RRS ballhead question: I have a BH55 and BH40. I use them on a Gitzo series tripod with a center column. Last night I went out to shoot Neowise and discovered with the 55 I couldn't...

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RRS ballhead question

Jul 26, 2020 14:24:00 #

mikee

I have a BH55 and BH40. I use them on a Gitzo series tripod with a center column. Last night I went out to shoot Neowise and discovered with the 55 I couldn't rotate the neck of the ball into the slots on the head to shoot up into the sky far enough. Switched to my BH40 and I could. Looking at the threads on the base of each ballhead revealed that the 40 has an enclosed "cup" with threads, allowing complete movement of the neck into the slot allowing horizontal to vertical rotation of the camera. On the other hand, the 55 base is open and the screw on the neck of the tripod extends up into the center of the ball (from the bottom) and prevents it from rotating into either side slot. Make sense? With the 55, if I want to change from horizontal to vertical I need to remove the ballhead a bit, rotate the neck into a slot, and re-tighten the head to the tripod. Is this a design feature, or am I screwing something up?

Jul 26, 2020 15:32:11 #

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I use an l bracket on my cameras to change orientation is that is what you mean. It makes it faster and simpler.

J. R.

Jul 26, 2020 15:51:54 #

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I have the BH55 and I use an L bracket.

Check out Traditional Street and Architectural Photography section of our forum.

Jul 26, 2020 15:57:31 #

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

mikee wrote:

I have a BH55 and BH40. I use them on a Gitzo se... (show quote)

Sounds like your mounding screw is a bit too long - shorten it - or use a shorter one ....

Jul 26, 2020 16:30:12 #

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

mikee wrote:

I have a BH55 and BH40. I use them on a Gitzo se... (show quote)

On some heads, ball and tilt, the threaded hole that the tripod (or monopod) screw goes into, comes in one size but has a little insert you can screw in it to make it fit a different size screw. Could it be that that insert is too long and it sticking up and hitting the ball. You would just need a shorter insert. They are usually really short in the first place too avoid this type of problem, but who knows.
...Cam

Jul 26, 2020 18:49:32 #