Ball Head for a Monopod & Tripod

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Derek
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I started to research the ball heads and plates but I'm more confused than when I started.
I have a Canon 7D, 15-85, 70-200, 100-400
7d with 15-85 & 70-200 would be camera mounted, and the 100-400 lens mounted.
So I need a plate that can be left on the camera and a plate for the 100-400.
Any guidance would be much appreciated.
Budget top limit £225
 
Redsnapper ball head is pretty decent. I prefer the lightweight version...as it is light. And only 1 button to lock the ball.
 
Gimbals are heavy and bulky. It's worth putting up with all that bulk when shooting with a big tele - but it's overkill for your lenses.

Get a ballhead with an Arca-Swiss style clamp, then plates - one for the camera, one for the 100-400. If you do a lot of portrait-orientation shooting then you may want to look for an L-Plate for the camera.

I really like the Kirk plates -

100-400
7D
 
I've got one of these that I use with the 100-400. Love it. I had an expensive gimbal and couldn't get on with it. I find a fluid video head gives you much more control when panning on to a subject than a gimbal. I use a Giottos ball head with everything else.

Gerry
 
hollis_f said:
Gimbals are heavy and bulky. It's worth putting up with all that bulk when shooting with a big tele - but it's overkill for your lenses.

Get a ballhead with an Arca-Swiss style clamp, then plates - one for the camera, one for the 100-400. If you do a lot of portrait-orientation shooting then you may want to look for an L-Plate for the camera.

I really like the Kirk plates -

100-400
7D
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Thanks Frank.
This looks just the what I'm looking for.
Any recommendation on a head?
 
profiler said:
Thanks Frank.
This looks just the what I'm looking for.
Any recommendation on a head?
Click to expand...

I use an Acratech ballhead and have little experience of others, so I'll no be much help. I do know that several people on TP have, over the years, recommended the RedSnapper range. If I were buying another ballhead now then I'd probably start there.

With the lenses you have I'd use the tripod and ballhead for static shots. For anything like birds in flight I wouldn't bother using a head, but shoot handheld. The 100-400 is comparatively lightweight and handheld shooting is much, much easier than trying to use any sort of head. My Gimbal doesn't come out for anything less than a 300 f2.8.
 
Swanseajack said:
Have you tried any of that Beike gear Gary? I am on the lookout for a Tripod and Head and some of that gear looks good, the only thing putting me off is that their Chinesse sellers.
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Ive got that exact same Gimbal head and used it with a Nikon D3S with 400mm f/2.8 attached, excellent piece of kit, also got a decent Beike Ballhead
 
Thanks Gary.

When I look on sellers feedback page it's stating that they are based in China. Had this a couple of weeks back, but on StewartR tablet it stated US. Perhaps they now have a UK warehouse????

http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayI...21482222909&ttype=price&ftab=FeedbackAsSeller


I'm looking to purchase in a couple of weeks so I think I may give them a go, (Bieke). There's a few sellers of Bieke on ebay and the Tripods & Heads look good value.
 
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China is where they registered as Ebay users but like many thousands of Ebay businesses have a base in the UK, its usually no more than a drop shiping office or garage in someones back yard but at least it is in the UK
 
I'm not sure I would use a tripod much, (way our rooms are laid out & my disabilities), So I dont want to spend too much money incase it sits in the corner for the rest of it's life. But looking at the below linked one which also includes a monopod it seems a bargain. If I find I use it regularly I will buy a better one if needed!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEIKE-BK-...71?pt=UK_Tripods_Monopods&hash=item4ad9d56097
 
Apolgies if I have taken thread slightly off track.
 
"When I look on sellers feedback page it's stating that they are based in China. Had this a couple of weeks back, but on StewartR tablet it stated UK. Perhaps they now have a UK warehouse???? "

StewartR said:
OK, this is officially the weirdest typo or autofill I've ever seen.
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Theres a typo in my post as I stated UK instead of US.:oops: :$ I have edited my post above for my typo.

Stewart, it's in reference to postings a few weeks back, myself and RKC were seeing that the seller was UK based on our computers and your device was showing US. See thread below.



http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/canon-6d-from-ebay.554421/#post-6411143
 
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Swanseajack said:
Theres a typo in my post as I stated UK instead of US.:oops: :$ I have edited my post above for my typo.
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No, no, no, no, no! The thing that made it weird was seeing my name in it. Twice now! What's going on there?
 
I purchased a beike (i believe)tripod labelled q999 with a ball head from a sell called bingozomei, some neutral feedback claimed the seller was not in UK and took 2 weeks to arrive, this left me concerned although for £50 a tripod that takes 8kg i took the chance, needless to say it came in 3 working days, well packaged and is a fantastic product. I'd recommend highly, i haven't been out with it yet but it seems very well build apart from a little cosmetic plastic ring thing being loose, it came with a bag and a pouch to keep the head clean, its turns into a monopod and has a reverse thread so you can mount the camera upside down for low level shots. A more than suitable upgrade to my 7dayshop item (although this has been good to me)
 
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