Need Lightweight Arca compatible Ball Head

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

03/17/2015 03:39:29 PM · #1

I need to replace my Manfrotto 489 for a Manfrotto 055 Carbon tripod with a lightweight Arca compatible head. I decided to go Arca because the FZ1000 only really works well with an Arca Swiss type QR plate (others block the compartment) and my Cotton Carrier hand grip bottom plate has built in Arca Swiss and Manfrotto RC2 compatibility, but the RC2 compatibility is a bit off.

The 489RC2 is a big and not-so-light head, weighing in at 1.34 lb (0.61 kg).

I'm looking for something smaller and lighter, something that can handle my heaviest combo and then some, my D600 and Nikon 70-200F2.8. So 17 lbs rated is probably enough.

I'm considering:

- Oben BE-117 Ball Head (13.4 oz (380.0 g))
- Sirui K-20X 38mm Ballhead 0.88 lb (0.4 kg)

I'm open to other suggestions. This is for my "main" tripod, so I want something good, though as always, I don't want to spend a fortune if not necessary. I'm hoping to say at around .75 lbs. I do have a Oben travel tripod with a BE-108 ballhead, only purporting to hold 8lbs. It seems pretty good, but I haven't had it long enough to really decide.

Also, if anyone's interested, I'll be selling the 498RC2 pretty soon.

Message edited by author 2015-03-17 15:56:51.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

03/17/2015 04:03:37 PM · #2

I have the bigger Sirui - WOW, feels freaking great...

//www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QC3CMG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Message edited by Bear_Music - parse url.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/17/2015 05:21:14 PM · #3

Thanks Cory.

Also considering this: //www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXMRW6/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2ZH1V1LBSRVIC

Message edited by author 2015-03-17 17:21:22.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

03/17/2015 06:08:12 PM · #4

This Beike from Amazon is working fine for me. It's a lot less expenisve than your other suggestions. Seems very well built too.

MAK

Leica CL

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

03/17/2015 07:24:14 PM · #5

Really Right Stuff make one similar that i have had a few years and it has never missed a beat, light, strong, and smooth.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/18/2015 03:18:11 PM · #6

I've got an older Acratech GV2 that I use and have zero complaints on, pretty damn light, but not cheap. I've heard lots of good things about the Induro's, but never used them. Awhile back, I took the chance and ordered a cheap ballhead, myself. Ballhead that won't break the bank. It's not particularly light, but it works well, still nice today. The BH5 has been discontinued it appears, replaced instead by the BH5X.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

03/18/2015 04:04:10 PM · #7

Smith-Victor (BH5X) is the B&H house brand. I have one that looks identical to that on the inexpensive travel tripod we just bought for our upcoming trip. And THAT one is identical, except for the knobs, to the Beike I just referenced two posts ago. Which we also have, on a monopod, and which I like very much. And it's 20 bucks cheaper... Of course, I'm no expert on these smaller/lighter heads, it's terra incognita for me, being an old-school, heavy tripod kind of guy :-)

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

03/19/2015 01:40:09 AM · #8

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Interesting... I bought mine at Adorama... Either way, like I said, it's not as lightweight (by a a decent bit) as my Acratech, but seriously, a pretty great bargain. And Bear, it's funny, I had asked you originally about even considering a cheap head since it was just on a monopod, but really, on a budget, I think it'd be great on a tripod. Surprisingly high grade product given the pricepoint.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

03/19/2015 09:40:22 AM · #9

Thanks for all the replies.

Interesting, B&H doesn't give the weight of the BH5X. Says the mfr doesn't provide this info.

I'd also like to know the base diameter which they show for other heads, but not this one. My Manfrotto 055C has a big base...when I put the Oben 108 on it, it looks kind of stupid. The Oben 117 isn't much bigger. Of course, otherwise, unless the tripod and the camera are hitting when you go portrait mode, it probably doesn't matter.

Does it have a pushbutton stop so you can slide in the plate? (The Oben does not. I think the Sirui does.)

Lastly, do the plates come with a d-Ring? (Oben does not, the Sirui does, I believe)

(The Oben does not, but for $5 you can buy a screw with a D-Ring from BH.)

Expense wise, the Oben BE-117 is not much more than the BH5X (it's $70). I like not having so many knobs...I tend to hit the wrong ones. But I do also think a tension control is important, and I don't think the Oben has one (the Sirui does).

One demo I saw on the web showed the main knob on some head just being tightened enough to hold the camera, yet you could still move it. Is that what's "expected" by mfrs when you have only a single lock knob? Or just always loosen, move, and tighten?

spiritualspatula

04/01/2015 01:47:50 PM · #10

Originally posted by Neil:

Sorry, missed your post...
My BH5 weighs in at 501g, it is 2.5" at the base. The BH5 does have a detent pin, but I removed mine. From my original review- "One other interesting thing is that the SV can only accept the AS plates I have from Acratech by sliding them in from the side, not by placing them in from above. This means that the detent pin must be removed in order to use the plates I have, and my whole point for getting this head was to NOT have two plate systems (if you want to do this, you can remove the pin yourself very readily). This would be an issue if it weren't for the confidence inspiring locking power of the head itself, both onto the plate and to prevent head movement. As such, I'm okay with it after my testing and have yet to have any issues, but I am particularly diligent, knowing there is now no detent pin." Plate did not come with a d-ring.

Regarding the knob... not too sure. On a mono, I use it like that, but on a tripod I don't generally.

04/02/2015 11:45:21 AM · #11

Thanks.

There were so many good options...and so many things to keep in mind...I didn't buy anything yet. :)

One of these days!

Meanwhile, I'm using the Oben 108 head from my Oben travel tripod and just moving it from tripod to tripod. I did try it with the D600 and the 70-200 F2.8, and it definitely can't hold that at an angle without significant creep. So for that combination, I will definitely buy a heavier duty head eventually.