Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I purchased this ball head for my Gitzo Systematic tripod, hoping it would be a great multi-purpose travel head. Unfortunately it fell way short.The head is billed as "dedicated for use with long lenses" and it cannot tilt more than 28 degrees off vertical. For short lenses, which lack rotating collars, this head does not allow you to rotate your camera to 90 degrees for portrait orientation without an "L" bracket.Oh, brother.
On the plus side, the ball is a beautiful piece of sculpture and a technical marvel.The hydraulic locking ball moves smoothly and locks securely.(However, for heavy lenses, be sure to get an after-market lock ring to secure Gitzo's systematic tripod platform, which otherwise can slip out of the compression ring under load if the screw loosens!)
I found the knurled tension ring cumbersome to use.The quick-release lever is a finger nail puller. Worse yet, the QR mount is a Gitzo dovetail Arca-like affair with dimensions peculiar only to -- you guessed it -- other Gitzo lens plates.They offer an "Arca style" adapter slides into the slot, but there is no guarantee that it will fit your particular Arca plates -- and Gitzo doesn't give any dimension data so you can figure it out.I already use a Wimberley head for my long lenses, and am committed to Wimberley's Arca-Swiss clamps and lens plates.It is rock solid, but weighs 4 lbs. A ball head is lighter, but less stable, regardless of the hi-tech bells and whistles.Darned if I'm going to retrofit my entire inventory with Gitzo plates! I have installed a Wimberley clamp on one of my ball heads and would wager that for the price, and with good technique, it yields image quality comparable to the Gitzo Systematic.
The bottom line for me was that I would have to purchase the Gitzo QR adapter, and IF it fit I would have to be continually futzing with it, popping it on and off, and would have to carry an additional ball or L-bracket for short lens and macro work for portrait orientation.For the high price of this ball head and requisite add-ons, I found no cost-effective advantage and consequently returned it to the dealer.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Gitzo GH5380SQR Series 5 Systematic Ball Head with Built In Quick Release System (Black)
Product Description:
The systematic head is specifically dedicated to photographers who love to shoot with long and ultra long lenses for wild life, sport and action photography. Long lenses require ultra smooth movements, exceptional locking capabilities, minimized drift angle, super fast and intuitive operation. The systematic head features a revolutionary hydraulic locking system placed for the first time inside the ball. It is a completely new concept, not just a reversed ball head. Height: 3.98 in.; lateral tilt: +28° / -28°; load capacity: 66.14 lbs.; material: aluminum; panoramic rotation: 360 °; quick release - with 1/4-20-Inch and 3/8-Inch screws; quick release; series: 3 - 4 - 5; weight: 1.59 lbs.
Get 10% OFF
Want to buy Gitzo GH5380SQR Series 5 Systematic Ball Head with Built In Quick Release System (Black) at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:
0 comments:
Post a Comment