Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
 Advertised load capacity too optimistic August 22, 2010
D. P. Schroeder (Amidst the Carolinas)
This seems to be a reasonable ball head for the price if you stick to very lightweight cameras -- even more lightweight ones than the product specs suggest.
Using the Giotto's 3/8 inch socket by taking out the 1/4 inch bushing, mounting this diminutive head on my Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs (Black) gives me just barely under 2 turns of threading, which is solid enough for most point-n-shoots on this, admittedly, overkill tripod for such a purpose.
Mounting the head to my Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) gives me almost exactly 2 turns; to my Fujifilm Finepix F70EXR 10MP Super CCD Digital Camera with 10x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD, over 2 1/2 turns; and, in a pinch, to my Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Black Gold Special Edition (Body Only), just over 2 1/4 turns. I have no idea how long the threads will last, but all of these connections are well within the sturdy range.
My only negative observation is that the advertised load capacity for this ball head is overly optimistic: this is fine for point-n-shoots, but when I have grabbed this in a pinch for my Nikon D60 with a lightweight lens, the mount is anything but steady, even on the Manfrotto, even though the total weight of the camera, lens (a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, battery, card, and camera strap weigh in at ONLY 2lbs, 1oz -- less than HALF of the Giotto's advertised "load capacity" of 4.4lbs. It holds together, but just barely, and it's a bit wobbly. I know this product is not designed for a DSLR, but shouldn't any product perform steadily at _under half_ of its advertised load capacity?
Just in the odd case that someone would consider getting this mount for the Manfrotto tripod mentioned above, I'd recommend against it -- the thumbscrew on the ball head is so close to the wide base of the ball-head mounting surface on the Manfrotto and is so short, that it's quite difficult to tighten. I haven't noticed that problem mounting the Giotto to quick-releases on cheaper tripods, though.
My complaint is that the effective weight rating for this product appears to be under half of what it advertises.
 Great micro ball head July 31, 2010
Elyone (Ohio)
This head is great for flashes and other accessories. I have 2 of them for holding my flashes when in "studio mode".
It's not meant for cameras, not really. But for a micro head, they are the best.
Works as advertised July 31, 2010
S. Frink (Woodstock, GA, US)
Added to an articulated clamp, this product gives another 90+ degrees of articulation for mounting a camera from above.
Light weight ball head for P/S cameras July 28, 2010
Lawrence W. Stephens
I bought this head for my wife's camera. It holds camera nice and tight. It is quick to remove and put on. As my wife is gentile with her things so this will last a long time. It feels like you could over tighten the head and stripe the threads as it just keeps getting tighter and tighter. I have an all chrome, metal, 35 year old Made in Japan head I have used for years. This is light weight in comparison. It holds the camera without slipping.
The minuses:
Do watch out for the threads as they might be a little short for some cameras. Long enough for all my cameras except for a cheap plastic one I have.
The head has a rough texture. I often use the head to scan a shot with video and use the head loose just to steady camera. Not as smooth as my old ball head.
5 stars for what you get for price but 4 stars for what it is. Because I did not want to spend $20 or more for a ball head for a $14 monopod, I give it 5 stars.
Strong, any position July 17, 2010
Tom D (Columbus, OH United States)
It locks tight with the single thumb screw, any position. The 3/8 inch optional bottom screw is the reason I bought this. (It comes with an adapter bushing for 1/4" X 20 as well. I mounted this on the end of a triple extension pole that puts my camera about 23' in the air. Most of the time I position the camera, set the timer, tilt the pole up and align it in time for the shutter delay. That's a lot of swinging around and this locks in place and holds every time. Great little ball head camera mount.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
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