Can ball head weight ratings be trusted?

[scheinfluger_77]

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?

[mdarnton]

I always suspect that a weight rating is what something will take before it snaps, not a utility rating.

[koh303]

You are right, why bother with informative titles when you can lure in unsuspecting victims and waste their time.

[Oren Grad]

I've edited the thread title. It's fun to play, but please keep in mind that a key purpose of the Forum is to serve as a reference. Please be considerate of other members and use thread titles that clearly describe the topic.

[Luis-F-S]

I don't use a ball head, never trusted them or quick release plates for anything larger than medium format. Now I don't use them period! Mostly use Ries heads now for anything larger than 135. I do have Gitzo heads on the big Gitzo tripods, but all the wooden ones are Ries! L

[Ari]

The better ball head makers will test their equipment properly and give accurate results.
I know that at FLM the load ratings for ball heads are for both vertically- and laterally-applied forces, and I would also bet that Arca-Swiss and Novoflex are equally thorough.
FLM also has an industrial division, and it's a small company, so they're not in a position to make inaccurate claims on their equipment.

[Dan Fromm]

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?

Tension setting?

Another reason to use a three-axis head instead of a ball head?

[Sirius Glass]

About tension springs on ball heads as well as the care an feeding of a ball head mount:
http://www.precisioncameraworks.com/...ball_core.html

http://www.giottosusa.com/images/bal...om-catalog.gif"

The most common way to use it is to position the zero at your minimum friction point (set by the friction thumb screw) and hence be able to instantly set varying tensions based on needed movements or camera weight. For example, turning the Multifunction Knob until you reach the 2 or 3 might set a desired friction for a given movement with a 35mm camera and light lens, while turning the knob to 4 or 5 would give you the desired friction for using a heavier medium-format camera.

I hope this helps the OP and the thread.

[Sirius Glass]

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

[Alan Gales]

Mostly use Ries heads now for anything larger than 135. L

What? A Leica looks great on an A100!