FLM Compact Ballhead - Supports 6.50 lb (2.95 kg)

Comments about FLM Compact Ball Head:

This ball head has an inherent design deficiency: it is too small and lightweight to hold anything larger than a point-and-shoot camera. (And mounting a point-and-shoot on a tripod seems like a contradiction in terms.)

Attaching a larger camera (like a DSLR) is a clumsy and frustrating operation. Worse yet, the small circular platform surrounding the tripod screw is too small to balance the camera on. And even at that, it only works if the cameras pointed more or less straight ahead in horizontal format -- it's all but impossible to tighten the knobs enough to hold the camera in position if you rotate it to vertical format.

This item would work fine if it were simply about 50% larger. But it isn't…

Comments about FLM Compact Ball Head:

It's a good piece for your kit if you you use it with Canon Rebel DSLR and lenses that wait no more than 2 lbs. Good to go! Ballhead itsself is light but does the job.

Comments about FLM Compact Ball Head:

This ball head is well made. I use it with my monopod and it holds its position very well, even with a 6 lb 14 inch long lens.

Comments about FLM Compact Ball Head:

Just used the product 2 times and it's just great. I attach it to my Joby gorillapod SLR-Zoom and my vintage Canon F-1 (which has some weight) and when you lock the FLM Compact Ballhead into place, at any angle, it holds just fine. The FLM is perfevt for the beginner or enthusiast (me) and will satisfy, in my view, the discerning professional as well. A steal for the price when you match it up with the solid performance and functionality. If there is a negatibve, and this is very minor, when the control knob is too loose and disengaged from the ballhead when not in use, the ballhead hangs limp all over the place and feels like it could slip out - but no way the ball is surrounded by a high collar housing.

Comments about FLM Compact Ball Head:

Monopods
Light weight & compact

Service and delivery comments:

Delivery was prompt
Arrived in good condition

Comments about FLM Compact Ball Head:

I have this gadget that I designed that (without going into too much detail) involves a clamp and a compact ball head. I use it for my various pinhole cameras. Anyhow, I must have left it clamped to something, someplace so I needed to make another. The original had a Cullmann 903 mini ball head and I was never that happy with it. This time I used the opportunity to try an FLM head.

The head was cheaper than the cullmann, so I was off to a good start. Beyond that I was very impressed with the build quality - much better than the cullmann. It holds well and I'm not experiencing the slipping I did with the other.

Admittedly, I'm not using heavy cameras - I certainly would not use this for my digital or med format cameras - but the purpose for which I selected it, it's perfect.