Buy Giottos MH1301-656 Professional Calibrated Ball Head with MH656 Quick ReleaseGiottos MH1301-656 Professional Calibrated Ball Head with MH656 Quick Release Product Description:
- Load capacity: 22 lbs
- Base Diameter: 50mm
- Base with 3/8-Inch socket with 1/4-Inch bushing
- QR plate with 1/4-Inch threads
- Height: 109mm
Product Description
Pro Series II ball head. Includes MH656 Arca-compatible quick release with bubble levels for precise positioning. Calibrated tension control knob. Large hollow lightweight ball. .
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Much more than expected
By Scanner
Got this head to use on a monopod. Originally, I used a monopod for stabilizing medium-size video camcorders as second cameras on projects and where a monopod was used mainly in a vertical position. Over the past year, I've been using the monopod for outdoor DSLR macro photography when setting up a tripod and focusing rail is impractical. As anyone who has used a monopod for similar purposes knows, stability is important. But without an adjustable head, tilting and leaning forward or backward over a monopod to obtain desired angles of composition can be awkward. Also, without an adjustable head, shooting in portrait orientation makes a monopod more nuisance than assistance.One of my other heads is an Acra Tech GV2 mounted on a tripod. I mention this for comparison only because while not in the same class as the GV2, and who would expect it to be at around one-third the price, the 1301 is extremely well built, very high quality, operates smoothly, and locks tight. As such, the 1301 represents outstanding value for its price.There have been some complaints about the Giottos mounting plate loosening or slipping under a camera. These probably are valid concerns as my experience is that all cork based mounting plates are subject to camera slippage. My cameras are fitted with Acratech plates which mount perfectly and lock tight on the 1301. A camera specific Acratech or Arca Swiss compatible plate would eliminate slippage and be a useful accessory for the Giottos 1301. This would be especially important if you, as I do, walk around holding a monopod over your shoulder, or at your side, camera mounted, head pointed down. In such uses, it's important to know your camera is firmly attached to the head and won't slip.At a weight of a little over 1#, the 1301 plus camera and lens on a monopod come out a little top heavy. This however was no surprise, and would hardly be a problem on a tripod. In all respects, the 1301 is a splendid and important supplement to a monopod and I expect would be to any tripod as well. With the drag set properly, changing camera angles is smooth with virtually no ball slippage. Shifting to portrait orientation also is smooth and secure.Primarily, I use a Nikon D300 with a variety of AI-s manual focus prime lenses ranging from 35mm to 135mm on the 1301, each lens yielding different centers of gravity. The drag was set initially months ago and after nearly 1000 images shot, and the lock being set and released nearly as many times, there has been no need to readjust the initial drag setting. In my view, this attests to the precision and care that went into manufacturing the 1301.One negative: The 1301 instructions warn that over loosening the friction (drag) control can cause a head failure, which could be something to think about, as I believe over loosening is not possible on some other, albeit more expensive heads. This issue alone, which I view as a design flaw, gives the 1301 a 4-star instead of a 5-star. Than again, it's hard to understand why it would be necessary to unwind the drag to its limit under any circumstance on any head.A possible negative: We have an older Bogen/Manfroto aluminum tripod with circumference too wide at the top to allow the 1301 with camera attached full adjustment to portrait orientation. This can be solved by extending the center tube, but might be viewed as an annoyance by some.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Smooth ball system, though best coupled with a third-party quick release
By D. Alexander
This ball head is versatile and strong enough for lenses up to 300/2.8. There are better alternatives to the Giottos quick-release.Ball movement is smooth in all directions and consistent. Likewise, the three tension knobs operate in a progressive and oiled fashion. The base rotation is excellent: no unnecessary friction with the tension screw disengaged and a predictable ramp when it is. Build quality of the ball system is without fault, though screw locks on a tripod mounting plate will mar the paint under the base. Tightening the drag and main tension knobs has almost zero effect on the ball position. One design oddity: the ball tension knobs tighten in opposite directions.Strength when all knobs are locked leaves little be desired, though the ball is a bit smaller than I'd like for a Canon 7D, battery grip, 200/2.8L, and 1.4X teleconverter. I have to tighten the drag knob to a high setting to keep the camera from drooping at off-axis positions. A larger ball would achieve this will less effort.If there's a weak point to the MH1301, it's the quick-release (QR) system. The twist knob that tightens the QR shoe on my unit felt almost misthreaded at first. It's since become more fluid, but less so than the other knobs. Of greater concern, you can't use the portrait notch if this knob is facing to the right; it rubs against the base before the head angle reaches 90 degrees. Even if you could, the locking system only allows the mounting plate to be offset in the shoe in one direction. With the locking knob to the right, you can't shift the camera toward you, and therefore can't adjust balance.To tighten the plate with the knob oriented leftward, you're twisting the knob toward you with your left hand. If you're right-handed, this will be weaker and slower than twisting clockwise from the right side.The Arca-style mounting plate has problems of its own. While it has flip-up plastic legs to prevent it from shifting, they're positioned about 1/5" inward. Since the curvature at the base of the lens mount on my Canon 40D doesn't provide a flat edge to push against, the plate is most effective with the legs touching the back of the camera. This shifts the ball axis well behind the center of gravity of the camera and any lens, which makes the whole rig more unstable and prone to flopping. Without the legs, portrait position with heavier lenses can cause the camera to twist on the mounting shoe unless you've really cranked the set screw tight. I'm therefore not keen on the choice of cork as a base material; rubber would be more durable and slip less under torsion.Relative to the Smith Victor BH5 it replaced in my kit, this Giottos is smaller, significantly lighter, and has slightly less locking strength. The BH5 quick-release system is smoother and faster to operate by a small margin. Otherwise, the refinement and adjustability of the MH1301 is vastly ahead of the cheaper unit. If you want to try a third-party QR like Hejnar, opt for the MH1301-300C with the simple screw-head; it's the same ball unit otherwise, and you'll save $45.That's about it, really. I'm impressed with the ball system, though offset use with lenses over 300mm or those without a tripod collar will benefit from the additional strength of the MH1300. I'm less impressed with the Giottos QR system, though I haven't docked a star because, while the design is suboptimal, it doesn't significantly hinder use.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful.Outstanding head for amateur/student use.
By Michael Marin
I have a Velbon El Carmange 530 that came with a stock pan/tilt head on it. Since I mainly use it for photography, not video, I researched and found this head to be the best of Giottos bunch. The built quality is very strong, and the parts are well put together and finished. Once you understand what each knob is used for, you'll have no trouble using this head. Pay attention to how much weight you will be putting onto the head itself. I've gone as far as putting a Rebel XTi with a battery grip, and a 28-300mm Canon L fully extended, and it held up nicely. Any more than that, and I would expect the head to start creeping down under the weight.
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