Want to Buy WTB small tripod head for backpacking

[darinwc]

I just picked up a nice Giottos 4-section tripod for traveling or backpacking. This is a smaller tripod, so I am looking for a good head to match. A ballhead would be preferable but I am not closed to a pan/tilt. Have to keep it on the cheap side though. THX

 

[craigclu]

I've had good luck with Bogen 3025 heads in the past. I currently use one a monopod and they're very inexpensive:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bogen-Model...423?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item232a31e17f

I just looked to see if they're still floating around and spotted this right away. The compromise of compactness leaves small tightening knobs but I never really felt it was that difficult to function with.

 

[fotch]

The Bogen is OK for what it is, just not very compact compared to a ball head.

 

[Jon Shiu]

I have one in my classified ad, weighs 13 oz.

Jon

 

[Maxwell]

Darin - have you looked at the markins heads? I have the Q3 Emille for back-packing and the Q20 for regular use - very pleased with them after having an Arca-Swiss B1
David

 

[darinwc]

Ouch they are $300. Doubt i could find one used.
I need to go through my stuff. I just found a gitzo head but i think its too big for the little tripod. I may have a old manfrotto ball head in the garage.

 

[mgb74]

There's a brand of Korean made ball heads - Horusbennu. I have the LX-2T that I use on my Bogen 3001. Small, light, not too bad. But not a gitzo. I would not use for anything larger than 35mm with a 300mm.

 

[Bill Burk]

Of all the small ball heads I have tried for backpacking, the Leitz ballheads where the head is grooved is the most positive-locking. There's a small one and a large one, they are both good but the small one is lighter-weight.

I have not had luck with locking any ballhead with smooth or textured ball surface. But grooved is the trick.

 

[angusparkengusparker]

This is what I use - amazingly light and will handle just about any 35mm or 120 camera: $175
http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=BH-25-LR&type=3&eq=&desc=BH-25-LR:-Ultra-light-bal

 

[Three Owls]

I strongly recommend the Velbon magnesium alloy ball heads. I have Model #PH-263. It is very light and compact and I've had several 4x5 cameras on it. It has no quick release plate, but it is light and was cheap, there are several heads in the series.

 

[Besk]

This is what I use - amazingly light and will handle just about any 35mm or 120 camera: $175
http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=BH-25-LR&type=3&eq=&desc=BH-25-LR:-Ultra-light-bal

This is the one I use when traveling. Very happy with it. I do not use the quick release feature so purchased the plain model.

 

[Dr Croubie]

I've got an Arca Swiss Monoball P0 on my Vanguard 283ct (equivalent of the manfrotto 055cxpro3, but the centre tube can be tilted to any angle, not just 90 on the manfrotto).
Anyway, the head. It's an upside-down ballhead with a panning system on the top, not the bottom like most ballheads. So that means you set it up level, pan around, and it stays level. Good for panning, but good for easy framing too. Just one locking ring to loosen the entire ball, easy with one hand on the ball and the other hand on the camera to frame. As with almost all ballheads these days, it's aspherical so it's hard to tip over the more off-centre it gets. The head itself is 280g/10oz,and holds 20kg (I've held my hasselbladski, a 2x converter, and a Sonnar 300mm f/4 with no wobbling with that combo).
$220 is up to you to decide if it's cheap or not. But it's damn light. Just a quick check of similarly-priced manfrottos, they're all over 400-600g, 2x-3x the weight of this one.
Just make sure, if you already have A/S clamps on your cameras and lenses, do not get the monoball p0 with the clamp, it doens't fit regular A/S style clamps, I had to buy a Kirk clamp to sit on top of the head.

 

[Maxwell]

Darin - just one last suggestion - no idea what they are like but they look good as does price
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/G...letter-_-130513-_-Body_Retail_G-20X-Ball-Head