Slik Pro Ball 800 Head with Quick Release #618708

It can take the weight and operates smoothly. After a very short period of usage I got comfortable with the controls. I would have liked two improvements 1. it does not have a level bubble - solved by buying a bubble that attached to the flash shoe 2. the base is not calibrated which helps in panaromic photos. I have used it for macro and telephoto shots as well as general landscape shots and am very satisified

The picture does not do this product justice. This is a beefy head and is well made.

The Slik Pro 800 Ball head is the perfect compliment to the Slik Pro 700DX Tripod. Its multiple adjusting knobs make this ball head easy to use and very versatile. Being able to support up to 15lbs, it is great for long telephoto lenses. It seems to be very well engineered and built to last. The quick release system has a safety button that keeps your equipment from falling, even if the release lever is accidentally unlatched. It comes with everything needed to mount on any tripod that accepts 3/8th or 1/4" mounting studs.

The Pro Ball 800 is bigger than I expected, but after using it, I would not swap it for anything. The quick release plate is round, so it can be inserted at any rotation of the camera. It uses a latch and a release button so there is no accidental releasing your camera. The knobs are solid and tight. The large one tightens the ball, the smaller adjusts tension, making fine adjustments easier. A third knob allow the head to spin without affecting the ball setting, great for panoramic shots. I use it on a Slik Dx 700 Tripod, and while it is heavier than you would want to use while being a tourist, it is a fantastic head. I love the freedom of adjustment I have from just a single knob. If you are a pro, you might want to jump to something much more expensive, but I don't know why! For an amateur with limited funds to throw down, this is an excellent head! I highly recommend it. Well made, solid feel.

i bought this ball head to go with a Bogen Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs (Black). what is slightly deceiving is the apparent size of the ball head. it looks a lot smaller in the photo. get out your ruler for this one; it measures 4.5" tall and the quick release plate is 2.25" in diameter. this is not necessarily a bad thing as upon receiving it i felt as though i got my money's worth.
this thing is stout. the machining is precise and tight. the designers put a lot of thought into longevity and there are adjustments to tighten the quick release plate as it begins to inevitably ware. the movement is smooth although i did notice a bit of slipping in the vertical position. the round quick release plate is just that, quick. disconnects fast and reconnects just as fast.
there may be heavier duty ball heads on the market, but unless you have a monster of a camera, this excels in every aspect. the pro in the name isn't just a catchy phase.