Anyone have experience w/ Feisol ball heads

[gphoto120]

I'll be buying a new feisol carbon fiber tripod shortly, and also a ball head. I've read many reviews of their tripods but can't find any opinions or reviews of their ball heads. I know the RRS, Kirk etc are top rated, but also seem out of my price range. I'll be using it with a Mamiya 7. Anyone have an opinion/ reviews?
thanks!
GP

[Matus]

The short answer is 'no', but I have experience with Feisol tripod and the Photo Clamm ball head - I got both from Kerry Thalmann (here). The ball head I have (size 36) is very light and well done and holds all my gear (up to 4x5) without problems. The to lock the panning movement takes a little more force than necessary, but that would be my only gripe. The friction of the ball head can be pre-set and it works very well. I would guess that RSS, Kirk or Acratech will have even better quality, but for the price the Photo Clamm heads are very very good.

Do not hesitate and contact the guys (link above) - Kerry was very helpful when I was choosing tripod and head. My guess is that for Mamiya 7 the '33' size will be more than enough.

[250swb]

I only have the tiny ball head that goes with the CT 3441 Traveller tripod. But it is a superb slick and solid bit of kit. I use it with a Leica M in portrait or horizontal, and would use it with a heavier TLR etc where perhaps the weight won't get offset in a portrait format. But Feisol tripods punch well above their weight in the marketplace and all components seem to be very well machined to me. But as I say, I don't know about the larger ball heads or tripods.

Steve

[intheviewfinder]

I have an older CB-50H that's got about 100k miles on it. That along with the original version of their CT-3401 tripod has been a great travel companion. Fully collapsed the tripod fits in my roll-on bag with my clothes along with the head that's been thrown in a padded pouch.

The head has been quite serviceable and has taken some punishment. The rig fell over in a heavy wind (sans camera) without any damage to the head. It's been in -40f and 110f in the desert. The paint is wearing off the plate and the knob.

It's easy to use. The knobs need to be set up. It is a bit quirky and takes a bit to learn the relationships between the knobs but once you get how each knob behaves, you are in business.

The plate knob can be loosened enough where the safety catch is useless, so you learn to just loosen the knob just enough then press the catch and slide the camera out.

Some folks don't like the non-standard plate which means that to go from landscape to portrait you have to flip the camera over and recompose.

Still I found it to be a great value.

--Rich

[gphoto120]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I've written Kerry and hope to hear back from him on which tripod and head he might suggest.

[peter_n]

I've used a Photo Clam ballhead and didn't like the ergonomics (the placement of the knobs and the drop slot). See if you can find a used Markins, either a Q3 or Q10. They are more expensive than the Photo Clams but better quality IMHO.

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by gphoto120

I'll be using it with a Mamiya 7. Anyone have an opinion/ reviews?

I have yet to see a ball head that works perfectly with heavy gear. I had a Feisol (among others) and it always moved a bit, no matter how hard I tried to fix it in position.

If you want a head for still subjects a reasonable three way head will be far cheaper and far more stable.

[Brian Legge]

I've used the Photo Clam (forget which model) by have been totally happy with if carrying a 4x5 Tachihara and Bronica SQA. No drift problems, etc

[Matus]

Originally Posted by Speedfreak

I have yet to see a ball head that works perfectly with heavy gear. I had a Feisol (among others) and it always moved a bit, no matter how hard I tried to fix it in position.

It is true that for LARGE cameras (like 4x5 or heavy SLR) the ball head may not be the optimal solution - in particular if the weight is off-center and if exact leveling is desired - in that case a 'proper' 3 way head is better (though mostly much heavier). I knew this before I got the Photo Clam - but I was doing compromises for travel.

But Mamiya 7 is a pice of cake for well made ball head as is is very light, nearly perfectly centered and the lenses are not too long. Should be no issue. That is my experience with Mamiya 6 and a TLR.

- GP -
Check out RSS webpage - you may be able to buy a dedicated quick-release plate (I did buy one for the Mamiya 6 from them) for your Mamiya 7 - it is worth the bucks as it designed to fit the shape of the camera bottom plate so it will not rotate or slip once mounted. Just a thought.