Reading mode: Light Dark

Good compact ball head for travel tripod?

Go to last post
J

Jeffry7

Senior Member
Messages
1,337
Solutions
3
Reaction score
781
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
 
Jeffry7 said:
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Maybe have a look into FLM ball heads.

As I do not know the base diameter of your tripod, but I assume its not that large, potentially the CB-32 may fit, this ball head has still a panning base and friction control. The smaller version, the CB-24, does not have any more these features.

Herbert
 
Jeffry7 said:
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Make sure you can get the current head off and it is standard attachment before you start looking. I’m not sure it makes sense to throw a nice ball head on a cheap tripod. The FLM’s are known to stay put once you set it and start tightening it down. But, I suspect a nice head costs more than the tripod in total.
 
Arca-Swiss p0 would be my choice.

The other small form (but strong) ballhead I really like is the Leica Large Tabletop tripod head. It's great for travel photography but has no panning base. How strong is it? I used to use it with the massive and vibration prone Pentax 67II, a 6x7cm SLR type medium format camera. They show up on eBay all the time.
 
Jeffry7 said:
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Are you sure it's the head?

With a long, heavy lens on these lightweight tripods, I have to be careful not to lift the tripod when framing. When I let go of the lens, the tripod settles, but the head itself doesn't move.
 
Forum GAS said:
Jeffry7 said:
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Make sure you can get the current head off and it is standard attachment before you start looking. I’m not sure it makes sense to throw a nice ball head on a cheap tripod. The FLM’s are known to stay put once you set it and start tightening it down. But, I suspect a nice head costs more than the tripod in total.
Click to expand...
Yeah the current head comes off. You have a point about the price point. The FLM's are double to triple the cost of this tripod. Hate to see it go to waste though.

I don't use it because it doesn't support my gear well. I got it out again because the camera I am using is a compact camera. It didn't even handle that well. I guess my gear head has me spoiled.
 
Ellis Vener said:
Arca-Swiss p0 would be my choice.

The other small form (but strong) ballhead I really like is the Leica Large Tabletop tripod head. It's great for travel photography but has no panning base. How strong is it? I used to use it with the massive and vibration prone Pentax 67II, a 6x7cm SLR type medium format camera. They show up on eBay all the time.
Click to expand...
I had not seen the Arca-Swiss p0 before. That looks very nice.

It's only 5 times the cost of this tripod. Still may have to consider it for one of my real tripods.
 
BBbuilder467 said:
Jeffry7 said:
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Are you sure it's the head?
Click to expand...
Hmmm. No I am not sure.
BBbuilder467 said:
With a long, heavy lens on these lightweight tripods, I have to be careful not to lift the tripod when framing. When I let go of the lens, the tripod settles, but the head itself doesn't move.
Click to expand...
My problem with this though is that the camera I am trying to use the tripod with is a compact. While the lens is the largest in that system, it's still only a pound.
 
Jeffry7 said:
BBbuilder467 said:
Jeffry7 said:
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Are you sure it's the head?
Click to expand...
Hmmm. No I am not sure.
Jeffry7 said:
With a long, heavy lens on these lightweight tripods, I have to be careful not to lift the tripod when framing. When I let go of the lens, the tripod settles, but the head itself doesn't move.
Click to expand...
My problem with this though is that the camera I am trying to use the tripod with is a compact. While the lens is the largest in that system, it's still only a pound.
Click to expand...
Set the tripod to minimum height on a heavy table, so nothing can flex. Then do your test. Watch carefully to see if it's the head that moves.
 
Jeffry7 said:
Ellis Vener said:
Arca-Swiss p0 would be my choice.

The other small form (but strong) ballhead I really like is the Leica Large Tabletop tripod head. It's great for travel photography but has no panning base. How strong is it? I used to use it with the massive and vibration prone Pentax 67II, a 6x7cm SLR type medium format camera. They show up on eBay all the time.
Click to expand...
I had not seen the Arca-Swiss p0 before. That looks very nice.

It's only 5 times the cost of this tripod. Still may have to consider it for one of my real tripods.
Click to expand...
Why not try a head from one of the other tripods?
 
BBbuilder467 said:
Jeffry7 said:
Ellis Vener said:
Arca-Swiss p0 would be my choice.

The other small form (but strong) ballhead I really like is the Leica Large Tabletop tripod head. It's great for travel photography but has no panning base. How strong is it? I used to use it with the massive and vibration prone Pentax 67II, a 6x7cm SLR type medium format camera. They show up on eBay all the time.
Click to expand...
I had not seen the Arca-Swiss p0 before. That looks very nice.

It's only 5 times the cost of this tripod. Still may have to consider it for one of my real tripods.
Click to expand...
Why not try a head from one of the other tripods?
Click to expand...
Well I guess I meant real tripod. The head is a gear head. I love it, but its big and heavy and I think not a good match for the travel tripod.
 
Check this out:

https://www.adorama.com/rrsbpc16.html

A few thoughts:
  • The Arca-Swiss P0 looks great, but it's heavier than what you may need. The author of a comprehensive and glowing review of that ball head reports in the comments section that he now generally uses the 125 gram RRS BPC-16 and reserves the excellent P0 for lens tests for his site or for use with longer lenses with his full-frame camera:
  • Really Right Stuff has listed the BPC as out of stock for months. (It's out of stock now at B&H but available at Adorama.) They introduced a beefier ball head along the lines of the BPC-16 that is integrated into their pricey travel tripod, so an updated model is likely in the works.
    • There are various knock-offs of the BPC-16 available. I purchased one for $35. It works with my Sony A7R III and the <400 gram lenses that I use. It's likely not as strong as the RRS product (it uses an aluminum ball; RRS uses case-hardened steel for its slightly smaller ball) but it's OK; also, like the P0, the BPC-16 and its knock-offs put the the panning function at the top, where it belongs:
    • https://www.adorama.com/sunpmb18.html?origterm=inverted+ball+head&searchredirect=true
    • I recall reading somewhere that one of the BCP-16 copies failed at the point of attachment of the aluminum stem to the tripod screw. Due to excess anxiety, I epoxied a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter to provide a more robust tripod attachment for the Sunwayfoto version. It works fine and it's still only 157 grams.
 
Last edited:
ZodiacPhoto said:
There is Leofoto MBC-20, ripped off to the color of the knobs:

https://mpex.com/leofoto-mbc-20-ballhead.html
Click to expand...
Yes. That Leofoto ball head and nearly-identical versions can be found with other makers' names on auction sites.

However, there's a difference between that (those) units and the Sunwayfoto (and similar) ball heads. The Sunwayfoto models weigh nearly the same but may be stronger. Here's why:

The Leofoto unit follows the same dimensions as the RRS BCP-16. However, unlike the RRS product, the Leofoto uses anodized aluminum rather than case-hardened steel for the ball and the stem. That means that you have the same amount of material, but it's weaker material in the Leofoto product.

The Sunwayfoto ball head (like Leofoto) also uses aluminum rather than steel, but it uses a larger diameter ball and stem than in the BCP-16 (and the Leofoto), so more of a weaker material than in the BCP-16 and more of the same material as in the Leofoto.

It may be that the Sunwayfoto model is therefore a bit more robust than the Leofoto and similar versions that use smaller diameter balls and stems. I suspect that none of the copies are as robust as the original. Your guess, and your choice.
 
Last edited:
bpatient said:
Check this out:

https://www.adorama.com/rrsbpc16.html

A few thoughts:
  • The Arca-Swiss P0 looks great, but it's heavier than what you may need. The author of a comprehensive and glowing review of that ball head reports in the comments section that he now generally uses the 125 gram RRS BPC-16 and reserves the excellent P0 for lens tests for his site or for use with longer lenses with his full-frame camera:
  • Really Right Stuff has listed the BPC as out of stock for months. (It's out of stock now at B&H but available at Adorama.) They introduced a beefier ball head along the lines of the BPC-16 that is integrated into their pricey travel tripod, so an updated model is likely in the works.
    • There are various knock-offs of the BPC-16 available. I purchased one for $35. It works with my Sony A7R III and the <400 gram lenses that I use. It's likely not as strong as the RRS product (it uses an aluminum ball; RRS uses case-hardened steel for its slightly smaller ball) but it's OK; also, like the P0, the BPC-16 and its knock-offs put the the panning function at the top, where it belongs:
    • https://www.adorama.com/sunpmb18.html?origterm=inverted+ball+head&searchredirect=true
    • I recall reading somewhere that one of the BCP-16 copies failed at the point of attachment of the aluminum stem to the tripod screw. Due to excess anxiety, I epoxied a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter to provide a more robust tripod attachment for the Sunwayfoto version. It works fine and it's still only 157 grams.
Click to expand...
I like that the RRS version puts the pano base above the ball head. It seems like having it below is a waste of time.
 
Jeffry7 said:
I like that the RRS version puts the pano base above the ball head. It seems like having it below is a waste of time.
Click to expand...
Yes. The copies discussed here do that, too, just as the P0 does. The RRS version may be somewhat sturdier than the copies with aluminum balls, though.

Although weighs twice as much as the BCP-16, this smallish ball head might interest you:

 
Last edited:
I like the compact and light leofoto mbc-20. About 107g. I used it with my gear that's about 1.8lbs.

0a91bfe72f064e8e9f4364cf401e7718.jpg
 
Jeffry7 said:
I have a Bonfoto Carbon B-671C. It is an inexpensive travel tripod. It comes with a ball head that isn't very good and also the reason I don't use it more.

I have a Nikon 1 V3. With a 70-300mm it sags. This is a compact camera. The combo is a little over 2lbs.

I am looking for a replacement compact ball head to make it more useable. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Compact ball heads will sag. You can balance your camera with a nodal rail so it won't sag.

Amazon.com : Desmond 120mm Nodal Slide DNR-120 Dual Dovetail Macro Rail & Clamp Arca Compatible : Tripod Camera Mounts : Electronics

Amazon.com : Desmond 120mm Nodal Slide DNR-120 Dual Dovetail Macro Rail & Clamp Arca Compatible : Tripod Camera Mounts : Electronics
www.amazon.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

V
Peak Design Pro Tripod Light - initial thoughts
Replies
1
Views
6K
john isaacs
J
S
Manfrotto Element MII Tripod ball head 3rd party plate recommendations?s
Replies
2
Views
1K
MikeInOr
MikeInOr
M
  • Question Question
Landscape / travel tripod under 2kg
Replies
10
Views
5K
ZodiacPhoto
ZodiacPhoto
R
  • User review User review
FLM GE73 PRO Lever Geared Head
Replies
0
Views
2K
rio_c
R
C
Ball Head vs Geared Tripod Head for Landscape ?
Replies
9
Views
723
mreynolds767
mreynolds767

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top