Light Tripod ballhead for NEX?

I have the tripod "Velbon LUXi L"
http://www.velbon.co.uk/products/photo/ultra_LUXi_L.html

Going to change the head to a light ballehad, what do you think is best to use for the NEX-5N?

Joby Gorillapod SLR Head
150g 6.8cm
http://joby.com/store/gorillapod/ballhead

Velbon QHD-41Q
130g 6.8cm
http://www.velbon.co.uk/products/heads/ball_and_socket.html

Velbon QHD-51Q
220g 8.1cm
http://www.velbon.co.uk/products/heads/ball_and_socket.html

Manfrotto 494RC2
320g 8.5cm

http://www.manfrotto.com/product/8374.31708.14988.0.0/494RC2/_/Mini_Ball_Head_with_RC2

Considered this?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxbJU1SopGk

£20 atm on amazon.

Tamrac zipshot, not strong for sure but works nicely with a nex + most normal use lenses.

Edit - Sorry didnt see you were after a ballhead only

MrStrumpan said:

I have the tripod "Velbon LUXi L"
http://www.velbon.co.uk/products/photo/ultra_LUXi_L.html

Going to change the head to a light ballehad, what do you think is best to use for the NEX-5N?

Joby Gorillapod SLR Head
150g 6.8cm
http://joby.com/store/gorillapod/ballhead

Velbon QHD-41Q
130g 6.8cm
http://www.velbon.co.uk/products/heads/ball_and_socket.html

Velbon QHD-51Q
220g 8.1cm
http://www.velbon.co.uk/products/heads/ball_and_socket.html

Manfrotto 494RC2
320g 8.5cm

http://www.manfrotto.com/product/8374.31708.14988.0.0/494RC2/_/Mini_Ball_Head_with_RC2

Click to expand...

I'm a big Velbon fan but of the bullheads you have listed I think I would go for the Manfrotto. I got the QHD-51Q to go and a light weight SLIK tripod. It works and is light but inserting the quick release plate is sometimes a little fiddly. Also, the quick release plate will twist in the tripod socket if you try to go vertical with anything heavier than the kit lens. The bottom of the NEX is not flat so it is hard for the quick release to get a good grip.

I will be getting a NEX-7 and I am thinking about getting this Arca JTec plate that is machined to fit the NEX bottom. I have heard that it also twists but can be cured by installing a homemade rubber gasket. Of course you still need to fine a good light Arca style bullhead. JTec also makes an L-bracket for the NEX

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=JTec+plate+nex&x=0&y=0

I thought I would give this a try:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270640018408?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_4027wt_936

Full featured ball head at 265g it will be smaller/lighter than what I have currently (horusbennu LX3). I have their CF tripod with detachable monopod leg. At $35 I thought I had little to lose. I'm hoping it will take an arca swiss style plate (although the eBay listing doesn't state this specifically - the photos suggest to me that it will).

I was looking for something I might take travelling and thinking I could maybe get by with just the detachable monopod leg and a smaller ball head in my backpack (i.e. not carry the full tripod every day).

If the vonjean ball head works out still too heavy and overkill for this purpose I was also looking at some of the one's you have suggested - but they are $50-60 (B&H prices), require a different plate (non arca swiss) and aren't as full featured as the vonjean. Build quality may be better though - will wait and see what the korean vonjean is like.

I am very happy with the Trek-Tech ball head (called a magmount pro)

It is the perfect size for my NEX and I Ieave the small connecting device attached to my camera all the time because it is only coin sized. Despite the small size, the system is very strong.

Here is the link:

http://www.trek-tech.com/products/magmount.html

Btw I dont use their tripod, I use the ballhead (pro version) on another brand tripod.

I dont work for them, but I do like their product and service. Perfect for NEX.

David

Check out Photo Clam for really lightweight heads.

http://photoclam.m.ec21.com/mobile/productDetail.jsp?productId=6077702&groupId=4521671

Rich

Yeah, they look nice.... pity they cost ~ 6x the one i mentioned above! OK if you're prepared to pay that much..... i'd be interested in the quality difference???

Hi,

I Like the Really Right Stuff BH-25 on a compact tripod:

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=BH-25-Pro&type=3&eq=&desc=BH-25-Pro%3a-Ultra-light-ballhead-with-Pro&key=it





I've been using this with my NEX-5n for a while now.

-Dyer

--
http://www.dyerlytle.com/photography.shtml

I will be getting a NEX-5N soon. I currently have the exact same Slik tripod as you (without the RRS on top -- yet). Was it difficult to take off the crummy Slik ballhead/plate and mount the RRS ballhead? Also, what arca-style quick-release plate are you using for it with your NEX?

The RRS BH-25 ballhead looks very nice, but I am wondering after using it for a while if it seems like overkill to you for a lightweight NEX5, and considering the Slik tripod is good and lightweight but hardly high-end. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

Thanks.

Pixelelan said:

... Also, what arca-style quick-release plate are you using for it with your NEX?

Click to expand...

JTec has arca-style plates for the NEX (simple plate as well as L-plate).
--
Frits

Don't get a Joby ball head, it has one lock that controls the head and the panning which is just plain stupid.

Have a look at Giottos, they make some great ball heads. The good ones are expensive but they give you ultimate control and allow you to make really precise adjustments smoothly without the thing flapping everywhere.

Tnx all,
I placed an order for the "Trek Tech Magmount Star":
http://www.trek-tech.com/products/magmount.html

I will leave you a review of it when it arrives.

Oooo, be careful. Reed the user reviews for that product (and the PRO version of it) on amazon. Seems like they are actually out of business now, even though the products are still being sold.

Not to cause undue concern, I was wondering about the effect a strong magnetic field might have on the electronics of a digital camera?
Best,

Paul

paulsgallery.smugmug.com

cullmann MAGNESIT MB2.1
The Nex can be used in landscape and portrait mode on the MB2.1

http://www.cullmann.de/en/detail/id/magnesit-mb21.html

The price on the Trek Tech was so low, and I also have read some good reviews of it, so will try it out.

Cullman seams good, but I want to have a Quick Release system.
They have one, but then the weight go up to 480g:
http://www.cullmann.de/en/detail/id/magnesit-mb-kugelkoepfe-1.html

Just to follow through with my previous post about the Vonjean VD-281 ballhead which can be purchased for ~ $US35 here: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270640018408?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_4027wt_905

I now have this ballhead and have attached it to my horus bennu CF tripod (see attached photo below). It is quite a bit smaller/lighter than the LX-3 ballhead that came with the original tripod and I think better suited to use with a sony nex (particularly when used with a detachable monopod if you have one).

The build quality seems fine (I have no complaints but have not used it extensively yet). It may still be 'overkill' for travel use (time will tell) but is full-featured (no levels if you like these) with an arca swiss compatible quick release plate and locking pin (the picture below shows it in use with my original 'arca swiss' style plate).

One small/minor problem I still have - most of the detachable plates that come with ballheads are designed for 'flat bottomed' cameras - not well designed to the 'curved' base of the Nex 5. I have been using a bit of bluetak between the arcaswiss plate and camera to strengthen the join but it is a bit messy (though no real harm to anything). Anyone tried one of these plates:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-KPS-SLIM-PLATE-SONY-NEX-5-/270654784010?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0448420a#ht_3178wt_905

I posted some pics of the Trek-Tech T-Pod in this post:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&message=40289652
The QR head also fits my bigger tripod.

i have the KPS plates, one for the NEX5N and a flat one on the LAEA2, and they are very good. Tiny, light, well engineered, extremely low profile (on the NEX5 it's thicker because of the strange curve of the camera bottom) and rock solid - doesn't slip or turn at all, even with a very heavy lens on the camera. the M10 adapter is so small you can hardly see it on the bottom of the LAEA2, yet it has little rubber grips that keep it from moving and a strap attachment.

The QR attachment to the ball head is solid and gives a very confident grip, so i don't worry that it's going to move or slip or do anything funny. I'm very impressed with the little plates and attachment system. (also i got them in 2 days from Korea with free FedEx shipping. a no-brainer) oh, and no tax, duties or any other import fees.





















--
Chiuki Amsterdam Street Photography
http://www.chiuki.com