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Well i've been looking for a practical ball head for the last few weeks in addition to my Manfrotto 141RC and today I bought a 222 'Grip Action Ball Head'

This now sits on my Manfrotto 055CLB (3021) and so far i'm loving it... It's quick to move and snaps tight into place... i wouldn't put anything too heavy on it but it easily handles my D70 with a 80-200 f2.8 when locked at an angle.

Does anyone else use this head.. and have any tips?

It was one of the heads we used at uni...

I like it, personally, and have been looking at getting a used one off of eBay... but it's a pain in the arse for bigger cameras like the Mamiya RB67...

I got a second hand one off ebay and use it on my monopod.
Initially I was unconvinced because it makes the pod longer when folded down.

Having used it though, I love it because I can get extra elevation when I try to shoot birds in trees, I can get a really stable position when sitting on the ground by putting the pod under my right leg and over my left.
It holds my d70 and 80-400vr no worries.
Steve

Speaking of monopods, I was looking at getting one for bird photography as they're a lot easier to cart around then my G1325. Haven't decided what I'll go yet, it'll either be Manfrotto or Gitzo, wasn't sure what head to get though. See RRS recommend getting a 1-axis swivel head such as the Bogens 3232 / Manfrotto 234 combined with a RRS B2 Pro Clamp. What do you guys recommend?

Thinking about getting the Gitzo 4sect Monopod G1568 or G1588 from DigitalRev, they sell them for $260 and $299 respectively.

Hmmm, RRS say also if you use the monopod for mostly large lenses to do away with the swivel head and just use a B2Pro connected directly to monopod.

You couldn't just edit that into your posts?

I could.

kipper wrote:I could.

But then Darryl would never catch up to my post count would he

Stubbsy knows the score

steering back on track...

The 222 holds my 1300g 80-200mm f2.8 (one touch) no problems and avkomp seems to agree with his 1350g 80-400vr

It holds my d70 and 80-400vr no worries.

Has anyone tried this with heavier lens... has it held... i'm not trying to tempt fate as it's only rated to 2.5kgs but still would like to know how it performs.

I didnt think to try this on my monopod... I normally connect direct to it.. will try that out thou

I think the 70-200VR with TC weighs a fairbit heavier than an 80-400VR if I remember correctly from when I used Nicoles.

70-200VR with TC17 would be 1.72kg and the 80-400VR with TC17 is 1.59kg - differential = 130 grams