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Tripod ball heads?

jeallen01
Posted 03/10/2021 - 14:47 Link
Afternoon all

Many years ago, I bought a Red Snapper tripod from another member. That came with a pan & tilt head but which I then found to be a bit "awkward" to use, even though I only use the tripod very occasionally.

Therefore I now thinking (just "thinking"!) about getting a ball head to replace the existing one - so, can anyone suggest a relatively cheapish ball head that will support something like a K-3 and medium sized (possibly a short zoom?) lens, AND with very positive locks that can be easily (I have largish hands but my finger tips don't grip that well!) adjusted and locked?

TIA
K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS (having now relegated the K-30 /"K-50" to a backup body), & some Sigma and Pentax lenses (and a lot of old 35mm gear!)
johnriley
Posted 03/10/2021 - 15:54 Link
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08XZHX1P7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s0...
I bought this for precisely what you want it for and it's perfect.

Hope that helps!
Best regards, John
jeallen01
Posted 03/10/2021 - 16:33 Link
johnriley wrote:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08XZHX1P7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s0...
I bought this for precisely what you want it for and it's perfect.

Hope that helps!

John R

Many thanks and it looks like I'll need to get one of those - but I'll probably replace the round knurled knobs by "winged" versions, such as one of those here because they should allow me to tighten them more securely than the round versions.

KR

John A
K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS (having now relegated the K-30 /"K-50" to a backup body), & some Sigma and Pentax lenses (and a lot of old 35mm gear!)
Lubbyman
Posted 03/10/2021 - 18:15 Link
It looks like a winged version of the top knob could hit the camera. Would a head with a lever to lock/unlock the QR plate be better?

Steve
jeallen01
Posted 03/10/2021 - 18:27 Link
Lubbyman wrote:
It looks like a winged version of the top knob could hit the camera. Would a head with a lever to lock/unlock the QR plate be better?

Steve

That's possible but the camera will have an Arcaswiss-compatible adapter, and that should hopefully raise the camera enough for a triangular knob to work OK- but "time will tell".
K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS (having now relegated the K-30 /"K-50" to a backup body), & some Sigma and Pentax lenses (and a lot of old 35mm gear!)
bforbes
pentaxian450
Posted 09/10/2021 - 23:52 Link
Not a cheap one, but an outstanding one. Manfrotto 468MGQ6. You won't find one with a better locking mechanism, I use mine with a Gigapan Epic Pro with the K-3 and 60-250 zoom, and it's rock solid. The whole set up must weight about ten pounds, and it holds it securely. Amazing.
https://www.manfrotto.com/global/hydrostatic-ball-head-with-top-lock-quick-relea...
Yves (another one of those crazy Canucks)

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