1. I know the thing is massive and sturdy, but is there anything about the BH-55 that bugs anyone? Things like not liking the knobs, or their placement, or hard to adjust quickly, etc? Anything really, just like to know if owners of this head have a wishlist.
2. I have Wemberley Swiss Arca plates for my 5D3 for all shorter lenses, and a plate on my collar of my 70-200mm.. Will these work with the clamp(s) offered on the BH-55, or do I need to buy RRS's plates?
3. Regarding question 2, I see that I can buy just the head with no clamp. Is there a clamp on the market that is up to RRS's quality & strenghth that will work on the BH-55 head and accommodate my existing Arca plates?
4. Mounted on a big tripod like the Gitzo 5542LS, will the BH-55 be strong enough if I rent the occasional 400/2.8 or 500/4?
Thanks in Advance!
Posted by David Bernal on July 6, 2014 at 12:37 AM
Hello Paul
My responses:
1. I love the BH-55, complaints whatsoever
2. I had an Acratech bullhead previous to the RSS and their plates work on the RSS
3. I have the RSS clamp. I figured if I am spending good money to get a quality bullhead why go with another makers clamp?
4. I have used my BH-55 with my 400/2.8 and D3S. It worked well. That said I did eventually invest in the gimbal head. That ball head is fantastic with a large lens and body set up
Dave
Posted by David Bernal on July 6, 2014 at 12:39 AM
oops sent to soon.
1. should have read "I love the BH-55, no complaints whatsoever
Paul,
I have a BH55 that I purchased explicitly for use with my Canon 500mm I/S f/4 and, at the time, 1D Mark II, a heavy body. My current 1D Mark IV is just as heavy and no problem. I have an assortment of plates from Wimberly, RRS and Kirk, all of the Arca Swiss design and they all work. I did not want to be limited by use of a full gimbal type head so I bought a Wimberly sidekick which creates a similar operation yet is easily removed for using the ballhead alone with another body, lens or whatever. I would recommend that approach for the use of big glass rather than the ballhead alone but I'm confident the ballhead alone will be strong enough if that's what you want to do. I use the RRS quick clamp and it's now several years old but still snug as the day I bought it. The design and knobs are all fine for me. I especially like the larger knob for tightening and loosening the ball since it's then easy to find without taking you eye from the camera viewfinder. The tension adjustment works great. It's just generally a real tank and still going strong for me after many years. I don't think you can go wrong with RRS. Super quality and I love to buy something made in USA! I just wish I could afford their tripods :-).
Wimberley plates work fine, as John stated. I too use the BH-55 with the Sidekick sometimes, mainly on trips where I'm saving weight and don't want to carry a full Gimbal head and a separate ballhead (a full Gimbal is superior to the Sidekick/ballhead combo for a couple reasons, if weight isn't a consideration). I believe the BH-55 will support big lenses fine, but like John I prefer using the Sidekick + BH-55 combo when using my 500mm f/4.
I have one complaint about the head, which may not pertain to everyone. The knobs are tapered so they're smaller in circumference at the end of the knob versus the base. The issue I've run into occurs in hot, humid rainforest environments. Partially because I sweat a lot in those places, I have problems gripping the knobs. Due to the tapered angle, my fingers slide right off half the time. They can get pretty slippery, and it makes adjusting the thing a pain.
If you don't shoot in the jungle, you should be okay.
My offer stands to meet somewhere in the Phoenix area and let you examine a BH-55 head with lever clamp in the flesh.
I've had zero issues with mine. All my AS plates are RRS except for a Kirk L-bracket for one of my D300 bodies that I got used at a good price - it works in the clamps just fine. I also have a Wemberley Sidekick that I use all the time on the BH-55 for my 300/2.8 with 2x, and it fits the clamp fine as well.
David, good point on #3. I'm going for the RRS clamp, makes sense. And while I don't often shoot 400mm+, when I do rent that bazooka I'll also spring for a gimbal, and an extra day's rental so I can work with it. I also will investigate John Reed's suggestion about the Sidekick (thanks John!). Now the big question is, do I go for the Pano clamp or just the regular. I definitely do stitched panos, so I should probably spring for it. Thanks.
Max, I kinda wondered about the taper thing, I do like the look but was concerned about the grippability (yikes, is that a word??). Phoenix has slightly less humidity that the rainforest so I'll probably be OK. But that's good to know!
Richard, you offered that the last time I was thinking out loud about ball heads, etc. I'd like to take you up on that offer, I'll shoot you a DM. Thanks!
Another vote for the BH-55. It manages my Canon 1D-X and 500mm f4 with a 1.4 teleconverter with no difficulty. After struggling with other ball heads, the BH-55 has been a real pleasure. Solid, stolid and reliable.
Couple years ago I did the same research and narrowed down my choices between Arca Swiss Z1 and BH-55. The only reason did not go with BH-55 was the weight of it, I travel a lot (or wishing to travel a lot). However, I have replaced the Z1 clamp with RRS and bought plates and L plates for my lenses and bodies.
RRS equipment are the best in the word and so is their customer service. Once you used them, you will never will need to upgrade them.
Hope this helps.
Mo
Couple years ago I did the same research and narrowed down my choices between Arca Swiss Z1 and BH-55. The only reason did not go with BH-55 was the weight of it, I travel a lot (or wishing to travel a lot). However, I have replaced the Z1 clamp with RRS and bought plates and L plates for my lenses and bodies.
RRS equipment are the best in the word and so is their customer service. Once you used them, you will never will need to upgrade them.
Hope this helps.
Mo
Posted by Paul DeCesare on August 1, 2014 at 11:40 PM
Thanks Mo! Yep, I'm sold on the 55, will purchase near end of year.
Discussion
11 replies1. I know the thing is massive and sturdy, but is there anything about the BH-55 that bugs anyone? Things like not liking the knobs, or their placement, or hard to adjust quickly, etc? Anything really, just like to know if owners of this head have a wishlist.
2. I have Wemberley Swiss Arca plates for my 5D3 for all shorter lenses, and a plate on my collar of my 70-200mm.. Will these work with the clamp(s) offered on the BH-55, or do I need to buy RRS's plates?
3. Regarding question 2, I see that I can buy just the head with no clamp. Is there a clamp on the market that is up to RRS's quality & strenghth that will work on the BH-55 head and accommodate my existing Arca plates?
4. Mounted on a big tripod like the Gitzo 5542LS, will the BH-55 be strong enough if I rent the occasional 400/2.8 or 500/4?
Thanks in Advance!
My responses:
1. I love the BH-55, complaints whatsoever
2. I had an Acratech bullhead previous to the RSS and their plates work on the RSS
3. I have the RSS clamp. I figured if I am spending good money to get a quality bullhead why go with another makers clamp?
4. I have used my BH-55 with my 400/2.8 and D3S. It worked well. That said I did eventually invest in the gimbal head. That ball head is fantastic with a large lens and body set up
Dave
1. should have read "I love the BH-55, no complaints whatsoever
I have a BH55 that I purchased explicitly for use with my Canon 500mm I/S f/4 and, at the time, 1D Mark II, a heavy body. My current 1D Mark IV is just as heavy and no problem. I have an assortment of plates from Wimberly, RRS and Kirk, all of the Arca Swiss design and they all work. I did not want to be limited by use of a full gimbal type head so I bought a Wimberly sidekick which creates a similar operation yet is easily removed for using the ballhead alone with another body, lens or whatever. I would recommend that approach for the use of big glass rather than the ballhead alone but I'm confident the ballhead alone will be strong enough if that's what you want to do. I use the RRS quick clamp and it's now several years old but still snug as the day I bought it. The design and knobs are all fine for me. I especially like the larger knob for tightening and loosening the ball since it's then easy to find without taking you eye from the camera viewfinder. The tension adjustment works great. It's just generally a real tank and still going strong for me after many years. I don't think you can go wrong with RRS. Super quality and I love to buy something made in USA! I just wish I could afford their tripods :-).
I have one complaint about the head, which may not pertain to everyone. The knobs are tapered so they're smaller in circumference at the end of the knob versus the base. The issue I've run into occurs in hot, humid rainforest environments. Partially because I sweat a lot in those places, I have problems gripping the knobs. Due to the tapered angle, my fingers slide right off half the time. They can get pretty slippery, and it makes adjusting the thing a pain.
If you don't shoot in the jungle, you should be okay.
Max
I've had zero issues with mine. All my AS plates are RRS except for a Kirk L-bracket for one of my D300 bodies that I got used at a good price - it works in the clamps just fine. I also have a Wemberley Sidekick that I use all the time on the BH-55 for my 300/2.8 with 2x, and it fits the clamp fine as well.
Max, I kinda wondered about the taper thing, I do like the look but was concerned about the grippability (yikes, is that a word??). Phoenix has slightly less humidity that the rainforest so I'll probably be OK.
Richard, you offered that the last time I was thinking out loud about ball heads, etc. I'd like to take you up on that offer, I'll shoot you a DM. Thanks!
Couple years ago I did the same research and narrowed down my choices between Arca Swiss Z1 and BH-55. The only reason did not go with BH-55 was the weight of it, I travel a lot (or wishing to travel a lot). However, I have replaced the Z1 clamp with RRS and bought plates and L plates for my lenses and bodies.
RRS equipment are the best in the word and so is their customer service. Once you used them, you will never will need to upgrade them.
Hope this helps.
Mo
Couple years ago I did the same research and narrowed down my choices between Arca Swiss Z1 and BH-55. The only reason did not go with BH-55 was the weight of it, I travel a lot (or wishing to travel a lot). However, I have replaced the Z1 clamp with RRS and bought plates and L plates for my lenses and bodies.
RRS equipment are the best in the word and so is their customer service. Once you used them, you will never will need to upgrade them.
Hope this helps.
Mo