Budget Ballheads

[thebikingengineer]

I'm looking for a ballhead to pair with my Joby Gorrillapod for hiking and other outdoor photography. I was thinking of just getting the Joby ballhead but I was wondering if there are any better options for a similar price. I'm looking to stay under $20, this will occasionally be used in iffy conditions (salt and fresh water, sand, mud, dust, salt, etc) with moderately light camera setups. Any suggestions?

 

[cdrross]

You can start here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Price_$10+to+$24.99&ci=140&N=4075788769+4293918154 and see what folks are saying.
I like Giottos stuff. I have a carbon tripod and a strong ball head that I have been using for 3 years.

 

[dlegros]

I picked up a cheap Arca-Swiss clone from sourcingmap which I use on my Manfrotto 190 legs and it's great. A solid performer even with gripped D300 & Mk I Sigma 70-200

 

[thebikingengineer]

I looked at the B&H offerings, I was wondering if anyone had hands-on experience here. Most of those reviews have these heads being used with Flash units, GoPros, and small point and shoots, not a whole lot of feedback with more substantial setups. I'll be using it with a Nikon D40 and a 55-200 as my heaviest combination, I'm wondering if I might have to expand the budget a little bit.

dlegros: Do you have a link or a part number for your ballhead? It sounds like it might be what I'm looking for.

 

[dlegros]

Hi Bikingengineer - I have something like this... http://www.sourcingmap.com/black-di...lhead-screw-quick-release-plate-p-199028.html

HTH

 

[cdrross]

I looked at the B&H offerings, I was wondering if anyone had hands-on experience here. Most of those reviews have these heads being used with Flash units, GoPros, and small point and shoots, not a whole lot of feedback with more substantial setups. I'll be using it with a Nikon D40 and a 55-200 as my heaviest combination, I'm wondering if I might have to expand the budget a little bit.

As a rule of thumb in the tripod/head world you want to consider your heaviest possible camera/lens set-up and get a tripod set-up rated at 3x that set up. If your D40 (about 19 ozs) + 55-200 (about 12 oz) = 31 ozs (2 pounds), you should get a system rated for no less than 6 pounds.
As a courtesy, here is a link with a narrowed search back at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...N=4075788740+4227438829+4291757709+4291757707

 

[thebikingengineer]

As a rule of thumb in the tripod/head world you want to consider your heaviest possible camera/lens set-up and get a tripod set-up rated at 3x that set up. If your D40 (about 19 ozs) + 55-200 (about 12 oz) = 31 ozs (2 pounds), you should get a system rated for no less than 6 pounds.
As a courtesy, here is a link with a narrowed search back at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...N=4075788740+4227438829+4291757709+4291757707

Craig,

This is a good rule of thumb to know. Thank you. I think I'll be going with the Joby head that goes with the legs I already have, it seems to do everything I might want it to (for a small bag tripod, mind you) at a decent price. I need to step up my whole tripod game, but it does get expensive quickly. Next time I'm in Mission Viejo I'll have to see what OC Camera has in their used racks (quite a selection if I recall).