Price, works well for a low-end head. Does everything I expected of it. The Birk MH-3 is $300, way out of my price range.

Totally unsecured pan cylinder tightening screw must be watched constantly or it will fall out. Also, The vertical-angle slot is slightly more than 90 degrees, which means the vertical shots must be straightened up in photoshop; the head isn't capable of holding the camera exactly at 90 degrees sideways.

I have had my MH-1001 for perhaps 5 years. I've never had the loose ring you're talking about; in fact I can't figure out where such a ring is. But I suspect it's because I use the head with a quick release platform, not the knurled disc connector.

My problem has been with the knurled knob tightening bolt for the panning cylinder. It isn't secured to the head and can be screwed completely out. In fact it has fallen out more than once and I finally lost it while taking night shots on Mauna Kea. I picked up a metric knurled knob bolt that fit it at the hardware store to get me around Hawaii, but I had to tighten it with an allen wrench to make it stop turning.

I'm amazed no prior review has mentioned this, because without the screw the head is virtually useless. Or is mine the only MH-1001 head whose panning lock screw doesn't stay in by itself?

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

None

Value, function, appearance

Minor built quality issue with my early unit - apparently a common problem but easily remedied.

I have been using this head for more than 5 years. Yes, the retaining ring came loose early on and blocked the slot. Surely Giottos has changed the glue or started using enough of it by now - the original glue probably covered 2mm of the ring. I scratched the old, poorly applied glue off with a fingernail and reglued with some thin CA - a 30 second repair. No problems for more than 5 years after that, and the head is going strong. The base rotation on mine is beautifully damped and steady as a rock. The ball itself is plenty smooth. I find the pre-tension knob works just fine so long as you don't try to use it for the lock. The locking action is more than adequate. I have not had any problems with locking creep or holding power. I often have a heavy lens (like all metal 80-200 f2.8) mounted on this head, and I carry it horizontally by the tripod's center post, Everything stays secure. I'm sure there are better heads out there, but they're not twice, three or four times as good. No one is going to miss a shot becuase this head did not perform properly. It does what it's supposed to do. Putting aside the one minor defect, which was apparently common, the thing is built like a tank and it has held up to years of use with no other problems of loss of quality.

Customer Service

None required

Similar Products Used:

Slik Pro Ball

Works like a ball head should.

Can't think of any.

I bought my Giotto new a few years back and used along with my A-1 35mm it has always worked perfectly for me - everything is as smooth and tight as when it was new. I see in some other Giotto reviews that there are complaints of things coming loose and sloppiness in the mechanism - if that's the case, then why didn't those reviewers return their ball heads under warranty for replacement?

Lots of features, pretty

Features work poorly, parts have come apart, not smooth, locks poorly, is rated for 13 pounds and can't hold 3 pounds without compensating for droop.

Not an acceptable product. There is play in the base which is supposed to be rotatable for panning with no way to adjust out play. Ring which holds ball tight came loose and spins in head, again with no obvious solution.

Customer Service

Currently at giottos for repair of ring which came loose.. will sell afterwords.

Similar Products Used:

Slik pro ball 800, bogen 3065

Inexpensive and works very well for me in the field

The attachment being a screw in to the lens/camera bracket tends to loosen if its not fully tightened. I'm investigating attaching a quick release plate system to the ball head, hopefuly using a Arca-Swiss style plate.

I bought this head to replace my aging Manfrotto due to it's inability to adjust any torque settings to allow a smooth tilt motion. I have only used the Giotto on a Monopod. Since using it I have found it to be an excellent tool for my photography. I have not experienced any sign of seizing or the inner ring coming loose. I doo like the larger knob being used for locking with the smaller being for torque adjustments.

Customer Service

never used so far

Similar Products Used:

Manfrotto ball head, very early production model

Price, Size, Build Quality (except for the Ring that needs to be re-glued)

Not Smooth, Build Quality (because of the crappy ring that needs to be re-glued) Unfortunately, you really do get what you pay for!

I bought this after reading several other reviews. Although it is solidly built, it's not even slightly smooth at all. Once any amount of friction control is used, it's very hard to fine tune and make small movements. Also, after about 10 minutes of trying it out, the circular ring that holds the ball in place came unglued. This caused it to rotate around and block the slot that allows for 90 degree angles. However, this was quickly fixed with some glue. After fighting with this for a year, I finally shelled out the dough for a Kirk BH-3. What a difference! I fully recommend not wasting money on the Giotto head, and saving to buy something of higher quality.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Slik Pan & Tilt, Now a Kirk BH-3 (A Great Ball Head!)

Hmmm...I''m thinking...Price, Large Knobs, Quicker than a Pan and Tilt Head, Panning is Smooth and Locks Well

Workmanship, Slightly Rough Operation, Workmanship, Tension Knob Works Sketchy at best, The top plate unscrews too easily from the ball as you rotate the camera around, oh and did I mention Workmanship.

I think the other reviewers work for Giotto! After 2 hours of using this for some macro work, the plastic ring that keeps the ball tight in the head became loose. It rotated around when you panned the camera left and right such that it would block the "V" notch allowing 90 degree vertical shots. I had to glue it back in place. The operation is not very smooth, but acceptable given the cheap price. My advace- spend a bit more and get a NovaFlex- they''re ultra smooth!

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Bogen 503, Slik Pan and Tilts

Well built
Compact

None

One of the best value for dollar heads on the marked. Been through a slew of Manfrotto heads, rough finish, though inexpensive, they all quickly grew sloppy. Didn't like the way the Gitzo B&S head works (the head is offset from the ball...strange).
Finally tried an Arca Swiss - built like a tank, but way too big for my Leica rangefinders. Someone mentioned Giottos and it is like a mini Arca but at a true fraction of the price. It seems to work just the same....actually it has never locked up like the Arca is prone to do.
For the money it is the best value out there. If I was in the position to purchase a large B&S again I would go with Giottos rather than the Arca!

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Manfrotto(Bogen in USA)
Arca Swiss
Gitzo

Price
Light Weight
Tension Control

Drifts downward with heavier equipment

When I mount my MR 14 ring light on my 100MM Canon Macro and tilt the camera in a downward angle, the head drifts lower by about 1/8 of the screen causing me to reposition the camera and head above my framing area. I also use this head on my Bogen 3218 Monopod and in that situation, it's great. I don't have a problem until I mount the ring light on the macro lens. The Giotto is much better than the Bogen heads I've used due to the tension control device. I would recommend this head for light lenses or monopod work. I wouldn't use it for anything more than lighter prime lenses.

Similar Products Used:

Bogen ball heads

Sturdy, lightweight, good friction control. Smooth ball movement. Used on a Gitzo carbon-fiber tripod, the combination weighs 4 pounds and is rock-steady.

Major annoyance: head shifts slightly when pan lock is tightened. Need to anticipate shift when composing.

A good value in a medium-duty ballhead, especially at a closeout price.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Kirk, Bogen