Holding up a 30D now, likely a 5D or 1DMk3 shorlty... and a 580 EX II on a flash bracket... maybe a Qflash sometime soon.


RRS BH-40 LR II
<img src="http://reallyrightstuff.com/ballheads/BH40LR2.gif">

On Manfrotto "055XPROB" legs: (just can't quite find justification for Gitzo CF stuff just yet)
<img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/504845.jpg">

good stuff.

also got the gitzo CF pod and a bogen (manfrotto) studio bohemoth tripod and monopod.

you can't go wring.

I doubt you'd be disappointed. Workmanship is first class and everything works as it should. BTW - why are you going for the larger clamp?

have you looked at Markins? I had their M10 - ball action was actually smoother than my BH-55. It's light, compact, very strong and a bit less expensive than RRS

Quality and finish are just as amazing as RRS. Early models (like mine) had weak panning base lock, which Markins is rumored to have quietly fixed. Haven't seen the new ones in person though...<ul><li><a href="http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/M10.php">worth taking a look if you haven't already</a></li></ul>

I even installed one on my Sidekick... So it doesn't sound silly to me at all. Makes mount/dismount instantaneous.

L plates are great, although lately I use the normal plate more - a bit less bulk. I put the L on when I know I'll be using tripod a lot.

when I was ordering a clamp for my monopod, the BH-40 was just announced, so I asked them for the smaller clamp that it came with, unfortunately it wasn't available separately then...

I think the legs are fine, although personally, I'd spend about a $100 more and get a Feisol carbon fiber - lighter, sturdier (is that a word?) and, reportedly, very well made and reliable

or mounts directly to lens foot plate

I just have the clamp mounted directly on the monopod, but I use the monopod only for things like soccer, etc, to support the 300mm lens. I don't use the monopod for camera with smaller/lighter lenses.

I tried the Manfrotto 3232 swivel head on it, but it's just not strong enough for the 300mm. For just the camera with a lighter lens it will work just fine

So much to buy and so little $$$.

I really need to upgrade to an RRS ballhead and plates but that means 3 plates. I also need a bigger tripod than my Manfrotto 190MF4. I'd also need a new clamp or head for my monopod. It adds up way too fast.

they are just something your car sits on, hard to justify paying much for them.

So I don't mind my old aluminum Celestron with a 3 way head and no quick release.

you'd use it more.

So splurge on those good tires. :-)

I just bought a CT-3342 and returned because I need something beefier, got the CT-3371 which is about the same as the Gitzo 35xx series, at half the price.

The CT-3342 was rock solid, and weighed 2.2 lbs!! Yes, 2.2lbs with a load rating of 15lbs.

I used a RSS BH55 and it was real sexy, but when I switched to the Markins M10, and now a Markins M20, I don't think there is any comparison. The Markins are silky smooth and the tension lock is so easy to use. I rate both the M10 and M20 a 10 out of 10.

I had a Wimberly F6 and sold it...bought the RRS B87B an find it to work much better.

I almost always in a Wimberly Sidekick on the tripod..

<ul><li><a href="http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/637556">http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/637556</a</li></ul>