CAVIX MT-03 Camera Panoramic Tripod Head Small Ball Head with Arca Swiss Quick Release Plate Bubble Level Load Capacity 11 lbs/5 kg, for DSLR/Mirrorless Camera Tripod, Travel & Landscape Photography

I take photos of the moon with my Lumix S5 ii and Sigma 60-600mm DG DN OS Sports lens. The total weight is close to 10 lbs and quite offset from the center of a ball head when tilted up. Using my excellent Sirui 7C Traveler tripod with its small, 1 inch ball head, this camera/lens combo is not held rigidly and you can easily push the lens around even with a tightened ball. It’s fine for smaller lenses. This movement is despite the claim of the tripod and head supporting 17.6 lbs. For other, more dynamic shooting with the 60-600mm lens, I use a monopod and a Movo GH800 gimbal head..I looked around for a larger ball, which would clamp better and found this CAVIX H-46 ball head. I particularly liked that the ball-locking mechanism is like a clamp around the ball with a locking lever, not a knob. That design should provide a more even and tighter clamping than a one-sided knob pressing against the ball, typical of many ball heads. I have not been disappointed with my purchase at all!.This CAVIX ball head has a good weight to it and the lever and knurled metal ARCA plate knob have a nice tactile feel and are very effective. The panning lock knob is hard plastic but you never need much leverage on that one. This is a well-made, quality ball head..I was surprised at how much fluid damping is in the panning base rotation. I initially just loosened it slightly and thought I’d not turned it enough. It didn’t move easily as I expected. It was tough to rotate in my hand. It also went stiff part the way around. I’ve now found that you have to fully unscrew the rotational locking knob and the panning is then smooth, but damped, over the full 360 degrees. It would be perfect for smooth panning with video and panoramas, both things I don’t do much of, though I really appreciate having the feature. With my camera mounted, the stiffness is still noticeable but quite acceptable when aligning the camera..Mounted to my tripod, I was very happy with the low profile and the overall look and feel. It looks like it came with the tripod, and comparing the Sirui and CAVIX heads, I much prefer the beefier, shorter CAVIX. My lens mounted perfectly in the ARCA plate and the ball head DOES NOT MOVE at all once tightened. Mission accomplished!The panning damping is actually a nice feature and panning is controlled and smooth, unlike my undamped Sirui head’s pan action.It’s nice to see the bubble level actually on the mounting plate, facing up and usable, not at the end of the knob and of zero use, like most! I rotate the ball around, so that the ARCA knob is to my left, then it doesn’t interfere with the ball locking lever on the front right, if the long lens is mounted to the ARCA plate and tilted down, nor interfere with my finger and thumb. It’ll be facing me with the camera body mounted to the ARCA plate..The Sirui tripod ARCA plate has a unique push-button mechanism to avoid the foot sliding out of the clamp. A normal ARCA plate won’t fit and needs the two small, Allen-headed anti-slip screws removed. You basically are forced to use the Sirui plate if you want the anti-loss feature, which is no good if you have more than one camera and just the one supplied Sirui ARCA mount plate! This CAVIX ARCA system is the traditional design and ends that frustration. 😊.The accessories include an Allen Key to remove the ARCA mounting plate from the ball head, if you ever need to do that, and a 3/8-to-1/4-inch tripod mounting adapter. There is also a little profiled flat plate/tool (?) and I have absolutely no idea what it’s for. There’s no instruction leaflet in the box. Just the parts in baggies. The ARCA mounting plate has a 1/4-inch screw to mount to the camera, with both a coin slot and a flip-up, finger-tightening loop. A handy, tool-less feature..CONCLUSION:.At $50, this has been money well spent. Very well spent IMHO.I am very pleased with the performance of this CAVIX H-46 ball head. The damping on the panning action has been a pleasant surprise, since it is mentioned nowhere in the product description and is proving to be very useful.I have no hesitation in recommending this ball head, and I’m not easily pleased!

This is the perfect ball head at a reasonable price and makes for a great pairing with the mini tripod I have. It holds securely in place, easy to use and to adjust. Very lightweight considering it is all metal. Very sturdy!

The tripod head I recently acquired for my projector has proven to be a fantastic addition to my setup, offering a perfect blend of sturdiness, affordability, and user-friendly features.Sturdiness is a standout quality of this tripod head. It provides a stable platform for my projector, ensuring that it remains securely in place without any wobbling or instability. The build quality is evident, and it instills confidence in the longevity and reliability of the product.Adjusting the angle is a breeze, thanks to the user-friendly design of the tripod head. Whether I need a slight tilt or a more significant adjustment, the process is smooth and precise. This flexibility in angle adjustment has significantly enhanced my projector setup, allowing for optimal viewing angles without any hassle.Affordability is another key highlight. Despite its impressive build quality and performance, this tripod head doesn't break the bank. It's a cost-effective solution for anyone seeking a reliable accessory for their projector without compromising on quality.

So I'm shooting a bunch of birds at long telephoto in a local preserve almost every weekend with a Nikon P100. I ride my bike, so try to keep it light. The camera is heavy, and with the lens extended to its longest position (3000mm) it's really too much for most tripod heads. The tripod is fine, and figured I'd try this new head. Well, I love everything about the head, but the darn thing still moves when I've got that telephoto extended.The CAVIX head:Well made, well machined, great finish, good controls, seems like I should be able to park an elephant on it. Seriously, it just seems so tight and well secured.And when I mount my camera on it I can see my frame moving and well, it just is so frustrating as it just seems like it should work. Will probably try the next size up to see if that helps, but so far I've not found how to properly secure this camera/lens to any tripod. Will keep wishing it to work!

Well made and works great on my bipod.

Nice mount, very sturdy.

My chassis has a full length ARCA rail (RRS), but the entire mounting space is forward of the center of balance, by at least 3 inches of the rearward-most mounting point. It still did not have an issue with 19 lbs of total weight 3 inches aft of mount. I also have a 13 lb that is similarly balanced and it stayed on the tripod for about 4 hours without issue. The ball adjusts with a flick, the ARCA mount adjusts with a few quick turns and slides smoothly. With the right tripod this is PRS ready on a budget IMHO. I haven't had a chance to handle a $300 mount but for my purposes it gets me there on a reasonable budget. Mine is mounted on Bogen 3021PRO legs.