Genessi Loc: SoCal

I have an opportunity to purchase used at a nice price... I am wondering what your opinion on this. I hear its heavy. I will be using on my Benro CLT 2 series Indigo carbon fiber tripod with my CanonR5 and 100-500.
I also like the flex shooter ball head. Hope to hear from some of the ladies! But big thanks to everyone..

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

This is the apex ball head from Really Right Stuff, and the ball head that all other BHs in the industry are judged against. To use on your Benro, you'll need a male stud, a 1/4"-20 male screw extending from the top of tripod when the old head is removed.

You also want to consider how you'll connect both your camera and the lens tripod collar to the ball head.

1, You need an arca-swiss compatible clamp on top of the ball head. The BH-55 will be useless trying to screw directly into a camera or lens mount. I like the RRS quick-release lever clamps, but others like the screw-type.

2, For the tripod collar, you should look at a 'lens plate' that is permanently attached to the collar, arca-swiss compatible. It should have two mounting screws to attach to the collar to prevent any twist of the collar.

3, For the camera, consider a bottom-only body-plate or a custom R5 lens-plate, again in the arca-swiss standard.

The plates on the lens collar and the body now give you permanent mount points for either tool when clamping to the BH. Your investment in RRS technology should be a joy and easy to use, where arca-swiss clamps and plates complete the toolset.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

It's a nice solid unit and it would be interesting to know what components it consists of. I enjoy the lever clamp.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Paul. Ive not used the rrs head, but doesnt it use the standard 3/8" stud? Usually the 1/4 size is to mate to a camera.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Your are correct. I went to the specs and probably pulled the mount point for the clamp rather than the mount point to the tripod. Actually, I don't know what I was reading, and now, it's too late to correct the early post. The spec for the 'base mount' is: 3/8"-16 Female.

Stepping back from the size thread, what I wanted to confirm for the OP was how does this ball head mount to the OP's other-brand tripod? You can get an adapter that makes a smaller male stud larger, but a stud that is too large can be a pain to adapt to a smaller.

Again, sorry for the confusion of the earlier post. Check the specs, and the equipment directly, not misleading references here.

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

I have use my BH-55 head for several years. It IS big and heavy, but it will handle any lens you have, and I have ad no prroblems. I got mine thinking I would never want any other head. But in reality, I could do just fine with a small head, a RRS BH-40 perhaps. I think the BH-55 is overkill for anything less than a 600 mm prime lens.

DRM Loc: NC

Most likely, the RRS BH-40 is sufficiently capable for your present and future needs. I have a BH-40 and a BH-55, both attached to Gitzo legs, lighter ones with the 40, heavier ones with the 55. The BH-55 is indeed noticeably heavier than the BH-40. However, the 40 is more limited in tilting movements and, in my opinion, a bit more cumbersome to use. As a result, I almost always end up taking the heavier BH-55/Gitzo combo, despite the fact that it is usually overkill for the camera/lens combos I'm using at the time. One exception to the overkill comment is when I use a 500mm f/4; no way the BH-40 is adequate for a lens that heavy.

Genessi Loc: SoCal

Don't think it comes with lever clamp

Genessi Loc: SoCal

Thanks CHG! she said it was heavy so maybe will have to continue research.

Genessi Loc: SoCal

Thank you for that info.. She did say it was heavy that's why she is using the Flex shooter. (Guess its not a good deal if it doesn't work for you) What's your option on the flex shooter.

RichJ207 Loc: Sammamish, WA

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BARRY COWAN

I have this ball head as well as the next size down. Both are very good is heavy. With your camera and lens setup, the 40 may be sufficient. To a great degree the choice of tripod heads is more a matter of what you will be doing with it. For wildlife, I would not use a ball head, I would look for a gimbal or fluid head. Personally, I would put an L bracket on the camera body and get a RRS replacement foot for the lens if it has a collar.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

You can't buy a better ballhead!

srg

Or an "L" bracket attached to the camera.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I have found that Ball Heads are more difficult to use with a long lens than are specialized arms for long lenses. Also, I have found my BH-55 tends to drift a smidge after you tighten it down so frequent recompositions are required. It is much easier to use on a shorter lens.