Dolica B204 Pro Level Tripod Ball Head, Black, compact

The Dolica G100 pistol grip head is one substantial hunk of gear.I found it is well made, and nearly a perfect solution at a reasonable price.I think my one caveat makes this a 4.75 star, so I rounded up to 5First off, it is beefy.I would say it is 1.5 to 2 pounds, so if you are looking for something lightweight for backpacking, you may consider another item.Personally, if I needed to rely on hardware, I would find weight savings on other packed gear to accommodate this.The ball head is very sturdily constructed and positive locking.The trigger to operate it has a very good feel to it and easily can be gripped lightly or fully to permit for a slight adjustment or complete freedom moving the grip position relative to your "pod"I say this as I am using it with my Monopod and quite pleased.You can get a full 90 perpendicular thanks to the channel on the ball joint, if needed, and of course rotate 360 degrees on that axis.This makes it not too challenging to pivot from landscape to portrait orientations, but plan to accommodate for about an 8" difference in plane relative to the original shot.Have not used it on my tripod yet (which it may crush (joking), the thing is so substantial)It came with additional parts to be used with both 1/4 and 3/8 mounts (you may need a 2nd set if you need both ends 3/8")Pleased with how easily I can yank it from the cam bag and thread it up to the monopod, the threading is clean.The shoe holds into its dovetailed slide securely, and the set screw does not need much force to keep it locked.With the set screw loosened, the shoe release works smoothly.My one minor complaint is the butterfly tab on the mount slide metal could be made of stiffer material.I feel like it will one day rip out of the set screw head as I tighten it, it has twisted a small amount when I first tightened it in place.It may have been work hardened after this, but I do worry about possible future metal fatigue and the butterfly pulling off.So I am a little more conscious of how I tighten it, in those circumstances that I actually remove and re-install the slide.It is being used with mostly my Canon 70D, and have had it with multiplier and 300 lens attached.The grip really held in place shooting just about any orientation.It is also the headstock on the worlds most ridiculous selfie stick (using it with remote app to shot to places I just cannot stand (ie environmentally sensitive off trail spots in national parks so you do not damage the ground or flora)) when connected to the Dolica WT-1010 61-Inch Ultra-Premium Professional Monopod ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EIAG12E )I will be seeking additional slides to use with some other cams I have (sony vid cam, old workhorse AE-1 slr, & a Pentax D10 dslr )Overall, nice piece of hardware.I fully recommend it, if weight is not a consideration.

I use this G100 on my Dolica proline tripod with my Canon 60D (4 diff lenses) and my old Canon Rebel. Seven months after purchasing, the larger side tension screw came loose and fell off without me realizing before heading off on vacation. While shooting, the screw for the thumb release fell out. Coincidence? Luckily the thumb release made a "ping" when it hit the ground and I found it in the gravel. The larger side screw was reinstalled after the return home. We purchased and tried perhaps 6-8 different screws but none were the exact need for the thumb release. No where could I find more detailed images of the head to be sure what was missing. So I went to their website. It took one phone call to California, two direct emails with photo, two emails via the form on their website, before they sent a link with the thumb release screw to order. That was about a one month process and after ordering it arrived in 2 days. After the first phone call and two emails, they responded with " Unfortunately, we are out of stock on the quick release plate for the Dolica G100 Pistol Grip Head. Check back with us in about 2 weeks." Odd, in that I guess they do not have one there to as a working model or schematics of the design or parts? I didn't need a new plate, just information on the screw.The warranty apparently does not cover this type of thing and I was offered no discussion as to be sure of the exact problem. Friendliness was lacking.The screw (they would not share dimensions or a photo) was sent for $5 plus $5 shipping. Seriously? Not only that, but installing the screw did not solve the quick release plate problem. Something else must be missing near the thumb release or in the head or not working. Of course, they were not concerned with assisting a photographer in problem solving. I sent out for help via social media on the Amazon q&a with 0 results, unfortunately.If the amazon.com extended warranty covers this type of repair, you might consider it, for less than $5 they are asking. So for the $39 price on amazon.com, I'll probably have to order another grip. I'm already out $10 on the screw and that was a long and trying process. The grip overall is amazing. And having to go back to the old school Dolica tripod head was painful, but in 5 years I never had a single issue with the old head. If it weren't for the customer service and screw problems (others have reported screw problems/mechanics as well), i would give this 5 stars. You can see the itemized price for most replacement parts they charge on their website and it will very quickly add up to the price of a new grip. Some parts, like my screw, they only put a link up for you temporarily. If you lose your screw or similar part, i will be happy to send you a photo with dimensions. Just let me know.tip: photograph the parts of the head and be aware of the entire grip before and after each shoot. Look for anything getting loose.