17 Really Right Stuff Ballheads for Every Photographer

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Really Right Stuff designed its BH-55 Full-Size Ballhead mostly for professional applications, but it also offers three other sizes for all photographers.

The BH-40, BH-30 and BH-25 Really Right Stuff Ballheads are built with the same high standards of stability, durability and reliability as the BH-55, and has many of its features, scaled to these smaller ballheads. Read about these features and the details of the BH-55 Full-Size Ballhead in the PhotographyTalk.com article, 14 Game Changers That Make the Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead the Big Winner.

1. The BH-40 Mid-Size Ballheads from Really Right Staff are lighter than the BH-55s, so the BH-40 is perfect for traveling or taking into the backcountry. It is also for those photographers who want an independent panning base and/or drag set control, use no bigger lens than a 70–200mm /f2.8 or a 300mm/f4 and have a standard or lightweight tripod.

All BH-40 Mid-Size Ballheads are rated for 18 lbs. of equipment weight. Really Right Stuff is purposely conservative about the load capacity of its ballheads because it wants photographers to achieve the right balance of load capacity and operational integrity. What good is a ballhead that can support more weight, but then doesn’t perform very well?

The basic BH-40 Ballhead comes with no clamp or platform. The ball stem is tapped 1/4"-20. The bosses nest into grooves on the bottom of all Really Right Stuff clamps, which are only those that can be used with this BH-40 model. The BH-40 Ballhead retails for $295.

2. The BH-40 LR includes a compact quick-release clamp and is Really Right Stuff’s best-selling, mid-size ballhead. You also have a number of RRS clamp options: B2-mAS, B2 AS II, B2-Pro II or PCL-1. It retails for $375.

3. The BH-40 LR II comes with a full-size lever-release clamp and is preferred by photographers who only use L-plates and need a spirit level. It retails for $390.

4. The BH-40 PCL is combined with the PCL-1 panning clamp. This is an excellent ballhead for panoramic photography. As with all BH-40 ballheads, the BH-40 PCL has a spring-loaded main locking lever, which can be repositioned in 60-degree increments. The lever will clear platforms narrower than 2.7 inches. The BH-40 PCL retails for $515.

5. The BH-40 PF Ballhead is your best choice if you don’t need quick-release. It includes a 1.75-in. diameter round platform with 1/4"-20 stud and 3/8"-16 adapter. It’s priced at $310.

6. The BH-40 Pro has Really Right Stuff’s B2-mAS screw-knob clamp. It features RRS’s exclusive drum-and-symmetrical-progressive-band brake just as all BH-40 models do. The BH-40 Pro retails for $345.

7. The BH-40 Pro II is an upgrade with the RRS B2-Pro II screw-knob clamp, which is for photographers who prefer a full-size, traditional screw-knob clamp. It retails for $356.

8. Really Right Stuff’s compact line of BH-30 Ballheads are small, but very solid, with an independent locking knob for the panning base. Any of the BH-30s is a good choice for you if don’t need a separate drag set control.

It works best with a 70–200mm /f2.8 or 300mm/f4 lens matched with a lightweight or ultra-light tripod.

The basic BH-30 is similar to the basic BH-40 and BH-55, with no clamp or platform, and supports 15 lbs., as do all the BH-30 models. It retails for $195.

9. The BH-30 LR is the compact-sized Really Right Stuff ballhead with a lever-release clamp. All balls in the BH-30 line are 30mm in diameter and hollow. It retails for $275.

10. The BH-30 LR II comes with Really Right Stuff’s B2 AS II quick-release clamp. Like all other BH-30s, the panning base is laser-engraved at 2.5-degrees intervals, zero to 360 degrees. It’s priced at $256.

11. The BH-30 PF includes a 1 1/2-inch platform and 1/4-inch stud. This is the Really Right Stuff ballhead for you if quick-release capability is not required. The BH-30 PF retails for $210.

12. The BH-30 Pro has Really Right Stuff’s B2-mAS screw-knob clamp, which is small enough to match the shape of this ballhead. You’ll pay $245 for the BH-30 Pro.

13. The BH-30 Pro II is similarly one notch above the Pro model, with RRS’s B2-Pro II screw-knob, quick-release clamp. Your choice of any Really Right Stuff Ballhead includes savings whenever you buy it as part of a package.

14. Really Right Stuff’s line of BH-25 Ultra-Light Ballheads is perfect for supporting a strobe, umbrella or other accessories on a ultra-light or lightweight tripod. These ballheads are for photographers who don't need a panning base with independent lock knob and/or drag set control.

The BH-25 with no clamp or platform weighs only 4.1 oz. (148g) and will support 8.8 lbs. (4kg). Like other BH-25 ballheads, this basic design has a T-shaped control lever that allows you to lock and unlock the ball and panning base. This BH-25 ballhead retails for $90.

15. The BH-25 LR, like its bigger brothers, is Really Right Stuff’s best-selling, ultra-light ballhead. It has a spring-loaded T-Lever, which you can place in 6 different positions. It costs $175.

16. The BH-25 PF comes with a circular platform. It is only 2.7 inches (69mm) in height and has a base diameter of 1.3 inches (30mm). It’s priced at $100.

17. The BH-25 Pro matches the compact, mid-size and large ballheads from Really Right Stuff, with its B2-mAS screw-knob clamp. This custom mini-clamp is attached with one 1/4"-20 flat head screw. It retails for $145.

Many photographers recommend the use of RRS plates that specifically match your camera and long lenses. For more information, visit the Really Right Stuff Web site at reallyrightstuff.com.

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