I do believe that flexline was set up from former uniqball personal.? They had a difference of opinion I’m told.
....I thought that Uniqball are American and Flexline are German and so a strange breakaway if that is what happened.
There are a few photographer out there who rave about a certain brand being the greatest thing, they get a good following on the various social media channels, then all of a sudden they are "ambassadors" for a different brand, have been given £thousands of kit and then come out with the new system is the greatest.Andy Rouse will rate anything for the right price.!
Joking aside, I do believe that flexline was set up from former uniqball personal.? They had a difference of opinion I’m told.
They surely do.Do they really expect us to believe they've not been bought?!
There are a few photographer out there who rave about a certain brand being the greatest thing, they get a good following on the various social media channels, then all of a sudden they are "ambassadors" for a different brand, have been given £thousands of kit and then come out with the new system is the greatest.
Do they really expect us to believe they've not been bought?!
I'm seriously considering going for one of these. My rationale is that it would combine standard ball head use with what seems to be gimbal like use with my long lens.
The price is eye watering though but I can find no other ball head that has those precise characteristics.
I find using a full size gimbal in my little chair hide virtually impossible, could be that I'm too fat though.
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I'll post how I get on with the Flexline Pro in due course.
It's a bit worrying that no one who is independent has made a review but I suppose as it's pretty "revolutionary" we're all waiting for each other.Looking forward to that Rob How does it compare to a gimbal for long lens use? There's precious little about it I can find apart from Andy Rouse.
You're not making "a big deal" at all, what youve said is informative and technically appropriate. I am in just that position you mention, I only want 1 head now so I can happily switch from macro to landscape and then to wildlife without carrying a ton of support gear but I fully appreciate exactly what compromise means.I've never handled one of the FlexLines, but I do own a couple UniqBall heads and I have used several types of fluid heads with counterbalance springs. IMO, the FlexLine is being "oversold" and the changes from the UniqBall are not enough to get me to buy one. That said, If I did not already have the UniqBall heads, and a fluid gimbal I was happy with, then I would consider it. But the large price increase just for the counterbalance spring is really hard for me to justify.
A few things to understand about the FlexLine. It uses a fixed resistance counter spring, and that means it's effectiveness is going to depend on how well it's matched to the weight you put on it, and how far off-center the weight is when tilted... in other words, it's "fussy." To get it to work well you will need to refine the spring resistance characteristic with an increased drag adjustment. Or you will have to adjust the CG point so that the spring resistance matches the offset and your desired level of drag... that can be done pretty well with any ballhead.
I.e. I can set the UniqBall or any other ballhead to hold position pointed upwards by offsetting the camera/lens CG forward, or the opposite. That does degrade the position hold in the other direction, but you don't generally really need "holds any position," which is good because you won't always get it w/o an increased drag setting on the FlexLine.
The design of the heads allows for smooth drag at lower settings, at higher settings it doesn't really. The drag adjustment is also fussy... it is easy/quick to go from high to low and back, but hard to refine exactly what you want in-between. Which means it's going to be fussy getting the drag setting right when tuning the spring resistance, and you won't want to change it once it is set.
I would assume the different models with different load ratings have different spring resistances (if not, that would be worse). But if going for "most useful" I would probably go with a model rated for your heaviest kit. Then the spring would tend to return the camera to level rather than hold position when the drag is set too low with lighter kit on it... similar to how a non-adjustable gimbal with a low CG camera/lens on it behaves. But there are reasons why you might prefer an underrated spring... i.e. not having to "fight" the spring resistance when repositioning.
It probably sounds like I'm making a big deal out of this...it's really not. But you are paying a large price premium just to get a ballhead to function more like a properly balanced gimbal head, and IMO it won't be as effective because it just can't. If I sold all my ballheads/UniqBalls/fluid gimbal and only wanted *one* head, then maybe... probably?... IJDK...
IMO, it is best compared to a cheaper friction video head (non-fluid) with a fixed counterbalance spring... because that's what it is really.
I'm seriously considering going for one of these. My rationale is that it would combine standard ball head use with what seems to be gimbal like use with my long lens.
Honestly, if you want a "do-it-all" head with the smaller lighter kit I would get the UniqBall UBH-35X for ~ £300. It's a little cheaper than the FlexLine mini and has over 4x the weight rating (equiv to the Flexline Pro @ £480). I would *not* get the one with the panning top clamp for use with long lenses/action photography. IMO, the only time having the head "hold any position" without friction applied is particularly useful is when you have a long period of bored waiting and then suddenly have to jump into action (and those shots are usually "misses" anyway).lthough my longest lens is not in the super telephoto class, Sony 100-400GM with 1.4tc, it would appear to suit my style of photography now I'm ancient.
....I thought that Uniqball are American and Flexline are German and so a strange breakaway if that is what happened.
Cheers Steven
The problem is, we're all searching for the 'perfect' tripod head that does everything well. It just doesn't exist - no more than the perfect tripod or the ideal camera bag for all occasions etc etc.
Very interesting report Robin, I'll probably be making my purchase today. My wants are exactly mirrored by yours.Okay, I have just spent this afternoon mostly shooting birds in flight on a Flexline Pro head mounted on my Gitzo GT2545 Traveller tripod and supporting my Canon 500mm F/4L II (with either 1.4x or 2x Extenders) + 1DX Mark 2. My lens has a Jobu replacement foot with integrated Arca-Swiss profile. Flexline's replacement lens foot, contrary to what Andy Rouse says, would be entirely unnecessary.
I usually use a Really Right Stuff ballhead on this tripod and a Gitzo Fluid Gimbal plus RRS levelling base on my Gitzo Systematic tripod. I only shoot wildlife.
I have never used a Uniqball which appears to be an identical structural design to the Flexline, but I can see that the Flexline's adjustment knobs are much better positioned and that is actually pretty important in the field!
Personally I find it extremely helpful and time saving to be able to hold a position or simply nudge it and so it remains fixed and is reliable. Ballheads usually are either on (tight) or off (loose) and never reliably inbetween and consistingly holding position < A feature which I need.
Think of the Flexline as a very advanced ballhead design which integrates a levelling base. It's not a gimbal but goes some way to mimic a gimbal's movements. Unexpectedly I find it easier to balance a rig on the Flexline than on either of my gimbals (I also have a compact Jobu Jr-3 Deluxe).
It is well built, sturdy but light and importantly, very practical to carry on walkabout in the field, much more so than any gimbal could be. It's levelling base ball with built-in spirit bubble is invaluable.
In summary I will not be replacing my gimbal with the Flexline but I will be replacing my RRS ballhead with it and so have ordered one. I rate the RRS ballhead very highly and so this is testament to how impressed I am with what the Flexline promises to enable me much more easily to achieve. It offers me everything which I have always wanted from a ballhead and which has always been missing until now. My camera gear purchases are never influenced by price but only by what I believe will enable me to achieve the pictures I want.
I keep uming and rring over the purchase of the uniqball head, but just can’t seem to pull the trigger so to speak.. I’ve read plenty reviews and spoken to several people how they get on with them, and for the most part all seem to say positive things about them. I think I need to try one before I buy.
Very interesting report Robin, I'll probably be making my purchase today. My wants are exactly mirrored by yours.
Wow, it has been over 4yrs now for me as well... I still use my UniqBall heads even though I have also purchased the Gitzo Fluid Gimbal... the gimbal stays on my big tripod for dedicated use. I use the UniqBall on my ground tripod and for "single head" situations.I've been using a Uniqball for 4 years now.
I don't find that to be the case. Yes, it is under the lens foot and that does make it hard to get to with heavy gloves. But other than that I find it to be a non-issue.Regarding the Uniqball vs Flexline, be very aware that the positioning of the 'tension/friction/drag/whatever-you-want-to-call-it' knob is very badly positioned forwardly on the Uniqball
.... If you can, ALWAYS try before you buy.
Regarding the Uniqball vs Flexline, be very aware that the positioning of the 'tension/friction/drag/whatever-you-want-to-call-it' knob is very badly positioned forwardly on the Uniqball - Badly enough to stop me from buying one as I use telephoto lenses.
See Glenn Bartley's Uniqball review :
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sug4MagnmFg
As I edited my previous post to say: Think of the Flexline Pro as an awesome ballhead and not a gimbal - Anything gimbalesque in behaviour is a bonus. As always it's Horses-for-Courses.
Yep seen this video..
There is no way I will be giving Mr Rouse any of my hard earned..!!
Regarding the Uniqball vs Flexline, be very aware that the positioning of the 'tension/friction/drag/whatever-you-want-to-call-it' knob is very badly positioned forwardly on the Uniqball - Badly enough to stop me from buying one as I use telephoto lenses.
I don't find that to be the case. Yes, it is under the lens foot and that does make it hard to get to with heavy gloves. But other than that I find it to be a non-issue.
Yes..!! hence why I haven’t bought either product
That's me...and also another I have watched by 'sharpshooter'
Now we know what you really look like!That's me...
BTW, do you know anything more about the counterbalance spring (other than it's polyurethane)? Is it different for the different models?It's definitely not for me and the basic design structure has been further developed and legitimately patented by Flexline to create what seems to me to be a superior alternative.
Or did 4yrs ago...Now we know what you really look like!
Like @sk66 ive found the positioning of the ‘tension’ knob fine. It’s beneath the lens foot but my lens foot doesn’t protrude that far at the front so it doesn’t foul the ‘tension’ knob operation. Being at the front I can hold the camera with the right hand and use the left hand to reach around no problem. From the videos I’ve seen the flexline is probably better positioned for long lenses but not so much that it’s a massive issue..... If you can, ALWAYS try before you buy.
Regarding the Uniqball vs Flexline, be very aware that the positioning of the 'tension/friction/drag/whatever-you-want-to-call-it' knob is very badly positioned forwardly on the Uniqball - Badly enough to stop me from buying one as I use telephoto lenses.
I think he kinda says it like it is and makes no apologies for what or how he say it. Seems to have made a name through both tropical as well as arctic conservation photography as a method of endorsement (ie actually been out in the "field" with kit) so can provide pretty rigorous testing of equipment.....Fair enough. I have heard that he is unpopular but personally I have yet to be given any reason to think similarly and furthermore so strongly. I only care about the suitability and quality of a product for myself.
Like @sk66 ive found the positioning of the ‘tension’ knob fine. It’s beneath the lens foot but my lens foot doesn’t protrude that far at the front so it doesn’t foul the ‘tension’ knob operation. Being at the front I can hold the camera with the right hand and use the left hand to reach around no problem. From the videos I’ve seen the flexline is probably better positioned for long lenses but not so much that it’s a massive issue.
Let’s be honest the flexline is the creators model update to the uniqball original and solves some of the down sides of the uniqball. I always saw this occurring as it’s evolvolution of a product. I’ve just looked at the flexline options and there is currently the pro at £475 and the extreme at £710. I wonder if the tensioning/balancing spring means there is a derating factor due to the spring mechanicism.
Being an uniqball user the decision to upgrade to the flexline or not is mostly made for me. If I wasn’t an uniqball user the flexline would definitely be of interest and more of a difficult decision which would probably go down to cost versus benefit.
https://www.andyrouse.co.uk/index.php?p=1000094
This is interesting review (not by Andy Rouse!), doesn't add an awful lot to the mix but I like the bird shots and he seems to be using it in the way I intend to. Just had confirmation that mine arrives tomorrow.
https://www.andyrouse.co.uk/index.php?p=1000094
This is interesting review (not by Andy Rouse!), doesn't add an awful lot to the mix but I like the bird shots and he seems to be using it in the way I intend to. Just had confirmation that mine arrives tomorrow.