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I think I know what you’re thinking. The first product review and off all things I pick a ball head? And you’re right. Its an odd choice but it just so happens that I got one of these just this week and am still putting it through the test. Oh, and its not just an ordinary ball head. Its the Markins Q3!

First things first, I bought the ball head directly from Markins although its available elsewhere, including the popular Photo Pro Shop (a part of Nikonians.com). The shipping was inexpensive and the package, which included the ball head and the P200U camera plate (for the Nikon D200 - sold separately) arrived 3 business days later.

If you’re familiar with the Markins line, you might be wondering why I opted for the smallest, Q3 ball head in favor of the popular M10 and I realize that this may be a decision I’ll come to regret. But given that I don’t use my tripod very often, and that size and weight play a key role in my willingness to carry it around, I generally opt to go with the more compact option. The other reasons why I felt that the smallish Q3 would be sufficient were seeing the video on the Markins site of the larger M10 handling a large DSLR with an 800mm lens mounted with absolute ease. I figured, if the M10 can handle that monstrosity the Q3 can certainly manage anything I throw on it (almost exclusively shorter, wide lenses). Before I proceed I should also mention that I’m using a Nikon D200 and D70 cameras, usually with the Nikkor 17-55DX lens. The tripod is the carbon fiber Benro m-028 n6, which I plan on reviewing on this Blog in the near future.

First Impressions

Even from the packaging alone its apparent that we’re dealing with a professional quality product and once you pick up the Q3 this feeling is only enhanced. Built as a tank, the head is basically solid and feels very strong but yet not at all heavy. Its available in many different colors (frankly, I’m exactly sure why), but I went for the standard black. The hard-anodized finish is perhaps a bit delicate and scratch-prone, but I don’t see this having any impact on its usability and durability.

The most dominant control - the main knob - is exceptionally smooth and offers a good range which makes locating the sweet-spot (a position at which you can move the mounted camera without having to tighten and un-tighten the knob) pretty simple. This is obviously something that will vary and perhaps improve with larger lenses, but even with shorter and lighter lenses the adjustment was a breeze and a huge improvement over my older (and much, much cheaper) Bogen head. The main knob is also exceptionally comfortable - due to the soft rubber grip - and very easy to use, not requiring a lot of strength and taking really no time to get used to. The only remaining control is the panning base which is also very smooth and aided by an engraved index marking 10 degree points. It is equally simple to operate and I find the index markings very helpful, especially when taking photos which will later be stitched (merged) later using computer software.

Mounted on the Benro tripod, the head fit perfectly with its radius matching the top base of the tripod to a millimeter. The D200 with the relatively heavy 17-55DX lens was no challenge for the Q3 and my initial concerns about its size and ability to handle this combo were instantly put to rest. That said, I have no doubts that the M10 is a great choice and would likely prove to be more flexible in applications where space and weight constraints are less of an issue. Overall, I’m thrilled with the Q3 and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a professional quality ball head that doesn’t break the bank.

Conclusion

My initial experience with the Markins Q3 has been overwhelmingly positive. Q3’s infinite range of angles and smooth operation make it a joy to use. The ball head is light and so adds almost no weight to my tripod bag. The camera plate is very thin and sleek, so having it permanently mounted is likely to be the decision of most owners (including myself).

Photo Review

For the complete photo review of the Markins Q3 Ball Head visit: http://reviews.gallerama.com/gallery/682