lightweight quick change ballhead wanted

[M.]

Can anyone recommend a lightweight ballhead with quick change feature?

[paul owen]

Wilhelm, What camera and tripod are you planning on using?

[M.]

Good question. I'm about to take a long photo trip through the Midwest, but I'm getting frail in my dotage, mostly working less than 100 meters from the car. I recently bought a Slik Pro 700 DX (titanium, 5 lbs.) but don't like the head that came with it, and also use a modified Gitzo Totalux. Cameras are Leica M, Canon EOS, and 4x5 Linhof Super Technika.

[Anthony Harrison]

Arca B1 - Manfrotto is comparatively crude, and the QR plates don't lock positively; Gitzo is ok but quirky (best legs in the business though); Arca plates are primitive but RRS make the world's finest QR plates to fit Arca, and another US firm Kirk makes sort of RRS-rip-offs which (I gather) some people like.

[paul owen]

Wilhelm, Sure Arca etc are good but they are expensive. For the money you might look at the Gitzo centre ball head. It can be bought with two types of quick release system. The "quirky" Gitzo heads mentioned above are probably the off-centre ball heads. Another option might be the Giottos bal heads (not the smaller ones!). Regards Paul

[Paul Schilliger]

Not a very sophisticated ball head, and possibly too cheap, but I find it great for hiking and using with Pentax 67 and 4x5 camera: Manfrotto 168 with hex. release plate. Allows working vertica l with reflex cameras. Weight 750g

[Bill Glickman]

There is a new ball head called Areotech... looks very well made and priced right...you can read review here...

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/arcatech.htm

[Mike Mahoney]

I'll second the Manfrotto 168, it's solid, and I've used it with 35mm, medium format and now a Arca Swiss Discovery without any problems. I'd rather a 3way head for LF though - but I'm still using the 168.

[M.]

B&H doesn't list Manfratto. What is the Bogan model (if there is one)?

[Hans Berkhout]

I use a Gitzo 375 ballhead with Linhof Quickfix system-reliable sturdy and fast. For my 4x5 and 35 mm. On a Gitzo 1228 tripod.

Hans B.