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FLM ball heads: anyone used one? (1 Viewer)

L

Leif

Well-known member
Has anyone used one of the larger FLM ball heads? The 58 looks interesting and could presumably support either a camera and lens, or an ~80mm scope. It claims to allow tilt and pan functionality when a knob is tightened, but not having seen one, it's hard to know how well it would work. Thanks.

Leif
 
Leif,

I doubt that you would need the 58 Series with an 80mm scope - the 38 should be quite adequate. I tried out both 32 and 38 versions with my 65mm Zeiss Diascope and bought the CB32F-O, which I use with a 3/8" Manfrotto quick release adaptor. There are not many ball heads in this size and price range with a friction adjustment, which I consider essential for use with a scope.
The tilt function, which is available on the 38mm and 58mm heads allows you to lock out two degrees of freedom (pan and "roll") but a separate pan function is provided on these anyway.
If you require more than 30° elevation you can drop the spindle into the "vertical format" notch.
Here is a link to the German distributor, which might help. http://www.maki-flmcenterball.de/

Regards,

John
 
Last edited:
John Russell said:
Leif,

I doubt that you would need the 58 Series with an 80mm scope - the 38 should be quite adequate. I tried out both 32 and 38 versions with my 65mm Zeiss Diascope and bought the CB32F-O, which I use with a 3/8" Manfrotto quick release adaptor. There are not many ball heads in this size and price range with a friction adjustment, which I consider essential for use with a scope.
The tilt function, which is available on the 38mm and 58mm heads allows you to lock out two degrees of freedom (pan and "roll") but a separate pan function is provided on these anyway.
If you require more than 30° elevation you can drop the spindle into the "vertical format" notch.
Here is a link to the German distributor, which might help. http://www.maki-flmcenterball.de/

Regards,

John
Click to expand...

Hi John: Thanks for the comments. The main reason for wanting the big one is for photography. The need is to damp vibration rather than merely support the equipment. I have a Slik 800 which is fairly big but vibrations are a problem. And if I buy an even bigger lens in future, I don't want to have to upgrade the head.

The Manfrotto 468MG is the alternative.

Leif
 
Leif,

Despite similar maximum quoted loads I doubt that the Manfrotto 468MG would offer similar stability to the 58mm FLM. If the tilt function of the latter is not an essential, you could look at Arca Swiss, Burzynski, Foba, Kirk or Markins.

Regards,

John
 
John Russell said:
Leif,

Despite similar maximum quoted loads I doubt that the Manfrotto 468MG would offer similar stability to the 58mm FLM. If the tilt function of the latter is not an essential, you could look at Arca Swiss, Burzynski, Foba, Kirk or Markins.

Regards,

John
Click to expand...

Sadly I cannot really justify purchasing one of the other much more expensive heads. I would expect Manfrotto 468MG to be more stable than the FLM 38 since on ball size alone (50mm) it sits between the FLM 38 and FLM 58.

Leif
 
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