What ballhead to get?

[AntonyHands]

Thanks to all for your comments. I have decided to get myself a Markins M-10L plus the various adaptors etc. Now one more question if I may be so bold - how do I mate this to a Stroboframe Pro-T? I am yet to get the stroboframe (due in a couple of weeks) but I need to determine if the stroboframe QR plate will attach to the Arca-style plate securely enough for a 1D body. Do I need to get a proper Markins QR bracket to fit to the Stroboframe? If so, how do I handle any rotation between the two?

Thanks a million guys!

Antony

[Harold_Clark]

I am sure you will be very happy with the Markins. I recently got the same head, the M10L. I use it with my 1Ds11,(L Plate) RZ 67 and Toho 4x5. It is light, silky smooth and the tension preset works very well. The North American distributor is not too far from me, so I popped in to try one out and was immediately sold on it. I have used it @ -15C with no problem, something that probably won't be a consideration where you live.

[JeffWright]

I've owned the acratech and Arca Swiss heads, but my hands down favorite is the Markins. Control layout is identical to the Arca Swiss, but much better operation. You can order them directly from marksins, www.markinsusa.com, if you're in the US. You can chose to order one with no clamp platform and install a Really Right Stuff clamp if you desire--that's what I've done.

[Larry_Menzin]

I ended up getting a Linhof Profi III and installing a RRS clamp on it. Although I use it with a full MF setup, it should be a very good combination for 35mm.

[AnthonyHarrison]

[ QUOTE ]
I've owned the acratech and Arca Swiss heads, but my hands down favorite is the Markins. Control layout is identical to the Arca Swiss.......

[/ QUOTE ]
Hah! No wonder - I'd never heard of Markins until now, but from the pics on their site they look uncannily similar to Arca. I wonder if Arca is pursuing any patent infringement suits...
Back on topic, I've used Arca B-1s for years and they're good, if over-rated - my two are very stiff now, and I've been told the Teflon wears off, don't know how true that is. I prefer my old-type Arca Monoball on a Gitzo Studex, which supports the weighty GX680 with ease.
I'm surprised the original poster is using a Manfrotto 055, because I regard this as flimsy, bendy rubbish - I know, I bought one myself once, never again. You won't go wrong with Gitzo, expensive but they last for years - I also have an ancient Cremaillere 3 that's still rock solid with an annual strip & clean. And Manfrotto heads are OK for lighting kit, but I find their various Q/R plates hopelessly imprecise, loose, wobbly, and crude. Stick to Arca, Foba, Linhof or something else with which you can use Arca-type Q/R plates. I second the recommendations for RRS plates, excellent products indeed.

[Melvin_Sokolsky]

I have been working with the Arca Swiss B1 for more years than I like to admit and have found it reliable and worthy in all situations including extreme cold weather - Never had it lock up as I have heard in reports.

As of this weekend I am going to retire my Arca Swiss B1 and am switching to the RRS B55 for the following reasons. *

I gave myself the blindfold test. * Both Ballheads were setup on a Gitzo 1348 tripods with 1Ds Mk2 cameras with B57 L plates... mounted in RRS quick release clamps. *

I found myself instinctively perferring the large tapered knurled tighting knob of the RRS B55 *I also preferred the tension nob located on the right as it was easier to access and control than the embedded tension nob on the Arca Swiss B1. *

After spending the rest of afternoon shooting without the blindfold I was surprised to find that I had adapted to an unfamiliar tool so quickly.

I was most surprised to find that in switching from ballhead to ballhead , my experience with the Arca Swiss increasingly became less pleasant. *Think about the following....when you are looking throught the prism of the camera your hands are making positioning decisions that are based on touch and memory. *I am not saying the Arca Swiss B1 is a dog as it has served me well for many years.

I believe that the RRS B55 is ergonomically better suited for human - touch memory - wiring; which allows one to forget the Ballhead and concentrate on the capture of images.

I will not get into a cost debate, because I remember arguing while in my youth, why the Corvet was a better car than the Porsche; when I secretly knew that I loved the Porsche but could not afford it .


Besides the cost differences are quite small when you think a great ballhead should last forever


http://www.melvinsokolsky.com/

[Guy_Mancuso]

I also went from the Arca B1 which I really loved and got the RRS-55B . Like Melvin i like the tapered knobs but I also like the tension knob instead of the insert in the main knob just makes it easier to work and also love the 2 vertical drops. I use the 200 1.8 a lot which is very heavy and somewhat awkward on a tripod. when i need to tighten down to remove the body it is just a real simple light turn and the lens stays put. This is great because sometime syou forget how heavy the lens really is an d that tension makes it very secure. it is a 10 week to get one and a few dollars to boot but this should last a long time.


And it is very nice having a bubble level built in and the lever to tighten down the camera

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