Ballhead for M8?

[mitchell]

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For those whose sensibilities are offended by a M on a tripod, may I suggest a cocktail. !:^)

 

I'm thinking Acratech V2, or Ultimate, or ReallyRight Stuff BH 25, or BH 40 for use on my Gitzo 1227.

 

Anyone with experience with any of these?

 

Thanks,

 

Mitchell

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[woodyspedden]

Mitchell

 

I have used the Really Right Stuff BH 55 on my Gitzo 1228 with complete success for my M8. I was recently at Horseshoe Bend in Page AZ and shot almost exclusively with that righ at both sunrise and sunset. I needed sharp focus from the camera to infinity so stopped my 28 cron to F11 and longish shutter speeds. I had absolutely no problems. The RRS BH40 is just a smaller, lighter version of the BH 55 and should handle the load of the M8 and lens with no problems. Sadly RRS does not make an L bracket for the M8. They do have a simple Arca swiss compatible plate for the bottom of the camera so you can use it when the camera is in the landscape mode. Shooting on a tripod in portrait mode is more of a challenge but of course can be done.

 

Good luck

 

Woody Spedden

[jrc]

I have an RRS BH55 on a Gitzo 1325 with a Gitzo self-leveling head, which I use with a D2x and a long lens (usually.) I recently bought a RRS generic adapter plate for the M8, and while the whole set-up is way more than is necessary for such a small camera and lens, it works well enough. The tripod and head weigh several times as much as the camera and lens, which seems odd, and the M8 has always seemed like a walk-around camera, so in my head there's a fundamental disconnect; however, that shouldn't stop you from a similar set-up if you need a tripod. (I'd get a smaller one, though.) Can't complain about RRS quality.

 

In other words, what Woody said -- except that I really don't see much use for an L bracket. I have an L for the Nikon, and eventually took it off, because it was more weight added to what was already a load. The Nikon is well-balanced as a hand-held tool, and L-bracket threw that off without gaining much, I thought. With the ball head (which allows you to drop the camera into portrait position) and the self-leveling head, the L-bracket seemed somewhat redundant, as long as you're not in an extreme rush to change positions.

 

JC

[pascal_meheut]

I had the Acratech and I changed it for the RRS BH-40 (I already had the BH-55).

Both are good but I prefer the RRS lever platform: it is very convenient with their dedicated plates, fast and secure.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

I use the BH-55 but the BH-40 would be great for the M8 . But again i like that quick release lever also

[mitchell]

Thanks everyone.

 

I should have mentioned before that I have a RRS B 55 that I use with a Gitzo 1325 with DMR and MF. It is a superb head, but seems like overkill for the M8. I really like the idea of getttng the weight down for hikes with the M8.

 

I'm leaning B 40.

 

Best,

 

Mitchell

[rvaubel]

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Thanks everyone.

 

I should have mentioned before that I have a RRS B 55 that I use with a Gitzo 1325 with DMR and MF. It is a superb head, but seems like overkill for the M8. I really like the idea of getttng the weight down for hikes with the M8.

 

I'm leaning B 40.

 

Best,

 

Mitchell

 

On advantage that the B55 has over the B40 is in portrait mode with a heavy lens. Although an "L" bracket would keep the load centered over the B40, an L bracket seems kind of inappropriate on an M8 and I'd rather go for the heavier ballhead. On the other hand, the B40 would be fine for lighter lenses in portriat mode.

 

Rex

[gesper]

You should also consider the excellent Markins ballheads available at the Nikonians website. I have a Q3 that I originally bought for my Gitzo 1258 for use with a Nikon D200 w/18 - 200mm zoom. That camer aand lens combo is much heavier than any M8 combination, so the Markins works great with the M8 and is relatively small and light.

[pascal_meheut]

On advantage that the B55 has over the B40 is in portrait mode with a heavy lens. Although an "L" bracket would keep the load centered over the B40, an L bracket seems kind of inappropriate on an M8 and I'd rather go for the heavier ballhead. On the other hand, the B40 would be fine for lighter lenses in portriat mode.

Rex

 

Yes but BH55 needs an heavy tripod. In fact, according the RRS web site, the tripod should weight at least 2.5x more than the head.

For an M8, a BH40 should be ok even in portrait mode.

[jonathangraham]

I use the BH40 on my m7 quite a bit, but the locking mechanism is not as secure as I would like - but it works quite well. I had the QR plate from RRS, but eventually removed it from the BH40 and removed the adapter from the camera. It was not worth the additional weight.

 

Personally I think the Leica ball head is a far better design, but it does raise the tripod height.

 

I plan to change it over this weekend.

[Woody Campbell]

The generic RRS L-bracket works fine. (It's referred to as MC-L.) It interferes slightly with the neck strap - which you can solve by threading the strap through the bracket (if you do this you can easily remove the camera bottom with the L-bracket attached). It also interferes with USB out on the camera, but who cares.

[glenerrolrd]

Mitchell

 

I have used the Really Right Stuff BH 55 on my Gitzo 1228 with complete success for my M8. I was recently at Horseshoe Bend in Page AZ and shot almost exclusively with that righ at both sunrise and sunset. I needed sharp focus from the camera to infinity so stopped my 28 cron to F11 and longish shutter speeds. I had absolutely no problems. The RRS BH40 is just a smaller, lighter version of the BH 55 and should handle the load of the M8 and lens with no problems. Sadly RRS does not make an L bracket for the M8. They do have a simple Arca swiss compatible plate for the bottom of the camera so you can use it when the camera is in the landscape mode. Shooting on a tripod in portrait mode is more of a challenge but of course can be done.

 

Good luck

 

Woody Spedden

Woody Looks like RRS has released an L bracket for the M8. What do you use with your DMR?

[Joe S]

I just purchased the RRS BH 25 and it is very small, light, secure and appropriately sized for these cameras.

[rvaubel]

Yes but BH55 needs an heavy tripod. In fact, according the RRS web site, the tripod should weight at least 2.5x more than the head.

For an M8, a BH40 should be ok even in portrait mode.

 

RRS's recommendations are based on maxing out the head weightwise. For my use I am only trying to accommodate the eccentric load caused by the portrait orientation of the camera without the use of the L bracket AND with a heavy lens. Otherwise its the BH40 for me too

 

Rex

[DaveSee]

For those whose sensibilities are offended by a M on a tripod, may I suggest a cocktail. !:^)

 

I'm thinking Acratech V2, or Ultimate, or ReallyRight Stuff BH 25, or BH 40 for use on my Gitzo 1227.

 

Anyone with experience with any of these?

 

Thanks,

 

Mitchell

Hiya,

I've the Acratech Ultimate... and learned from your post of their V2. The "Ultimate" offers a very wide range of camera positions while leaving the camera attached, yet does shift a wee bit when tightening (overly?) firmly: it's a bit much for a G1227+M8 set-up, IMHO. As others have posted, the RSS B40 or B25 might serve the "fast and light" folk better, but the "Ultimate" provides a near "hand held" feel during shot composition because it is not a "vertical pivot point" device... my head/tripod combined weight is 8 lbs, offered for your reference to my, ah, sanity No stability concerns... with the camera, just legs(no column) and the head for support.

 

On my film Ms I use the RRS B30, and on the M8 a BP-CS, FWIW.

 

rgds,

Dave

[Your Old Dog]

I use the BH-55 but the BH-40 would be great for the M8 . But again i like that quick release lever also

 

I'd have to agree with Guy. I have a BH55 for my Nikon D200 and long (heavy) lens use and works to perfection. The problem is if you didn't need all the capacity for weight what would be the advantage on the M8? I try to stay as lean in weight as I can. The BH55 is awesome on the Gitzo when using really heavy optics. If I could get away with the 25 or 40 I would have it instead.

[nzav]

The BH-55 is definitely overkill for the M8 unless you throw a Visoflex III with a 400 Telyt on it! I regularly use the BH-40 with a DSLR using lenses up to a 180mm f2.8 on a Gitzo and have never had a hint of sharpness loss in either the vertical or horizontal framing mode (without using the mirror lockup). I also use a BH-55 on another Gitzo, but only for lenses longer than 200mm on the DSLR.

 

Actually, the BH-40 may be overkill for the M8, perhaps the BH-25 would be a better fit, but I do not have that one so can't say from first-hand experience... My favorite support for the M8 and film Leica M's is the older, smaller Leitz table tripod with the older, smaller version of the Leitz ballhead. Used correctly, this combination is extremely stable, and much more compact (as in pocketable) than the later, larger versions of the tripod/ballhead which I also had. I have pushed the limits of this combo with DSLR's also and was surprised how well it worked, though I would not recommend any long lens use with it!

[gesper]

Suggest Markins Q3 Emille. Top quality, small, light, no L bracket required. Perfect for M8 and any conceivable lens.

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Hallo,

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[photolandscape]

I have used the Novoflex Magicball for quite a while. For the M series, the smallest version works well, since the camera is relatively light. The larger model is pretty heavy to have to lug around all day. All of them are beautifully crafted.