of your cameras," so that doesn't seem to be the case.

Get a good head. $400 for the Really Right Stuff head is a good investment. For what it's worth, I use a Acratech Panorama Head. It is like a head I used when I was a large format guy. You can see it here http://www.acratech.net/tripod-heads/panorama-heads/panoramic-head. For me, it's part of a pan setup with several other elements, but I've used it without the other stuff and like it a lot. It's less than $400. Just my thoughts; I hope they help.

Leitz Loc: Solms

I agree with phkowalchuk on the use of one head for two tripods, but it could be inconvenient at times. For an excellent ball head at a reasonable price, I can recommend Smith-Victor. I have a BH8, have nothing negative to say about it. The BH2X or BH5X Black Diamonds should be ideal for your rig. I have no issues with their quick-release plates. Good luck!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Smith-Victor+Ball+Heads&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

Check with Mt Shooter at CameraCottage.com

Gitzo Loc: Indiana

Bloke;
I highly recommend getting a ball head that is compatible with Arca-style QR plates; I have Arca plates on all of my cameras and all lenses over 200 mm; However, I do NOT recommend buying "new" Arca QR plates; the reason being.....you can always find used one, (like new ), for "pennies on the dollar", compared to new ones. A lot of people make first-rate QR plates; (RRS and Kirk being my favorite ); when it comes to an "ell plate", (which is essentially a horizontal and a vertical plate in "one piece".....I wouldn't buy anything BUT a RRS, Kirk, (or one or two more "makes"; the big difference in "ell plates" being, only the horizontal portion of the plate is attached to the camera body, and the vertical part of the plate depends entirely on two fairly "thin" segments which "wrap around" the bottom corner of the camera body; because of this, all really high quality plates are CNC machined from a solid block of very high-strength aluminum alloy; with a less expensive "foreign" made plate, who knows "what" alloy was used for making the ell plate? (With any RRS or KIRK plate OR "ell plate", you can be absolutely certain that the plate has been machined from a solid block of very high-strength alloy.

Ball heads; a LOT of very good one "out there"; personally, I have an Arca-Swiss B-1; (they don't build them anymore, which is a big advantage for anyone who is "wants the best", while "paying the least"! ) When I purchased my A-S, B-1 on eBay, I found a marvelous fellow in the U.K. who sold it to me for less than half of it's then retail price, (which was $499 at B&H Camera in NYC. ) (At the time, it took 6 months to get one from B&H, as they were always on "back-order". Thing is extremely light, yet is rated for a 45 lb. "load"; (and you DO NOT need to "torque down" on the fixing knob to make the camera rock steady, with absolutely ZERO "creep"! (It's impossible to describe how well the B-1 is made; you really need to try one to see what I mean )
; I'm guessing with patience and diligence, one could probably pick up a "like new" B-1 for less than $200 USD.
today.

The Cotton Carrier "system"; I very nearly bought one when I was still shooting with my Nikon F-5 and 80-200 / f2.8; the reasons I didn't were several;

#1. I found something I like MUCH better;
#2. which completely "protects" the camera/lens until you need to use it;
#3. And it even costs LESS!
(give me an couple minutes and I'll find you a link )

http://www.amazon.com/Clik-Elite-CE512GR-BodyLink-Telephoto/dp/B0037NZ9Z8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1420607918&sr=1-3-fkmr0&keywords=Clik+elite+body+link+chest+pack

(one picture is worth a thousand words );

Look very closely at the photo; you'll see a 1/4-20 "connecting screw" on top of the aluminum tubular frame; my Arca B-1 attaches to that screw; when I'm going to a trade show, a museum, or an air show, I attach the ball head to the frame; camera stays "out of sight", protected until I need it; (takes about 10 seconds to have it out, attached (by means of it's "ell plate", and shooting; ) when I finish, right back into the chest pack it goes! With practice, (and with my back against a wall or a tree maybe ), I can make 15, 30 second exposures, "almost" as solidly as mounted on my Gitzo 340, (without the encumberance of lugging around the tripod ); also, I know of only one museum where I am even allowed to use a tripod. The Quik-Elite can be used as either a chest pack OR a back pack; When I'm in down-town Chicago, I use a large, very loose fitting and light rain-coat which keeps the whole thing "out of view" (when worn on the chest ); Chicago is a "high-crime" area, no matter where you are!

Saving bucks; as an example of what I'm talking about......I bought a custom-machined, RRS "flat plate" for my huge Nikon F-5 from a fellow in Mainland China for $7.50, and free shipping! Thing arrived 3 days later, looked like a new one! Unfortunately, I no longer shoot any film, and the plate is "fitted" for an F-5 body. When I bought the RRS custom "ell" plate for my D-300s, I think I gave like $75 or 80 USD for it.
I'm not positive, but I don't think I paid as much for the Clik-Elite Bodylink, but I DID get it on Amazon; (I think it was more like $125 maybe. )

My very best tripod advice? again, it "takes a while", and some diligence, but if I was doing it all over again, I would get on eBay, and STAY on eBay until I found the same great deal on a fine, "pre-owned" set of Gitzo legs; (my Gitzo 340 is probably 35 or 40 yrs old by now, yet it "looks like" (and operates like ) a brand new one. Now, I wold try to find one that's made of CF rather than aluminum; (lighter, less vibration, not so cold to touch in cold weather ); (But cost more! )

If you have any tripod questions, feel free to PM me and I can probably help.

mdsiamese Loc: Maryland

Since you said "Save your effort from suggesting something from Really Right Stuff for $400, as it would take me 2 years to save up for two of those" I won't suggest something from Really Right Stuff. However, I will suggest that if Really Right Stuff or any other company has a product or products that will solve your problems but you cannot afford, then look for those products used and don't try to get by with less than what you really need.

You have a great deal of money invested in camera and lens equipment, plus the time and money it takes to get to the pictures you are trying to take. The tripod and head can make a huge difference in camera stability, which will affect the focus of your picture that you spent all that money making. Don't shortchange this part of the equation.

Used equipment works, so get what you need used and don't sacrifice tripod stability and ease of use just because the new version of the product is expensive.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The Vanguard SBH series ball heads all used different and proprietary QR plates. Their video heads all use different plates from their ball heads.
As of 2015 Vanguard has begun to standardize their plates and all their current BBH and TBH ball heads use Arca compatible QR plates. The video heads are being converted as an option as well.
Vanguard is re-structuring their entire line of products starting this year and are making some VERY nice products at competitive prices, they are now the ONLY monopod I stock because of the improvements they have made.
They are also making some very nice camera bags and backpacks these days as well. I stock many of their bags alongside the Lowepro comparable models and my customer base is making lots of positive comments about them.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

No, you missed the point. When I shoot video, I have 5 cameras set up around the church on various tripods and supports. The 2 DSLRs go on the good tripods, so I need decent heads. For general shooting, I use the 7D, so that has to have a head, but if I am shooting astro, or timelapse, I need to use the T4i, so *that* needs to go on the tripod.

As long as I am only using a single camera, I am fine - I keep the QR plates for my ballhead on each of them. If I need to use both, then I have to try and find the plate for the other head to put on one of the cameras. I need to have them the same.

If Vanguard had their act together, I would get another head like the ball I have now. There is no problem with it, *except* that it is not (I don't think...) arca-swiss compatible. For the reasons I explained, I am trying to move in that direction...

So, I am looking for 2 reasonably priced arca-swiss compatible ballheads!

The link you supplied doesn't go anywhere. I found some of their heads, though, but they are $399 each. I need to get 2 for less than that. It seems a bit of overkill to put a $400 head on a tripod which cost around $150, which was what I paid for both of mine. They are quite sturdy enough.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Ok, thank you! That is the kind of information I was looking for... I like the Vanguard that I have, and I have no problem with the ball-head, other than the compatibility anyway! I will look at the BBH and TBH ranges you mention.


Edit: Amazon have a single BBH head listed, but it is $200... They don't say anywhere about arca-swiss compatible, they just call it a "universal 38mm" mount. They don't have any TBH listed at all...

I didn't expect this to be so complicated! If they are compatible, then why not say so? I have never knowingly seen an arca-swiss head, so I have no idea what I am looking for, visually. My only local camera shop is not only useless, but sell stuff for more than *twice* what it goes for on Amazon. I don't mind paying a little more to support a local business, but not *that* much more!

So I am reduced to online searching... Without knowing what the item looks like... Arggggh!

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I have no idea if they have a particular product which would do the job, it was just a name I picked out, because every item I have seen from them has been very expensive.

I have 2 good tripods, quite stable enough for my purposes. I don't want to spend a fortune on new heads. I am not going to buy wallmarts $29.99 specials either!

I have no problem with used equipment, except that you have to find it. I guess I will go and browse B&H used dept., but there again, I do not want to buy a complete tripod with head, because I already have the tripods I need...

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

If you see my response to his post, you will see that I really need 2 heads to go on my 2 tripods, for those occasions when I need to use both cameras at once. Usually this is for shooting video in church, but I needed to set them both up for fireworks on the 4th, which entailed a scramble to find the plate for the second tripod head.

I want 2 heads which use the same plate system. For the other reasons I listed, I want them to be arca-swiss compatible too. That seems like a fairly simple set of requirements...

I will look into the Smith-Victor heads you mention. They might well fit the bill! Thanks.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I own a Manfrotto ball head, Model MH054MO-Q2. I use it on a monopod and on three different tripods. It will handle up to my 200-400 Nikon f4 lens. There are many good ball heads out there. I went to B&H and tried them all out. They have them in one section of the store. All about 75 of them, what a headache I got looking at them all. For me, the Manfrotto fit the bill. Again, there are soooooooooooooo many of them, the best advise is to try them before you buy. It's a lot like buying a pair of shoes, if you buy them before you try them on, then your stuck. Good hunting.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That is really strange.

Maybe this will help. I have several different tripods, and I keep the original head on each and mount a Manfrotto "receiver" on them. Each camera has a matching Manfrotto plate, so I can use any camera on any tripod, and I can remove the Manfrotto from the tripod, and it's back to original condition.

The Manfrotto system works perfectly for me, and it's much less expensive than the A-S parts. Amazon has less expensive non-Manfrotto branded tripod plates.

Noela

I went with a Really Right Stuff head two years ago, and would never go to anything else. Locks easily, adjusts easily, has accessories that allow me to switch things easily. Expensive? Not really, when you consider how many heads you'll go through before you get this one.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Until your subsequent explanation, I was not aware that you would be using the two tripods simultaneously. And had I known that Arca-Swiss compatible plates were mandatory, I would not have recommended Smith-Victor heads. I'm not sure what you will find in your price range, but I wish you luck!