Davet Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

I just purchased a refurbished D5 from Nikon. What would you recommend for a good ball head? I have a pistol grip but I need a change.

Camlane Loc: North Carolina

It's hard to beat a Really Right Stuff head.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I would suggest you look at the Really Right Stuff ball heads. I have read they are very good, but have not personally used them.

Brokenland

I've found that the Pergear TH3 ball head suit my style. In fact I order three of them for my three mount vintage tripod.

Davet Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

Thanks

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

The lenses you are using could impact your choices.
For longer lenses (200mm and up) I very much prefer gimbals over ball heads.

peter.zimmerman

I know of no better ball head than the one Leica makes.

PJinOH Loc: Columbus, OH

I picked up a Kirk BH1 a number of years ago off eBay, and absolutely love it. It is rock solid and rated to hold 50 pounds. It is extremely smooth and easy to use. I have a smaller RRS head for my travel tripod that I am also very happy with, but wanted to give you an option other than the RRS that folks have already mentioned

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

There is a great online tool called "B&H Photo" that lets you search for what's available with the features you want, compare costs and other factors.

For example, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Tripod-Heads/ci/140/N/4075788769?filters=fct_head-type_1544%3Aball-heads lists all 378 ballheads they sell. Now you can narrow it further with various features, such as whether or not you want a quick release and, if you do, what type of quick release. For example you can show only ballheads with Arca-Swiss compatible QR platforms. You also can narrow it further with the general weight capacity and, if you want, the brands you'd like to see. You also can sort the list by most popular first or by price high to low or low to high, by buyer feedback, etc.

If it were me I might look for a ballhead with Arca-Swiss compatibility. I would also only want to see heads that are rated to support 30 to 60 lb. Those are basically the the medium duty to heavy duty heads.... not light or ultralight... but also not extra heavy duty (and, no doubt, hefty).

Doing this, I've still got 95 heads to choose among, ranging in price from $40 to almost $1000! What can I do to narrow it further?

Well, frankly I don't recognize most of the brand names of the cheapest ones and am not sure I'd trust them. If wanted I can set a price range that eliminates them. At the same time, the prices at the top end seem pretty ridiculous and some of those pricier heads have features I really don't want or need (such as a secondary panning axis). I set a max of $400, as well as only in-stock items and still had choice of 41 different ballheads.

Next I can fall back on my own experience, since over the years I've used others and have three ballheads now:

1. Kirk BH-1 is a top quality, high durability, no nonsense ballhead that's rated for 50 lb., weighs about 2 lb., provides two separate movements (necessary for some things I do with it, such as using a Wimberley Sidekick gimbal adapter with big lenses), has an Arca platform, has worked flawlessly for 20 years on my most regularly used tripod, but is relatively expensive. It costs $385 currently... a lot more than some, but not expensive as many others (including most RRS). This ballhead's quick release platform also uses a screw knob, rather than a quick release lever. This is my preference. I just don't trust the lever type.

2. Smith-Victor BH8 is a budget grade no nonsense ballhead that's rated for 50 lb. capacity, weighs about 2 lb. and is virtually identical to the Kirk head's design and specs, but cost under $100 and serves on a less frequently used "backup" tripod. The difference between this and the Kirk is in the quality. This made-in-China head arrived with a very stiff and gritty feeling panning axis. I removed the three screws holding it together, cleaned out the axle grease used to lube the ball bearings and replaced it with a high quality, thick oil (actually bicycle chain lube I had on hand)... and now it works great. Also, where the Kirk head uses 100% metal knobs that are knurled for good grip, the Smith-Victor had little rubber grips installed on the metal knobs. Those worked fine at first, but over time got torn, stretched, cracked and eventually fell off. Everything still works fine, but for more comfortable use I ended up wrapping the knobs with some strips of rubberized "grip tape" (as used on steps, etc. for non-slip effect). This head is no longer available, but there are any number of similar or even better quality heads at close to this price. For example I see Sunway FB-52, Sirui G20-X, Benro VX25 and Tiltall BH-10 all of which are quite similar with 44 to 55 lb. ratings and priced around $120-$130. For a little more money, but still reasonably affordable (under $200) there are various Leofoto, Oben, Feisol and Induro heads. For between $200 and $400 you can find a number of premium quality ballheads from some of the above, but also Gitzo, Kirk, Arca-Swiss, FLM and others. Then from $400 and up you find RRS, Acra-Tech, ProMedia Gear and others. Some of the priciest models are more specialized with added features... Others just seem to cost a lot because people will pay that for the brand name. To me a ballhead is a ballhead. It's supposed to be simple. And while I appreciate good quality, I also think some of the prices are ridiculous.

3. Manfrotto unknown model ballhead is small and comparatively lightweight with all movements controlled and locked with a single knob. it's undoubtedly not rated for particularly heavy gear (though I've used it with up to 10 lb. of camera and lens). I don't recall where I got it or what it cost. It's design and size was ideal for use on a monopod and that's where I use it, though I had to modify it for my purposes. It didn't have a quick release platform, but I was able to get a replacement Arca-compatible platform from Kirk that works fine, though at around $40 it was an added cost on a relatively cheap head. (I used to use Manfrotto/Bogen proprietary quick release systems... two different ones. They're not as versatile and nowhere near as universal as the Arca QR system, so I eventually switched over.)

I also can get some help from the reviews of other buyers on that website... as well as by doing a search for online reviews of particular models, once I've narrowed it down to a relative few for consideration.

If possible, once I've really narrowed it down, ideally I'd like to go check out the heads at an actual store to see if I have a preference.

People will often recommend what they've bought in a subconscious hope that you'll reinforce their purchasing decision by repeating it. But what experience do they have with other models and other brands? What research did they do? Do they use the product the same way you'll be using it? Sure, RRS and Leica may be "great"... but there are 21 different RRS ballheads. Which model are we talking about? With what features? It's similar with Leica... or most other brands for that matter.

Rather than give you a brand or even a specific model recommendation, I hope I've given you some ideas what to look for in a ballhead and how to research what's available. Your use and criteria for a ballhead might be different from mine and you can do similar searches at other retailer websites. The above is just intended as examples of my own thought process and how I'd use B&H's website. I hope this helps!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You don't mention what lenses and what tripod you'll be using this on.

However, there is no substitute for a large ball typically 52 - 58 mm in diameter.

FLM Centerball 58 FTR
RRS BH-55
Arca Swiss Z1
Markins Q-Ball Q20i (48mm ball, but in the same league as the others)
Feisol CB-70D (huge ball, currently on backorder, and a bargain at $260)

I have owned an Arca Swiss z1 for 14 yrs and I have gotten great results with it. If I were to replace it I would likely get the FLM 58 FTR, which I believe is a little more solid and stable.

Any of the above would be a significant step up from what you have now.

Davet Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

Fantastic information, thanks

peter.zimmerman

I should have specified: I meant the Leica/Leitz “large” ball head. Built like a tank. My older model takes both 1/4x20 and 3/8” threads. Uses a knob to lock and unlock and is very solid. I have literally been using this one for 55 years w/o a problem and w/o loosening or any other troubles. OK?

PZ

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Keep clear of the arca swiss type which uses a quick release lever. I had one but found the lever adjustment mechanism was very touchy between too tight and too loose. Plus it was easy to fall out of adjustment requiring a lot of fiddling to keep it right AND so that whatever it was holding didn't fall off when you least expected it.
With the knob adjustment it was either tight or loose.

CO

Acratech has a unique open ball design. It allows any debris to clear away rather than being trapped in the ball socket. I have the Acratech Nomad ballhead. It weighs only 0.9lbs but can support up to 25lbs. The Nomad model has been discontinued but there are many others in the line-up. This is their GXP model. It weighs only 1lb but can support up to 50lbs. The lighter weight of these makes a difference if you hike in nature to do photography.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I own an Acratech GV2. Light and strong. There’s another post from an Acratech owner on this post. Give them a look. Also, it’s worth a call to Acratech to check on seconds and/or overstocks. Just google them and their number will pop up.