Dolica B220 Pro Level Ball Head Blue, 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.

Two pounds of cast metal goes a long way toward a steady base for your camera and this is exactly what you get when you open the box of the G100. Do not cut the sealing top and allow it to slide onto your desk unless you’re looking to develop some character on the surface. This pistol grip is heavy and solid, both in its mass and in its function. Thread the base onto your tripod and your camera onto the quick-release plate and the Dolica gives you 360 degree circular range and an easy 90 degree shift from horizontal to vertical orientation, all controlled by the hand-sized trigger mechanism.The all-metal construction gives you a lot of confidence when you attach an expensive DSLR and lens combination. I’ve used this head in the comfortable surroundings of a studio shoot and outdoors in the fog and salt and sand of the coast and in the humid, muddy environment of the forest and the ball joint and trigger have never failed to function exactly the way I want them to. The trigger is firm and not prone to accidental movement and the adjustable tension on the ball head is just right. When you position the camera (up to 18 pounds) it stays put.The quick-release plate is large and has a rubber surface on which the camera rests. It is a captive design, sliding into a c-shaped slot in the grip that prevents the plate from sliding the through and onto the ground. It locks in place at two points, a clip that you must release before it can be removed and a knurled set screw on the side to set the connection between plate and grip. The butterfly screw underneath the plate that you will use to attach to the tripod mount on the camera is a bit of a bear to work with. It is small and recessed under the plate. It can be difficult to flip up the head and turn the screw in these constrained quarters but it can be done with patience.You can spend a lot more money on a grip but you won’t find anything more solid that the G100. If weight is a factor in carrying the head/tripod combination this might be a consideration but when that weight contributes to a steadier photographic and video platform, you’ll probably be willing to make the sacrifice. Value for money and a solid platform, that combination in the Dolica is hard to beat.