CowboyStudio Pro Camera Tripod Ball Head Quick Release Plate With Gradienter BK-03

NOTE: After using this a little longer, I have found it awkward with heavier or longer lenses. You kind of need to use two hands to tighten both knobs at once, and with heavier setups (I'm talking 3-4lbs heavy, not 10lbs heavy), you can't count on a lighter tension to hold things while you tighten both knobs. Also, I've found a glitch developed in one of the tightening knobs where as you're turning it it feels like it hits a bump where it gets tighter for a bit, then looser, then tight again. Not good. I'm probably going to try a different head.Original Revue:A Cheap Good Ball Head is a rare animal. Look at the reviews for almost any head <$100 (and most <$300) and you'll see them described as junk, useless, or "maybe I can use this to hold my flash."Features you would like in your Ball head and how this Bieke/Cowboy head stacks up:SOLID - won't drift with the weight of your gear (and won't drop your gear!). It holds my medium DSLR (Canon 70D) with 1.5 lb lenses without a hitch. I don't have any bigger than that... I just calibrated my focus and this held the camera rock solid and even held its aim perfectly while I swapped lenses. I also did some macro with it. I'll attach a photo if Amazon lets me.Easy To Adjust: Ideally you would like to simply turn a knob or lever and have your camera locked in exactly where it was aiming before you tightened. This head doesn't do that. It has two knobs which you will want to tighten together, which can be awkward while aiming the camera. This is the price you pay for a $22 head vs a $300 head. It will stay on target pretty well if you tighten the knobs together - or alternate tightening each a little. This is a bit of a pain. I wouldn't recommend this head if your work requires frequent adjustments. You would probably want a $$$ head. But better to have 2 knobs and have the option of holding the camera's position vs most cheap heads with one knob and the camera is off target once fixed.Visible Bubble level(s). YupStandard Quick release Plate: Nope. Also, what's the deal with having to unscrew a knob to release the quick release? What's the point? You may as well just screw directly into the camera if you're going to have to do that (though that'd be tricky with a ball head). Still, it's kind of lame that way.But here's the thing: For $22 (or for $50), I don't think you're going to find anything else as good. Probably you're going to go over $100 before you significantly improve on this (and some >$100 are worse).I also like the pan capability - with lock. Not all ball heads have it and it's pretty convenient. If you just want to change the pan, you don't have to loosen the main head and re-lock. It's tolerably smooth, but I doubt you'll want to use it for video. Maybe in a pinch, but not ideal.NOTE: this head is sold under many names. I think the dual knob ball lock is fairly distinctive, so that would cue you in. Beike is the actual manufacturer though it's relabled all over the place. Even this Cowboy Studio model, labeled "Afaith" in the Amazon photo said "Beike" on the actual head. As of this writing, this Cowboy Studio version was the cheapest I found.Durability: It appears solid, but I've only been using it for a week. Threads could strip. Bolts could shear. Time will tell.

Great product, well made. I don't use the quick release plate. I added a Joby JB01277-BWW UltraFit Hand Strap with UltraPlate for easy hand-held shooting and the Ultraplate fits naturally where the quick release plate goes. There are two threaded holes in the bottom, so I added the VONOTO DSLR Camera Hard Plastic waist belt buckle button - camera hanger Belt Clip Holster Holder. It is reinforced with metal, which is good, because a 5D Mk III with a 70-200mm f/2.8L is a lot of weight, but it holds it. You may not want all that swinging on your hip, no matter what products you use, but it works and for hundreds of dollars less. So now I can throw it on a tripod or wear it on my hip and use the hand strap to secure the camera. Love the combination. I put the quick release plate on a longer lens with a tripod foot, so now I can mount the camera or the lens to the ball head depending on lens size. I do wish they sold separate quick release plates so I could have one on every large lens, but I only have two, so it isn't much of a bother. Do take note, this has a 3/8" thread and no adapter is included, so you will have to buy inserts if you want a 1/4" thread. Also, don't plan on panning video with this head. While the movement is meant to be silky smooth, the rotating base is held in place by a crimped retaining plate and the two surfaces are not ground for smooth movement. They are wrought metal to metal contact and as such, you can feel the grinding, however slight, as the unfinished metal surfaces rub against each other. I bought three at different times and it is the same on all of them. The base is made to be stationary. You move it where you want, lock it in place, snap a shot and then move it for a panorama. You will need a different head for panning video unless you don't mind the jerkiness of unfinished surfaces rubbing against each other. Thisd is not a negative as this isn't advertised as a video head. I'm just letting you know you can't sneak by with this.