Gitzo GH5380S Systematic Ball Head with 1/4"-20 Screw - Supports 66 lbs (30kg)

Comments about Gitzo GH5380S Systematic Ball Head with 1/4"-20 Screw - Supports 66 lbs (30kg):

This is an excellent & versatile ball head that works great whether deployed outdoors with a Gitzo 5 Systematic Tripod OR indoors with a heavy-duty FOBA Studio Stand.

I occasionally use this ball head on the Gitzo 5 series tripod when there is a need to support heavy telephoto lens outdoors. No stability issue at all when used to support the massive 600mm F/4 lens. Panning action is controllable and smooth. The ball head can generate unbelievable locking strength (1022 lbs) with just a quarter turn on the locking ring.

More frequently, I found this ball head indispensable when deployed within the Studio. The 5380s is constantly paired with the FOBA ASABO stand, which is equipped with FOBA's 3-axis tilting head. Various digital cameras are attached to this combo, via their corresponding RRS (Really Right Stuff) L-brackets and a Arca-Swiss Quick-Release clamp.

Pairing the 5380s to the FOBA 3-axis tilt head may appear to be redundant to some at first. But the ability for the 5380s to quickly lock/unlock the ball head with just a quick turn of the locking knob can soon be appreciated as a time saver, especially when the camera has to be quickly positioned close the photographed subject, with the FOBA's horizontal arm set/extended at an angle (eg. 45 degrees), projecting from the vertical stand placed behind, without the FOBA stand intruding into the lighting set. Try setting the camera to shoot at a slight down tilt angle over the subject's eye-level can be much quickly achieve using a ball head; try doing this with a 3-axis tilting head alone, when the FOBA horizontal arm is not set in parallel to the photographed subject and the adjustment will soon turn into a challenge!

In the context of studio photography, the 5380s inability to tilt 90 degrees for portrait shoots is a non-issue, because no serious photographer will ever use this in their vertical shoot setup due to the inherent instability and other issues incurred. Instead most will deploy a sturdy L-bracket, which can quickly be flicked between horizontal and vertical orientation in seconds when paired with a quick-release clamp, whilst ensuring that the camera lens optical axis extends from the rotational axis of the ball head.

The 28 degrees tilting angle is more than sufficient for most portrait shoots within the studio. On rare occasions, only when greater tilting angle is required do I find the need to adjusting the 3-axis tilting controls of the FOBA head. Due of the new found flexibility and speed with the 5380s, I found myself a reduced need to do handheld shots, even when quick repositioning is required.

Highly recommended to any serious photographers, who understands & respects the 5380s for what it is and are looking for a study & quick-action ball head, which most likely will be paired with a quality quick-release mounting system and L-bracket in Studio use.

Comments about Gitzo GH5380S Systematic Ball Head with 1/4"-20 Screw - Supports 66 lbs (30kg):

I own two of these heads and they are great for use with a beanbag from a car (such as the Apex beanbag from Essential PhotoGear - the best beanbag on the market). With a low profile excellent conjunction and high load capacity it provides an excclent mount for a long lens especially when used with a Wimberley plate. This makes taking my rig off my tripod and putting onto the head a snap. Once mounted the limited travel up and down is actually helpful as it stops you trying to reach to far and topple it out from the car, and the all round motion and friction control setting for the ball head is truly awesome.

This is not for me a head for all occasions (and the reason I only gave 4 stars) but on top of the Apex bean bag shooting from a car window it is simply stunning!

If you shoot with a beanbag from acar it dosent get better than this