Can ball head weight ratings be trusted?

[Alan Gales]

I am using a Vanguard SBH-250 ball head on my Gitzo tripod to mount a Kodak 2D-5x7. The camera weighs about 10 lbs and the ball head is rated at 44 lbs. While this sounds like more than enough, I wondered how good the lock down was when tipping the camera at extreme angles. As I suspected the head locks down well enough, but the required force to move the camera against the lock is minimal. Meaning in my mind the torque exerted by a tipped 10 lb. camera is considerably more than 10 lbs. Thoughts?

Put your heaviest lens on the camera and try it at home and see.

I had a big Linhof ball head once. You could probably have mounted a dump truck on it and tilted it to an extreme angle.

[Bob Salomon]

Is there a recommended ball head that has a hand grip for maneuvering it?

Novoflex Magicball and Magicball 50.

[Sirius Glass]

Something a little less pricy?

[Alan Gales]

Something a little less pricy?

Buy used.

[Alan Gales]

Something a little less pricy?

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-322R.../dp/B000JLK5PK

Holds 11 pounds or 5.5 pounds in vertical position.

[Bob Salomon]

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-322R.../dp/B000JLK5PK

Holds 11 pounds or 5.5 pounds in vertical position.

Not for a view camera.

[neil poulsen]

My experience is that, prior to seeing any strength problems, one will see vibration problems. I would think that whatever tripod/head combination you have, if the camera is within their specs weight-wise, it will hold. But, can you effectively photograph with that support?

The specifications I've come to suspect are weights of the heads. Using my triple beam balance, I've weighed two tripod heads whose weights were stated incorrectly by the specs.

[Alan Gales]

Not for a view camera.

You are quite correct.

Sirius mostly shoots a Hasselblad and occasionally a Speed or Crown Graphic. I don't know what he wants to use it with.

[Sirius Glass]

You are quite correct.

Sirius mostly shoots a Hasselblad and occasionally a Speed or Crown Graphic. I don't know what he wants to use it with.

You are correct. I would use the ball head for all three. The Hasselblad would be using the 500mm directly mounted on the tripod, with that much weight to swing taking wildlife photographs I have to be able to trust that the camera will not flop over. Accordingly I need to know that the Graflex Model D and the Speed Graphic are save and secure.

[Alan Gales]

You are correct. I would use the ball head for all three. The Hasselblad would be using the 500mm directly mounted on the tripod, with that much weight to swing taking wildlife photographs I have to be able to trust that the camera will not flop over. Accordingly I need to know that the Graflex Model D and the Speed Graphic are save and secure.

Looks like Bob gave you the best answer then. Hopefully, you can find a "steal" on Ebay like I found on my A100 Ries tripod. Good luck to you!