Really Right Stuff BH-55 Review

I have not owned Really Right Stuff products before this, but have always wanted to. When it was time to upgrade my ball head I only had one in mind, the best. I did go and look at all kinds of ball heads though. For the price and build quality I don’t think you can beat it. PhotoClam was my second choice but the price was similar enough I went with what I knew I would be happy with.

What I bought it to do
I bought it to be my go-to device for almost all shoots.
I bought it to connect my pano head to and act as the centering device, as needed.
I bought it to replace a venerable ball head that was not heavy duty enough.I used a 322RC2 grip action ball head for years, with a RC2 plate on each end. I have big hands and it really worked well for me, for most things. The ball/tension is not great and it droops, sags, etc. The ball has to be lubed, and gets your fingers dirty at times. Not the best solution.

What I need it to do
I need it to be rock solid. It is.
I need it to be buttery smooth. It is.
I need it to not droop when you loosen the panning knob. It does not.
I need it to work with with everything I mount to it. It does.
I need it to last a long, long time. It will.

How I chose to use it
I am a bit different from the average RRS user. I actually like the Manfrotto RC2 quick release system. It solved my needs many years ago for rapid mounting of a camera from vert, to horz and back again. It has never failed me. There was no quick release lever from Really Right Stuff back then. Granted, I have found my own way around the pitfalls of the system. Custom anti-twist solution for 70-200 lens foot. Custom L-Bracket for camera, etc. I have them for my auto poles, my underwater housing mount, my super clamps, my ground-pod, even my Nodal Ninja 5L pano head and RD-16 rotator use this system. Everything uses them and it all works well for me. So I bought the BH-55 PF with the platform and mounted a 323 RC2 plate to it, but seriously thinking about mounting the Custom Brackets QRM to it instead.

Do I want Arca-Swiss style plates? Yes! But for me the cost to upgrade is over $1,000 to replace my entire system. Yikes! I will have to upgrade in stages to afford that.

What I like about it
Do I need drag settings to make a photo? No, but it sure is handy!
This ball head is a real pleasure to use, even with gloves on, in the dark and in every other way.
It works flawlessly, built to last and will support 50 lbs. The two drop-notches are a nice touch and I actually have used them with my NN5L for vertical panoramas in the field.

It is low, not tall like so many other ball heads. When I shoot as close to the ground as possible, every inch counts.

Custom drag settings are nice, and they are repeatable. With one lens/body setup I might dial in a 4 and know what to expect. For a heavier combo an 8 might be just right. Very easy to just dial in the setting you like or find a new one as gear changes. Nice touch! I also like it that when you release the tension know, a heavy camera won’t suddenly rotate on the ball and smack you in the face when tension is set for that weight.

No lever! Less to snag on when working in brush and limbs. I really like that. Levers on tripods and levers on ball heads would always get snagged on things in the field. No more.

What I don’t like about it
For backpacking it is too bulky and heavy but is not a fault of the gear, just a different purpose/preference. I have hiked with it and of course really works wonders, just a bit too heavy when every ounce counts on your back and on your feet. I would rather have one that is lighter and weighs less for those trips. In the scale of things though, hiking is not my mainstay, so a true nitpick and just requires owning two ball heads. Problem solved. I guess if I was backpacking with a 200-400 then I would find this perfect.

It is such a work of art I am much more careful with it than my old ball head. This may keep me from putting it in harms way like I would the other one. I also keep it covered during transport. I am just not used to this. I am sure I will get used to working with such quality.

Price
$370.00

Final thoughts
Marvelous. Workhorse. Strong. Exact. Pleasure. Investment. Practical. Artful.
The low center of gravity was a real plus in the purchase decision and a real plus in the field for me.

-Landon