| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,249
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 25, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Not expensive, well built, 3 (!) bubble levels | | Cons: | Ordinary QR plate | |
It's a good copy of Photo Clam and Markins ballhead (Actually I don't who is copying who, I've lost track of that a long time ago). Sirui is not well known but they now have a presence in North America and specifically Canada. They are not of the cheap ebay noname kind. They seem pretty serious about the quality of their products.
Like the Markins ballhead it has the friction limit dial inside the main knob. This works amazingly well. It allows you to freely move the camera without any creeping even in vertical position. For a better description of how it works I suggest the Nikonians review about the Markins.
Also the weight / loading ratio is excellent.
I didn't buy it separately, I got it with a Sirui tripod (N2204) that fits perfectly. There exist heavier models to hold even more weight but I think for Pentax DSLR this K20x will hold just about anything except for those heavy telephotos that would use a Wimberley Gimbal anyway.
I cannot comment on how it compares to the (much) more expensive Markins but I would be surprised if there's that much difference. The build quality look very good. The fit and finish is excellent, the knobs are buttery smooth.
There's no less than 3 bubble levels although with the K-5 I prefer to use the built-in electronic level.
The plate is OK but nothing to rave about. At least it's not proprietary it's of the industry standard Arca Swiss type. I ordered a Mestos PD-K5 plate to fit the camera better.
Panning is also supported by a separate knob, this works well and is very smooth.
If you shop for a Sirui ballhead or tripod I suggest you to skip the G series and go directly to the K series that has the Markins style friction control.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2009 Location: Chicago Suburbs. Posts: 501 | | Review Date: November 23, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $130.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | light but solid, fine tension control, load bearing | | Cons: | none so far | |
I will reserve a "10" for those heads costing 3x more. This seems as close to a 10 without costing like one. Can handle light or heavy loads and is a good match for the travel series tripod bought separately, the T2005X (light and folds less than 15 inches). Need something that can handle a K-3 with various lenses, 10 pound telescopes, but also could be used for light equipment needing fine control like macro. And it is only 0.88 pounds.
Ball action is smooth, will see how it handles years from now if it stays that way.
The K series heads have a nice fine tuning tension control which the recommended G series heads do not have, so I spent the extra $27. That also gives me a 38mm ball (11 extra pounds of load capacity) which is helpful in situations where a heavy setup is tilted at a steep angle. Something I did not know (or should have known) is that the steeper the angle, the more a lens will weigh at the ball head because of leverage. Unless one opts for the unique eliptical ball heads of certain RRS or Arca branded heads, it is very helpful to have the extra load capacity. As well as having the nice tension tuning dial inset into the main tension knob, this allows one to set a minimum tension. As the angle gets steeper, one can increase the minimum tension without having to change the main tension knob. Will have to work on this more and see where its limits are with heavy scopes (I assume for now that the main tension knob will also need adjusting with heavy loads).
This is a Chinese company wanting to make its mark in producing high quality gear as opposed to most other Chinese companies. From Marketing Blurb,
Some highlights about SIRUI ball heads:- Each assembled component of SIRUI Ball Heads is produced by CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) - the ultimate in precision manufacturing techniques
- SIRUI ball heads are made of aviation quality aluminum alloy 7075-T6 and 6067-T6 for long life and maximum strength
- SIRUI uses a special manufacturing technique that produces the support ball with tolerances to within 0.01mm of a perfect sphere. This uncompromising precision guarantees superior performance and smooth operation for any type of 35 mm DLSR or medium format camera system
- The panning base is designed with a 360 degree dial. Having a separate panning base lock knob provides greater accuracy for panning and panoramic shooting
- The interior locking system in SIRUI Ball Heads uses SIRUI designed double bevel locks for superior locking performance and reliability. Most other ball heads only use a single, less efficient interior locking system
- The patented safety lock design, and SIRUI quick release plates, effectively prevent the camera from accidentally sliding off of the ball head. And most quick release plates can be used on SIRUI Ball Heads. (Note: safety lock design not available from other brands)
Everything else others have said are true, including arca compatible plates, the safety pins, stainless steel screw, solid construction. Only one nit-picking thing: the folding legs are not as flush against this ball head like a smaller less capable but thinner ball head would be, so the legs are not as flat when folded.
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 34 | | Review Date: July 13, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $127.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, weight handling capability | | Cons: | None so far | |
I bought this head along with the N2204x tripod and it is a perfect match. The maximum load capability is the same, the operation is very smooth and I have mounted my K5 w/ 60-250mm lens and it is rock-steady. In fact, I was taking some pictures of the tripod to review it and had to leave suddenly. I left the K5/60-250 assembly on the tripod overnight without concern. I wouldn't have dared to do this with the MeFoto Globe Trotter I had tried first.
I gave this 9 stars instead of 10 for a minor, personal thing. The friction lock for the ball is on the rear of the head so it is facing you. I would prefer it to be on the right side. Yes, you could turn the head so that it was, but that would put the 90 degree portrait notch to the rear and not to the side. So it is better to keep the notch where it is most useful and get used to the knob on the rear!
I am sure there is a reason other ball heads are more expensive, but for my use, I don't see that I would get anything for the added expense.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: May, 2010 Location: ohio Posts: 218 | | Review Date: October 21, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $115.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | made extremely well | | Cons: | i have none. | |
I was on Ebay looking a a red HorrusBennu tri pod head. The deal went south . I looked around seeing the Sirui K20x and what it was capable of. I was smitten and I don't regret my purchase.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 306 | | Review Date: September 22, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Arca swiss, steady | | Cons: | After lock weight makes move down little | |
Other not so good is adjusting ball movement resistency. Its newer right as u like and allcoins are too tick to fit adjustment screw, need screwdriver, who want to carry screwdriver on field.i would look chePer arca compatible head next time like triopo models half price.
Edit next year:
Nowdays I keep resistance adjustment screw so that it is just tight enough and it stays in same adjustment always. All my lenses are under one kilo weight so its ok, no need to adjust. Anyway just in case I have very little coin in my camera bag always, not used for long time now.
But still i am still complaining that tiny little camera down movement sometimes with telelenses, everything else is fine enough.
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