Vanguard SBH-300 Large-Format Magnesium Alloy Ballhead with Two Onboard Bubble Levels

by Vanguard

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 6.8 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0016D3H1O
• Item model number: SBH300
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #32 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Tripods & Monopods > Tripod Heads
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

SBH Series Tripod and Monopod Ball Head

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serious Quality Used Often, July 10, 2010

By 

Glenn Kent (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vanguard SBH-300 Large-Format Magnesium Alloy Ballhead with Two Onboard Bubble Levels (Electronics)

7/2010: I'm not a professional photographer, but have training in industrial design. I can't even provide a comparison to other ballheads. Having said this, with approximately nine months ownership, it's obvious the SBH-300 is serious quality. A knob locks it along the 360 degree axis. Two additional large knobs set resistance level to resist the ball's (your camera's) movement and the other knob locks the ball tight. This means you don't have to keep resetting resistance. My use is on a monopod (trekked through the woods, etc.). Having a reasonably fast shoe-locking and release mechanism is important. The mounting plate put on your camera slides sideways between two channels on the ballhead. It is prevented from sliding completely through regardless which side you start from. Turn a knob and the plate is locked. Un-tighten the knob and the plate is loose, but will not disengage from the ballhead. You must press a button on the opposite side to fully release the plate (your camera). On a monopod, this is fantastic. You can't accidently turn your camera into rock bate just by loosening a knob with your camera at a slight tilt. If it sounds like a slow or cumbersome mechanism, be happy. It's not. It's very easy to use and complete securing and disengagement in little time.

As for a monopod, the Vanguard ELITE CP-364 Carbon Fiber Digital Camera Monopod $129.95 ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016HTVL0/ref=oss_product is solid as a rock, extremely fast to extend and contract and is light weight enough with an added Vanguard ballhead (total combined cost $212.70), it will often go where the camera goes; extending dim light (i.e. under heavy foliage) photography options significantly. The SBH-300 ballhead is serious quality; the SBH-100 is likely the same. (Get Vanguard before the prices go up.)

I would definitely purchase a Vanguard Carbon Fiber tripod if I could justify the cost due to expected use, but the monopod gets the job done for me. Vanguard's products are bound to go up in price. They are currently a bargain compared to the competition.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended sturdy, light and affordable ballhead for DSLR camera, May 5, 2009

By 

Z. Cheng - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vanguard SBH-300 Large-Format Magnesium Alloy Ballhead with Two Onboard Bubble Levels (Electronics)

I just got this ballhead today. It is very well made and incredibly light for a large format ballhead. There are two sizes of adapter female threads for tripods with different size screw to attach, and there are also two sizes of screws on the camera attachment plate for cameras with different bottom threads. The ball head is very sturdy. The knobs are very smooth and strong. Two on the plate bubble levels let you keep your camera level. I have a Nikon D200 + nikon 18-200mm VR lens + SB800 flash on the ballhead. When the knobs are tightened, the whole assembly is completely fixed even when large force is applied. I am very satisfied with this ballhead, and I can't believe the cheap price. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great but for one tiny (really) design flaw that could prove disastrous, January 6, 2012

By 

Team CDR - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vanguard SBH-300 Large-Format Magnesium Alloy Ballhead with Two Onboard Bubble Levels (Electronics)

Have had this item for several months now. Use with a Slik 700DX tripod. Combo is very sturdy but longer and heavier than what i am comfortable carrying around town. (I live in Seoul South Korea). Head is smooth, controls work fine--no issues. I especially like the addition of the knob that allows you to set the ball head tension so that when you unlock the fixing knob the head does just flop over. The system works well to support a 7D w/ ef 300 f/2.8 II lens. (No vibrations during exposures.)

Only issue is with the little orange button that you must push to lower a pin that allows you to slide the the clamp plate off the ballhead. (You can see the button in the photos.) A few days ago i was removing the clamp plate to attach it to the camera. I had a bad angle and my thumb slipped off the button while i was pushing it in. the little orange button part shot out of the head. fortunately i was in the house so was able to find the pin. The pin mechanism is made up of three parts: 1-the pin itself; 2- a tensioning spring and 3-a very small philips head screw that has two functions--to hold the spring on the pin and to hold the whole assembly in the ballhead. I was able to reassemble the thing and get it back in the ball head. the problem is that the screw has a flat to slightly rounded head. this does not provide 100% positive retention of the pin when it is screwed flush into the pin. When i reassembled the whole thing i put the screw head flush w/ the pin shaft then backed it out a couple turns. this provided 100% positive retention of the mechanism in the ball head. i do not have any lock tight but i will get some to put on the threads of the problem screw--since the screw is now not tightened in the pin and can back itself out over time and use. this could prove very problematic in the field as w/o the pin you cannot remove the plate. If you have a camera on the plate and in the ballhead you will be stuck w/ a ballhead--at best--stuck to the bottom of your camera.

Vanguard needs to redesign this mechanism to make an otherwise good product even better.