4" high 19oz. 1.65"-diameter ball 360-degree pan with independent locking Arca-style quick-release with knob Content and images originally posted by DiggitalD
Reviews
DiggitalD's review
The Kirk BH-3 is a good little ball head. It is easy to use and durable. The action is smooth. Everything seems great...
The locks are no good. I am constantly having to adjust the tension knob (the small knob on the right) after unlocking the ball. The tension knob loosens all the time, leaving the ball all floppy. The lock (the big knob on the left), works well so long as it is tightened all the way. The pan lock (the small knob on the bottom left) works as well as the ball lock. It is often too small to securely lock. The clamp knob works swell. The spirit level is a nice feature, but can be easily obscured.
I use the head with a Sigma 100-300mm f/4 on a D200. This seems to push the stability of the head. I also use a 150mm macro lens with a Kirk dual-flash macro bracket. With the extension of the bracket-arms and the SB-800 and SB-600 strobes adding a bit of torque, I am surprised that the rig actually seems more stable than with the 100-300mm lens and no bracket.
Bottom line: the head works well with short lenses, but not with medium-telephoto (for which it is rated). It moves smoothly and the knobs have good, ergonomic placement, but just do not work so well. Overcompensating with a big, beefy head is a good idea, so check out the larger BH-1 for anything 300mm and up.
UPDATE: I've come to realize that the spring-tentioned friction knob tends to reset itself when the ball is moved at higher tensions. The ball goes from tense to floppy in a second (boooh!).
Pros
- solid build
Cons
- lock and tension knobs
