This is a quick review of a Gitzo GH1382QD. A superbly built ball head. There aren't too many bells & whistles, just a great, solid, beautifully built ball head.
The head is absolutely meant for column mount. If you look at Gitzo tripods they generally have an elegant neck then a narrower mounting disk on the column. I have the 1555 Traveller and the included ball head works perfectly on the narrower neck. As an aside, I have never seen a more solid system, I wondered if the Gitzo head/tripod would be worth it. The emphatic answer is yes! When all snuggled up the system is a force of nature!
I should mention Mark, that the "Tungsten Disulfide" that you referred to, is not the "Metal from which it's made",,, but rather, it's the coating applied to the ball for friction-free movement and smoothness of operation. Regarding the GH-1382QD ball-head's 'narrow base" relative to being used on a large-base tripod,,,, I believe the GH-1382QD was primarily (but not exclusively) designed to work with the 2-series Gitzo Traveller (GT-2545T). Gitzo sells this combo as a kit,,,GK-2545T-82QD, and this head allows the GT-2545T's legs to be folded perfectly parallel around the head. Very compact, yet very strong package for a Traveller-type set-up. Of course, those types of center-column tripods (Traveller, Mountaineer, etc) have much smaller top-plates than the Feisol you demo'ed, or the Gitzo Systematics. I'm currently using the larger sibling GH-3382QD on a Gitzo leveling base (GSLVLS), mounted on either of my 3 and 4-series Systematics (GT-3545XLS and GT-4552TS), and my GH-1382QD mostly remains mounted to my GT-2545T. I should also mention that I love the friction-control on these ball-heads. Gets an A+ from me.
Great review of a fine product Mark. I have the larger sibling, the GH-3382QD, and it's smooth as silk, with superb friction control, and locks as solid a Fort Knox. I also just bought the GH-1382QD last night, as part of a Gitzo Traveller series kit, which includes the GT-2545T tripod. Just one correction for your review Mark; the "Tungsten Disulfide" which you mentioned near the end of your review, is not the type of metal from which the head is made,,,it refers to the coating that's applied to the ball for smooth operation, and to avoid slip-stick. Thanks again for your excellent reviews, and I'm looking forward to many more.
Thanks for the clarification! They definitely make a fantastic product! I'm bummed they didn't want to send any legs for the review. Hopefully next time! :)
I've just bought one of these heads to replace a Benro B1 on a 1-series mountaineer. The Gitzo is rather taller than the Benro and a bit heavier. The Gitzo seems to need more force to get it moving, than to keep it moving whereas the Benro needs about the same force to start moving and maintain movement. The result is the Benro is much easier to make small adjustments important for macro whereas the Gitzo is rather jerky, the Tungsten Disulfide coating doesn't seem to be doing what is claimed. The pan movement is seemless on the Benro whereas the Gitzo has a degree of loose movement before more controlled. Both these effects are independant of the friction setting though clearly the tighter the friction the more force required to move it. Both heads seem quite capable of holding my unbalanced macro setup at funny angles. The Benro is several years old now and has been used in all weathers, the Gitzo was second hand and appears completely unused. Even s/h the Gitzo was three time the price of the new Benro. Not field tested it yet but guess what... The Benro is back on the tripod
HI Mark! Very nice intro to this Gitzo ball head! Having used 4x5 and 8x10 cameras in the '80's, and knowing first-hand the build quality, I'd love to sell my original Gitzo (Made in France) Professional Studio Tripod (with 2 Gitzo heads; a ball head and a video head), which are quite obviously "overkill" for my Fujifilm X-System. JUst a thought...Perhaps that ball head was designed for mounting on the center column rather than the tripod head. In my experience, using a center column tightened at its' collapsed (lowest) position in no way compromises the rigidity or integroty of a high-quality tripod. Thanks again! Regards, Steve
Hey Steve, I have a Facebook Group with a lot of photographers in it (Photographers Cooperative). If you aren't already a member there, you're welcome to join, and by all means, drop that gear for sale in the group, and maybe someone will grab it! It's definitely the good stuff :)
Muy caro para lo que es. Las roscas de los tapones del trípode y de los elementos de la rótula se aflojan y se pierden -no tienen seguro y parecen flojas. Los recambios carísimos. El servicio post venta malísimo. No lo recomiendo.
The head is absolutely meant for column mount. If you look at Gitzo tripods they generally have an elegant neck then a narrower mounting disk on the column. I have the 1555 Traveller and the included ball head works perfectly on the narrower neck. As an aside, I have never seen a more solid system, I wondered if the Gitzo head/tripod would be worth it. The emphatic answer is yes! When all snuggled up the system is a force of nature!
I should mention Mark, that the "Tungsten Disulfide" that you referred to, is not the "Metal from which it's made",,, but rather, it's the coating applied to the ball for friction-free movement and smoothness of operation.
Regarding the GH-1382QD ball-head's 'narrow base" relative to being used on a large-base tripod,,,, I believe the GH-1382QD was primarily (but not exclusively) designed to work with the 2-series Gitzo Traveller (GT-2545T). Gitzo sells this combo as a kit,,,GK-2545T-82QD, and this head allows the GT-2545T's legs to be folded perfectly parallel around the head. Very compact, yet very strong package for a Traveller-type set-up. Of course, those types of center-column tripods (Traveller, Mountaineer, etc) have much smaller top-plates than the Feisol you demo'ed, or the Gitzo Systematics.
I'm currently using the larger sibling GH-3382QD on a Gitzo leveling base (GSLVLS), mounted on either of my 3 and 4-series Systematics (GT-3545XLS and GT-4552TS), and my GH-1382QD mostly remains mounted to my GT-2545T.
I should also mention that I love the friction-control on these ball-heads. Gets an A+ from me.
Great review of a fine product Mark. I have the larger sibling, the GH-3382QD, and it's smooth as silk, with superb friction control, and locks as solid a Fort Knox. I also just bought the GH-1382QD last night, as part of a Gitzo Traveller series kit, which includes the GT-2545T tripod.
Just one correction for your review Mark; the "Tungsten Disulfide" which you mentioned near the end of your review, is not the type of metal from which the head is made,,,it refers to the coating that's applied to the ball for smooth operation, and to avoid slip-stick.
Thanks again for your excellent reviews, and I'm looking forward to many more.
Thanks for the clarification! They definitely make a fantastic product! I'm bummed they didn't want to send any legs for the review. Hopefully next time! :)
I've just bought one of these heads to replace a Benro B1 on a 1-series mountaineer.
The Gitzo is rather taller than the Benro and a bit heavier. The Gitzo seems to need more force to get it moving, than to keep it moving whereas the Benro needs about the same force to start moving and maintain movement. The result is the Benro is much easier to make small adjustments important for macro whereas the Gitzo is rather jerky, the Tungsten Disulfide coating doesn't seem to be doing what is claimed. The pan movement is seemless on the Benro whereas the Gitzo has a degree of loose movement before more controlled. Both these effects are independant of the friction setting though clearly the tighter the friction the more force required to move it. Both heads seem quite capable of holding my unbalanced macro setup at funny angles.
The Benro is several years old now and has been used in all weathers, the Gitzo was second hand and appears completely unused. Even s/h the Gitzo was three time the price of the new Benro.
Not field tested it yet but guess what... The Benro is back on the tripod
HI Mark! Very nice intro to this Gitzo ball head! Having used 4x5 and 8x10 cameras in the '80's, and knowing first-hand the build quality, I'd love to sell my original Gitzo (Made in France) Professional Studio Tripod (with 2 Gitzo heads; a ball head and a video head), which are quite obviously "overkill" for my Fujifilm X-System. JUst a thought...Perhaps that ball head was designed for mounting on the center column rather than the tripod head. In my experience, using a center column tightened at its' collapsed (lowest) position in no way compromises the rigidity or integroty of a high-quality tripod. Thanks again! Regards, Steve
Hey Steve, I have a Facebook Group with a lot of photographers in it (Photographers Cooperative). If you aren't already a member there, you're welcome to join, and by all means, drop that gear for sale in the group, and maybe someone will grab it! It's definitely the good stuff :)
What is the brand of this tripod, i saw many photographer with this tripod?
how is it compare to RRS BH-40?
Muy caro para lo que es. Las roscas de los tapones del trípode y de los elementos de la rótula se aflojan y se pierden -no tienen seguro y parecen flojas. Los recambios carísimos. El servicio post venta malísimo. No lo recomiendo.