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Sirui Ballheads?
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Jun 27, 2015 15:57:49   #
planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
 
I'm considering one, the K-30X for a yet-to-be-delivered used Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 tripod (should get it Monday or Tuesday from B&H). It's going to be my first real tripod and have never used a ballhead. It's gotten high praise form DP Review though. Anyone have experience with it? Recommendations for or against?

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Jun 27, 2015 18:21:56   #
Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC
 
planepics wrote:
I'm considering one, the K-30X for a yet-to-be-delivered used Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 tripod (should get it Monday or Tuesday from B&H). It's going to be my first real tripod and have never used a ballhead. It's gotten high praise form DP Review though. Anyone have experience with it? Recommendations for or against?

While I don't own the K-30X, I HAVE used a Sirui G10X on a Sirui three legged monopod. Build quality is excellent, the ball does NOT slip once locked in. I was hesitant to buy a pure Chinese brand monopod, but I gave it a whirl, thinking all the time I could return to Amazon.com if I didn't like it. I like it so much, I may looking at what else they have to offer. I shoot with a Canon 7D MK II and it handles that DLSR with aplomb.

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Jun 27, 2015 21:43:06   #
Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
I have a K-20 and it sold me on Sirui. It is very solid with a Nikon D610 and 70-200. ;)

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Jun 27, 2015 23:24:28   #
davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
 
planepics wrote:
I'm considering one, the K-30X for a yet-to-be-delivered used Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 tripod (should get it Monday or Tuesday from B&H). It's going to be my first real tripod and have never used a ballhead. It's gotten high praise form DP Review though. Anyone have experience with it? Recommendations for or against?


Tried to buy the K-30 only to have the salesman explain why I didn't need that much support. I settled for the K-20. Both of these heads hold heavy loads and hold exactly where they are put. The K-20 actually holds more than I require but the price was so low that it made no difference. The ability of these heads to hold is incredible. They are definitely worth the price.

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Jun 27, 2015 23:38:54   #
Magaliaman Loc: Magalia, CA
 
planepics wrote:
I'm considering one, the K-30X for a yet-to-be-delivered used Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 tripod (should get it Monday or Tuesday from B&H). It's going to be my first real tripod and have never used a ballhead. It's gotten high praise form DP Review though. Anyone have experience with it? Recommendations for or against?


I've got the K-30, its solid, stable, and for the cost, I cant imagine anything better. I Highly recommend it.

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Jun 28, 2015 02:58:54   #
Basil Loc: New Mexico
 
I have the K-20x - very nice head. I'm sure the 30 is equally nice.

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Jun 28, 2015 06:17:44   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
planepics wrote:
I'm considering one, the K-30X for a yet-to-be-delivered used Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 tripod (should get it Monday or Tuesday from B&H). It's going to be my first real tripod and have never used a ballhead. It's gotten high praise form DP Review though. Anyone have experience with it? Recommendations for or against?


You ordered the right head. Their smaller heads are still excellent quality, but with heavier camera/lens combos they are not quite as smooth as their bigger heads. I always recommend the biggest head you can afford. The only downside is a little extra weight - usually less than 6-8 oz between the biggest one and the smaller one that "can" work. The benefit is smoother action, bigger "sweet spot" and the knowledge that you can put a 1200mm F5.6 Canon lens ($180K) and not worry about the head failing. :)

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Jun 28, 2015 07:37:39   #
Psergel Loc: New Mexico
 
planepics wrote:
I'm considering one, the K-30X for a yet-to-be-delivered used Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 tripod (should get it Monday or Tuesday from B&H). It's going to be my first real tripod and have never used a ballhead. It's gotten high praise form DP Review though. Anyone have experience with it? Recommendations for or against?


I do not have a sirui ball head but...i was talking one day to a pro who was using a Sirui tripod. Based on his recommendation I bought a heavy duty Sirui tripod and the quality of that product led me to buy a Sirui monopod and tilt head.
The K-30 is next.

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Jun 28, 2015 08:33:39   #
Paul Hendley Loc: UK and USA
 
I have the Sirui K-40X and it holds my 7dMII plus 70-200 plus extender steady as a rock. It replaced my Benro and does a really solid job - it simply "feels" like good engineering compared to the Benro.

The arcaswiss compatible plate on the Sirui is useful and has a really handy "detente " button that holds your camera lens on even if you have not tightened it sufficiently or have turned the "wrong knob: by accident. Another piece of security that I relish. [However, being the nervous type, I am trying hard to remember to connect my camera each time I use the tripod to a Peak wrist strap that is attached around the ballhead.] I wish my Benro had this since I still have to use this when I am working in the USA - I may get a plate with the same feature.

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Jun 28, 2015 09:36:39   #
Basil Loc: New Mexico
 
Gene51 wrote:
You ordered the right head. Their smaller heads are still excellent quality, but with heavier camera/lens combos they are not quite as smooth as their bigger heads. I always recommend the biggest head you can afford. The only downside is a little extra weight - usually less than 6-8 oz between the biggest one and the smaller one that "can" work. The benefit is smoother action, bigger "sweet spot" and the knowledge that you can put a 1200mm F5.6 Canon lens ($180K) and not worry about the head failing. :)
You ordered the right head. Their smaller heads ar... (show quote)


I have the K-20X ball head which I use with my 7DM2 and a Canon 300mm Prime with no issues. If I had something heavier like the 70-200 f2.8, or a Sigma Sport, for example, I'd probably want to move up to the K-30X or K-40X. In fact, if I had it to do over again, I probably would go with the K-30X, but so far the K-20 is fine (I also have a Nest Gimbal head I use with the 300 with an extender)

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Jun 28, 2015 09:44:56   #
Basil Loc: New Mexico
 
Psergel wrote:
I do not have a sirui ball head but...i was talking one day to a pro who was using a Sirui tripod. Based on his recommendation I bought a heavy duty Sirui tripod and the quality of that product led me to buy a Sirui monopod and tilt head.
The K-30 is next.


Just curious which Sirui Tripod you bought? I bought the Sirui N-2204X, which is a 4 section carbon fiber unit. Excellent travel tripod and extremely light weight for hiking. One of the legs removes to serve as a monopod.

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Jun 28, 2015 09:55:50   #
Psergel Loc: New Mexico
 
Basil wrote:
Just curious which Sirui Tripod you bought? I bought the Sirui N-2204X, which is a 4 section carbon fiber unit. Excellent travel tripod and extremely light weight for hiking. One of the legs removes to serve as a monopod.

I went the other way......you wouldn't want to travel with the Sirui tripod that I bought. It's the model R4203L.

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Jun 28, 2015 10:05:32   #
Basil Loc: New Mexico
 
Psergel wrote:
I went the other way......you wouldn't want to travel with the Sirui tripod that I bought. It's the model R4203L.


You could mount a cannon (a real cannon) on that thing!

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Jun 28, 2015 10:11:14   #
Boone Loc: Groundhog Town USA
 
planepics wrote:
I'm considering one, the K-30X for a yet-to-be-delivered used Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 tripod (should get it Monday or Tuesday from B&H). It's going to be my first real tripod and have never used a ballhead. It's gotten high praise form DP Review though. Anyone have experience with it? Recommendations for or against?


I have both the 20 & 30K. I use the 20 on a monopod and the 30 on tripod. All I can say about these heads is: PRECISION...PRECISION...PRECISION! Rock solid! Thanks, Boone.

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Jun 28, 2015 10:34:09   #
Psergel Loc: New Mexico
 
Basil wrote:
You could mount a cannon (a real cannon) on that thing!


It's a beast. It is overkill.....maybe.
I use it with a Nest gimbal head ...almost exclusively for my Tamron 150-600.

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