Acratech GP-s Ballhead

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

This is my first high quality ball head and overall I have been very impressed. I debated getting something a little bit cheaper for a long time but in the end decided that the versatility of this bullhead would pay off.

I shoot mostly nature photography (both landscape and wildlife) so I was looking for a bullhead that was light enough to take on longer hikes but steady enough to hold telephotos out to about 400mm. The Acratech GP-s also offers a simulated gimbal configuration and can be inverted to provide very accurate panoramic stitching. The fact that I could save some money (for now) on extra accessories or even another bullhead convinced me to take the plunge and buy the GP-s.

I was also buying the bullhead along with a Feisol 3342 tripod which was almost high enough for me to look through the viewfinder without bending (I'm 6'3") but still light enough to take along on hikes and backpacking trips. The GP-s fits nicely with the Feisol and the tripod legs can be inverted around the bullhead for more compact traveling. The leg tips don't quite touch with the bullhead installed but with a little adjustment come very close and the whole set up fits nicely in the Feisol carry case.

So far I have been very pleased with the Acratach GP-s. It seems very well made and extremely secure. As long as I tighten down all the knobs correctly I feel secure that my equipment is safe. I have experimented with the simulated gimbal feature using Canon's 100-400 mm L and it worked well. For anything longer and heavier I would think that a true gimbal setup would be required for decent results. I have not used the bullhead in it's inverted position yet but I hope to take advantage of that feature for some nice panoramic shots when the weather gets a little nicer. My only complaint with the bullhead is that it is not quite as smooth as I was expecting for the price and there is definite creep noticeable when I look through the viewfinder as I am locking down the bullhead. It's not huge and only really noticeable at longer focal lengths but could be important for some people.

Overall I think this is a great product and overs versatility far beyond even more expensive bullheads. I would say it's a jack-of-all-trades which does a lot of things well but is not specialized enough to be the best at anything. For someone like me who is just getting into a serious support system and looking to get the most bang for my buck I think it's the best bullhead available.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

This ballhead is a beauty to behold, and a pleasure to use. Every action is smooth as...well, I can't come up with an appropriate metaphor, but it is smooth. The panorama function is also well thought out. The only thing that would make it more ideal is a tool-less switch between normal and pano functions. I can't think of way that this would be possible while maintaining the security of a screw, however, so I don't mind too much.
The one thing with which I take issue has nothing to do with the actual ballhead. The plates that attach to the bottom of your camera seem to me rather over-priced. $39.99 for a simply machined, small piece of aluminum? $199.99 for a nodal rail?! Nothing to do with the quality of the ballhead, but be prepared to shell out more than the already significant price of the head just to be able to use it.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

I use this head with a Gitzo carbon tripod. It is a dream. Very flexible and lightweight to go with the lightweight tripod. I am a nature photographer so it is very important that the head be very flexible and quick to postion with a large range of motion.

If you buy this be sure you have the the right plates for it or purchase as none come with the head.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

I have never been fond of using tripods unless absolutely necessary. I especially dreaded fidgeting with a ballhead, which always seemed more like an impediment than a helpful tool. This Acratech ballhead is so different and inviting to use that I feel it actually encourages the creative process rather than interrupt it.
At first I balked at paying so much for just the ball head but the craftsmanship is exquisite. Not only does it look like a piece of art, it performs flawlessly. The rubberized knobs are well-positioned, rock solid in any position. It is featherweight relative to its stability. The spirit level is spot on. I found the Gimbal feature an added benefit.
Instead of avoiding a tripod I am now looking for more opportunities to use one and enjoying the process so much more. It reminds of the first time I used a Leica rangefinder. The beauty, design and satin feel of the ball head give you the feeling that you are using something really special.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

Excellent control over camera position in normal and leveling base configuration and in gimbal config, although, it isn't as good as a real wimberly head. Locking the camera is secure and there is no movement unless your tripod isn't stiff enough. The pretension system is pretty nice as is the fact that the nobs are not just bolts or nuts, but captured nobs that can't be removed by accident.

Cons... It isn't exactly light or small. This is a full sized heavy duty ball head, not a lightweight compact travel head.

When used as a leveling base, it is VERY EASY to accidentally release the quick release head instead of the pan nob. It requires caution.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

Nice Ball Head, Easy to use

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

I use the Acratech ballhead when photographing birds and wildlife, for panoramas, and for landscape photography. It is very easy to use, versatile, and locks surely for sharp photos. I have not yet tried it with macro photos, but am sure that the previously mentioned advantages will make my macro shots easier to compose and capture.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

Finally had a chance to use this fine crafted tool in the field.

Having a limited tripod (with only a single level/stage leg set), this has greatly improved its usability and convenience. It seems to be very well thought out having more design features integrated into a single product i.e.: open ball design for easy maintainability, light gimbal option, leveled panning base (when inverted)and big knobby controls for days when use of gloves are a must.

Only 4 stars because I believe that everything can still be improved like a spirit level for vertical orientations but otherwise it's an awesome product. You actually get more features versus others which are almost in the same price range. Plus it's one of those things that you get once and be done with it.

I've also considered other designs which were more streamlined and aesthetically better looking but form does follow function and this one is growing on me.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

Great ballhead, love the landscape option (when turning head upside down)
Easy to use and keep clean. Lightweight was a must for me for travelling purposes. Would buy it again

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

All the good stuff you've read is true.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

Excellent multi-functional head. The extra compact size is appreciated.
I take lots of long exposure landscape shots so an absolutely steady head is essential and this head hasn't let me down!

Being able to flip the head around to use the leveling base on top for panoramics is an awesome idea. The only con with this is when doing so, the base doesn't lock in on the top of the ball head mesh with the teeth like it does when attached to the bottom of the head since there aren't any "teeth" at the top of the head base. So essentially its held in place by friction, but nonetheless its works great!

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

The weight is less than 1 Lb, but it is strong and steady .Highly recommend to people if they need to travel light.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

Pros:
Small, light, and solid. Should handle any camera and lens I would ever buy or carry. Well-thought-out. I have no plans to buy another tripod head, ever.

Cons:
The gimbal feature is almost irrelevant. This is the GP-s version, which is meant to be mounted on travel tripods. Suffice to say the off-center gimbal feature, when used with a large telephoto lens, will unbalance any travel tripod. I intend to use it upside-down all the time for the panorama function, thus making the gimbal unavailable. It would be nice if it had two panning heads to make panning and gimbal both possible without taking the head off and putting it back on, especially for this price. I might sometimes use the gimbal if this was the case.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

The GOOD: Build quality is excellent. The knobs are rubberized and appear to be very high quality. I was concerned with the ballhead accidentally getting dirt in it and how I could clean it. With the exposed ball design, it doesn't appear to be an issue. The ball locks down nicely. I didn't find that excessive force was required to make my camera stay put. Tilting the camera over 90 degrees to portrait mode uses the unique gimbal feature of this ballhead. It works very well. Inverting the ballhead to use it as a levelling base is a nice extra too.

The NOT SO GOOD: I use this ballhead with a Gitzo GT1541T tripod and carry it in a ThinkTank Bazooka tripod bag (not the Big or Humongous - the smallest one.) When I fold the legs back over the ballhead they do not fold parallel to the center column, but it's pretty close. It would say that the legs stick out about 3/8 of an inch more than they could potentially fold adding about 3/4 of an inch to the overall folded diameter measured at the end of the legs. It's not possible to use this ballhead attached to the GT1541T and place it in a Gitzo GC1201T tripod bag (made for the GT1541T). With the legs folded back and the ballhead attached, the tripod barely fits in the ThinkTank bazooka bag. The issue is with the inside diameter of the bag and the legs not folding tight enough. I don't mind this. If I ever forgot to zip up the end of the tripod bag, I know that the tripod would not accidentally slip out of the bag. There also doesn't appear to be any unnecessary strain on the tripod legs or the ballhead when it's put into the bag.

Conclusion: I bought this ballhead as a solution that could handle future, heavier camera equipment. I feel pretty confident that I made a good choice despite the inability to fold up the tripod as small as it could potentially go.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

So lightweight. I've been using RRS ballheads which are very good but HEAVY and they can bind if exposed to too much dust.

Also, for my Traveler tripod, the RRS traveler-size ballhead was still pretty large and heavy.

Not this guy. Very well made and so light! Holds my D3X and a 24-70 / f2.8 with ease.

Excellent controls. Smaller than the RRS - still can't completely fold the tripod to its minimum traveling size but you can get pretty close. Plus no more worrying about the weight and adverse (dusty) conditions.

Another big plus, the mounting plate is tiny yet works very well. And you can keep the L-bracket detached until you need it unlike other L-brackets for the D3X that really get in the way.

Finally, the detent pin is a really nice touch making sure your camera doesn't go boom.

Excellent buy.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

The GP-s is beautifully engineered. Much different in appearance from the typical ballheads but also much more versatile. The gimbal action is a great plus and the QRS is excellent! It takes a little time to get used to but I could not be happier.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

I have owned this ballhead for about two weeks, and had limited opportunities to use it so far. It is replacing a Benro B-1 that came with my Benro travel angel tripod, specifically because of the smaller base. Although it was overall easy to use and worked well, the B-1 head had sufficient play in the base that it was very difficult to center my subjects using a Canon 50D with a 400 mm 5.6L lens.

First impression of the Acratech is that it is very solidly built, with easy to use knobs. Once I installed it on the tripod, it was clear this was a worthwhile investment and a definite improvement from the B-1. It is more bulky, but does not significantly affect the ability to fully fold the tripod for transport. When you lock it down, there is minimal drop of the lens tip (not zero, but close). As I have seen in several other reviews, it takes a little getting used to, and the knobs are not necessarily in the best positions for the way I hold my rig, but it is not difficult to get it to do what you want. The tension control knob on mine has very limited range, which means most of the tension control must be done with the main knob, but it is not difficult to achieve the tension I need to keep my camera stable and yet allow easy movement to keep up with birds and other quick moving subjects. I love the wide range of movement of the head, which is a real limitation of most standard ballheads. There is no requirement to turn the head for most purposes, unlike the Acratech Ultimate and most other heads. The quick release mount is very easy and quick to use, compared with the B-1, and is very sturdy when tightened. I like the bullseye level built into the mount as well.

I have not used the gimbal feature much yet, but it seems to be quite sturdy thanks to the built in sleeve on the ball head neck and the axis pin on the underside. It places the camera off center, which stresses my travel tripod and could lead to a tumble if not carefully watched. This could easily be corrected by hanging a weight from the tripod shaft. The off center gimbal could cause some problems for stitching panoramic views as well. However, the only correction I know of for this is to drop the money for, and add the weight and bulk of, a full Wimberley type gimbal head. I feel that the GP-s is a very workable gimbal for most purposes.

Cons: rather bulky and knobby vs. the B-1 it replaced. One minor issue is that with moderate tension on the ball, it tends to rotate along the plane of the ball mount when I am repositioning it, requiring a bit of extra effort to get it going the right way. This may likely improve after I break it in for a while longer.

Overall a top notch ballhead for my purposes, at a reasonable price.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

ANOTHER PRODUCT I RESEARCHED AND WAITED UNTIL I COULD AFFORD IT OF COURSE TO PURCHASE.
IT IS SO SMOOTH AND EASY TO USE, IF YOU WANT QUALITY, STRENGTH AND FOR A CHANGE AMERICAN MADE THIS IS THE ONE FOR ME.

Comments about Acratech GP-s Ballhead:

I have always been impressed with Acratech products ever since I purchased their Ultimate ball head several years ago. But after recently getting their new GP-s head, it is amazing. Such a versatile tool with the three heads in one and what a finally machined piece of equipment as well, beautiful! Remember it weighs less than a pound and will hold 25 lbs, what more can you ask for in a ball head.