Leica Large Ball & Socket Head - Supports 5.5 lb (2.5 kg)

Comments about Leica Large Ball And Socket Head:

Portability is very good.

Comments about Leica Large Ball And Socket Head:

I use this on my D-Lux4 and its been great what so ever!
Its light to carry around and it looks cool on the silver color!!!

Comments about Leica Large Ball And Socket Head:

I bought this Leica ballhead and Leica mini-tripod for a trip to China thirty years ago and still use it regularly. Currently the two together support my Nikon D90 and the Nikkor 18-200 lens. I almost never set it on a table top. Instead, I use it as a hand held chest pod, with the three legs pressed against my chest and the camera tilted up to my eye. Thus my body acts kind of like a monopod. This creates a stable platform so that I can shoot at very slow shutter speeds in available light. And I can move much more freely than I could with a monopod. Pricey, but worth every penny when you see the images you can get from what seem like impossible available light situations. However, with the new CMOS sensors that can shoot at ISO 6400 and higher, maybe this device, and most tripods, and even image stabilization will no longer be needed.

Comments about Leica Large Ball And Socket Head:

Like all Leica products, this is a well machined ball head which will easily support most mid-sized DSLR or rangefinder. I have used it to routinely prop up my Leica Ms and my Canon 5D with battery grip along with a 70-200 f/4 lens. I love the fact that just a fraction of an turn of the locking screw provides a very secure mount. My only issue is that it doesn't have a drag component which is not unusual at this size and price point. So be careful that when the tension is removed from the tightening screw that the camera doesn't flop over possibly causing the entire rig to tip over. The accessory tabletop legs make this head even better so I'd advise purchasing as a package deal.

Comments about Leica Large Ball And Socket Head:

All I can say is, I've had my Leica set (this ballhead plus the legs) for over 30 years and they are still rock solid. I take them with me wherever I go, and have supported everything from a Canon G9 to A Nikon D200 with 18-200 or 70-200 f2.8 lens. An often overlooked use of this unit is to use a convenient wall as a support - the legs will handle a lot of weight so you can hold the assembly against a sturdy vertical surface and keep the camera completely still for long exposures. Highly recommended - costly but it's the last one you'll ever have to buy (so long as you don't lose it, I guess)