grtday Loc: Houston, TX

Y’all were wonderful as I did research on a new tripod. Bought an almost new Gitzo GTO 530
Now l need advice on a ball head for it.
Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

What is your anticipated useage ?? Budget??

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

I use a Acratech GP Ballhead - with a Lever clamp
It's light weight (about 1lb) & holds my lenses in place without any movement -- Fits on my Gizo

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Really Right Stuff BH-40

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

What's wrong with your Manfrotto ??

Do you have a way of BALANCING your camera/lens on the head ?- Are you using Arca/Swiss??

grtday Loc: Houston, TX

Real estate photography and general outdoor usage. Budget? Up to $250. Do I need to spend that much?

grtday Loc: Houston, TX

Manfrotto 465. Haven’t seen, nor used but hav had issues with cheap Chinese ball heads and carbon fiber tripods. I want to buy once (over my budget) and be done with tripods!

grtday Loc: Houston, TX

Only friction balance with ball head. I’m open to either. I seem to hear Arca a lot.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

There is no Manfro 465 head - there is a 468 tho ... ...

Jerry Coupe Loc: Kent, WA

Best bet is to 'get hands on' a number of ball heads at a camera store if possible. Probably most important is that the head is adequate for the weight of your equipment. Once that is determined, there are choices of one or more control knobs. After that decision, it is brand name and price. If you get the first two questions answered, you probably will be very happy with any brand you pick.

I have used an Arcatech (about $400) for five years now and really like it. It is very flexible and quick. I used it with both FF Canon 5D Mk II with 70-200 f2.8 lens and more recently with Olympus OMD with 100-400 lens. It works nicely with both setups.

Good luck with your shopping and decision.

grtday Loc: Houston, TX

Sorry....468 it must be. Tripod and head are being shipped. Just seeking expert advice for next step.
Thanks for the correction!

grtday Loc: Houston, TX

This will be used with a Nikon D850 and/or D800, battery pack, and 14-24 (Very heavy) lens. Off to the Camera STore I go.
I looked on Aliexpress.com and they had a huge selection of Manfrotto and other ball heads.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

You say tripod AND HEAD are being shipped. Have you already bought a head, and are just planning to replace it with a ball?

Your plan to buy once is sound, but I'm not sure $250 is going to get you much these days. I think I spent well over that for an Arca Swiss ball 2 decades ago.

And the advice to start with the weight of your equipment is also sound. But you may have a second issue to think about - the offset of the weight of YOUR kit from the mounting point. Your heavy zoom doesn't have a mounting foot that would help you balance the weight of your equipment over the ball, so that ball is going to have to take a lot of torque. A head that can easily handle 10 pounds of balanced weight may not be able to take 10 pounds that's all hanging in front of the attachment point (the camera tripod socket.)

Whatever brand you decide to get, I'd strongly advise you get one that takes Arca Swiss pattern attachment plates. There are LOTS of places that make mounts and plates for that clamp style, and lots of used plates available on ebay and elsewhere for less than full price (they're just cast and/or machined aluminum pieces, dings and scratches take nothing from their functionality - if you buy a new one and use it much it's going to get dinged and scratched in short order, so . . . )

grtday Loc: Houston, TX

Thanks for the sage advice. I guess you can tell I am a tripod neophyte.
Y'all are amazing! Huge thanks!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

With the large heavy weight lens and no tripod collar, you will need to be using a 4 inch A/S plate on the bottom of your camera to allow for balancing the weight over the pivot point - AND- you will also need an L plate with another 4 inch A/S plate attached to short side of the L to balance the rig for vertical (portrait) orientation ...

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