Don't forget the original - Arca-Swiss B1. I know there are other options now, but I've been using a B1 for about 15 years now and it's never let me down. Because there are newer, sexier alterntives now you might pick up a B1 for a song (I don't know, because I haven't shopped - no need to.)
Pete D.
ps - Wow. Nevermind. I just checked the price for a new B1 at B&H. The darn things are $400.00 !
We've used the B1 for close to 20 years, and Pete's right. They're tanks, but expensive. I recently saw the smaller Foba, but haven't used one. It's very close to the B-1 in size and weight. We do have a regular Superball for use in the studio, and it's huge, heavy and quirky on one count- The pan lock screw doesn't have a stop on it, so it's prone to backing out and falling off in field carry. If Kirk or Acratech had been available when we bought the B-1's we would certainly have gone that way simply to save a few bucks. No reason to try them now, because our B-1's simply won't wear out. It's hard to abandon them and spend hundreds of dollars simply to stay in fashion.
If you could find a good used B-1 in the price range of the new Kirk or Acratech, it merits your serious consideration. But the advantages are so slight, I'd be reluctant to spend the money on a new one.
Whichever you get, make sure that it has the B-1 compatible quick release, as that size is pretty universal for all the after-market plates available from Kirk and RRS.
Thanks Hank and Pete. There is/was a B-1 on eBay that I think is used and the auction starts at $300 with a buy it now of $325 . The Foba that I passed on was with the arca-swiss QR system and it went for around $125. B&H has some used ones for $149. The Benro is only around $100 and I have heard some good things, but many of the channels seem to only be out of Hong Kong (that makes me a little leary about service, since I hear that Kirk and the others are so great about their service).
I bought the smaller Foba a few years back and the knobs have had considerable problems. First the plastic cracked off after about 6 months of modest use and then the free replacement did the same a few months later. The second tightening knob's plastic that I rarely tightened simply got occasionally bump once too often and cracked off too. Additionally the base and side screws occasionally come loose and have to be tightened. Not a big deal as I Loctite em. But the knob just won't do. I gave up with that head. ...David
Ditto on the problems with a Foba. I have a Foba Super Miniball, and the knob fell off after a week of owning it. The housing also came loose at one point and started having some "give", so that no matter what I did, the ballhead would always be prone to a little movement - some internal screw came loose, I reckon.
I know 1 experience is not statistically valid, but I for one am not buying a FOBa again. You can have my head (it is repaired and working ok now, however long that may last) if you want one after my rousing recommendation :D
I have owned the Kirk BH-3 and the Acratech. Of the two, I liked the Acratech way, way more. It held my Arca 4x5 far better. I had problems with the Kirk with slippage, especially with the camera pointed down and I never could get the pan screw tight enough. It did not take much of a bump to move the camera around. I now have the RRS BH-55 and love it, but that was not on your list.
Thanks all. I am glad to know that about the Foba, and glad I passed on it.
Harley: I think I am leaning toward the Acratech Ultimate, although I will have to wait for one to come at a good price! I looked at the BH-55 and I just think it is out of my price range. Thanks for the opinion on the Acratech!
Keep your eyes peeled on the used market. I don't spend time on eBay, but have had terrific luck with used equipment from both KEH and Calumet.
Ballheads are good candidates for buying used simply because if there's something wrong with them, it's immediately apparent. Most are built like tanks, so even if they are pretty scuffed up they still work great. My B-1 looks like someone tied it to the bumper of a truck and drove around farm roads for a while, yet it is still buttery smooth and reliable. Based upon looks I bet I couldn't sell it for half price, much less give it away!
Hey there's an idea for a weekly challenge theme: Ugliest Ballhead. Bet I could win hands down!
Discussion
9 repliesWhen I asked recently about ball heads I got one opinion on Benro, are there any others? What Benro head do you have (if you have one).
What about the Foba mini-superball? I just passed on one pretty inexpensively on eBay.
Otherwise I hope to luck into a good priced Acratech on eBay, or a Kirk BH-3.
Thanks!
Nathan
Pete D.
ps - Wow. Nevermind. I just checked the price for a new B1 at B&H. The darn things are $400.00 !
We've used the B1 for close to 20 years, and Pete's right. They're tanks, but expensive. I recently saw the smaller Foba, but haven't used one. It's very close to the B-1 in size and weight. We do have a regular Superball for use in the studio, and it's huge, heavy and quirky on one count- The pan lock screw doesn't have a stop on it, so it's prone to backing out and falling off in field carry. If Kirk or Acratech had been available when we bought the B-1's we would certainly have gone that way simply to save a few bucks. No reason to try them now, because our B-1's simply won't wear out. It's hard to abandon them and spend hundreds of dollars simply to stay in fashion.
If you could find a good used B-1 in the price range of the new Kirk or Acratech, it merits your serious consideration. But the advantages are so slight, I'd be reluctant to spend the money on a new one.
Whichever you get, make sure that it has the B-1 compatible quick release, as that size is pretty universal for all the after-market plates available from Kirk and RRS.
Thanks again for the thoughts!
Nate
I know 1 experience is not statistically valid, but I for one am not buying a FOBa again. You can have my head (it is repaired and working ok now, however long that may last) if you want one after my rousing recommendation :D
Vandit
I have owned the Kirk BH-3 and the Acratech. Of the two, I liked the Acratech way, way more. It held my Arca 4x5 far better. I had problems with the Kirk with slippage, especially with the camera pointed down and I never could get the pan screw tight enough. It did not take much of a bump to move the camera around. I now have the RRS BH-55 and love it, but that was not on your list.
Harley: I think I am leaning toward the Acratech Ultimate, although I will have to wait for one to come at a good price! I looked at the BH-55 and I just think it is out of my price range. Thanks for the opinion on the Acratech!
Nathan
Keep your eyes peeled on the used market. I don't spend time on eBay, but have had terrific luck with used equipment from both KEH and Calumet.
Ballheads are good candidates for buying used simply because if there's something wrong with them, it's immediately apparent. Most are built like tanks, so even if they are pretty scuffed up they still work great. My B-1 looks like someone tied it to the bumper of a truck and drove around farm roads for a while, yet it is still buttery smooth and reliable. Based upon looks I bet I couldn't sell it for half price, much less give it away!
Hey there's an idea for a weekly challenge theme: Ugliest Ballhead. Bet I could win hands down!
I've got an Acratech - no complaints. It's a good ballhead and it weighs less than most or all of it's competitors.
I heard from some one who owned both, that the RRS BH-55 is a better ballhead than the Acratech, but of course it costs almost twice as much.