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Acratech GP-s Ball Head

4.6 out of 5 stars 31 ratings
Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.
Color Black
Brand Acratech
Compatible Devices Camera
Item Weight 4.54 g
Maximum Weight Recommendation 25 Pounds

About this item

  • Weighs less than 1 lb (.45kg) with quick release clamp.
  • Will hold up to 25lbs (11.4kg)
  • Full movements allow any camera position.
  • Precision C.N.C. machined.
  • Compatible with Kirk, Arca, R.R.S., and many other QR plates.
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Important information

Legal Disclaimer

Ship to USA locations only.

Product information

Product Dimensions 7.2 x 4.9 x 4.5 inches
Item Weight 0.16 ounces
ASIN B0052GVNCQ
Item model number 1155
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars 31 ratings

4.6 out of 5 stars
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No
Date First Available May 25, 2011
Manufacturer Acratech

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Acratech GP-s Ball Head

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Product Description

The Acratech GP Ballhead is uniquely designed to function as a ballhead a Gimbal head and as a leveling base.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
31 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the ball head to be rock solid, with one mentioning it can handle heavy lenses, and appreciate its well-thought-out design that looks like a piece of art. The product is lightweight, with one customer noting it folds up into a compact package, and customers praise its silky smooth motion and ease of use. They like the gimbel feature and secure fit, with one highlighting its extremely tight tolerances. While some customers find it worth the price, others consider it pricey.

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17 customers mention "Build quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers praise the ball head's build quality, describing it as rock solid and excellent, with one customer noting its ability to hold heavy lenses securely.

"...And it is lighter for similar sturdiness. The knobs are comfortable, and the fast-turn knob for releasing the plate is very convenient...." Read more

"...My setup is so solid that I am actually surprised. I love the layout of all the controls on this ball head...." Read more

"What a great ball head. Very smooth and well made. Nice and light but rock solid when it counts...." Read more

"...Put it on a Gitzo tripod and you have a top quality rig for around $1000" Read more

17 customers mention "Design"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the ball head's design, describing it as a well-thought-out and spectacular piece that looks like a piece of art, with one customer noting it's a perfect fusion of art and engineering.

"...There is a nice spirit level on the plate which is extremely handy. The head can be put on its side through a notch to be a pseudo-gimbal...." Read more

"Nice product,but dont use for large lens over 500mm" Read more

"...This thing is a perfect fusion of art and engineering. Though I'm not particularly interested in panoramics right now, it's nice to know it's there...." Read more

"...A very well thought out head with little if any compromises. Sure it is an expensive head but you will get your moneys worth...." Read more

7 customers mention "Lightweight"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate that the ball head is very light and compact, with one customer noting that it folds up into a compact package.

"Compact and light ball head. The pin and locking mechanism is ok, does what is is supposed to...." Read more

"What a great ball head. Very smooth and well made. Nice and light but rock solid when it counts...." Read more

"...It is lightweight, easy to adjust and very stable. I use it on a Gitzo GT2541EX tripod to support a DSLR with up to a 60...250mm f/4 lens...." Read more

"...Build Quality: > Very good compared to Manfrotto ball heads. Very light and yet super sturdy...." Read more

6 customers mention "Fit"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the ball head's secure fit, with one mentioning its extremely tight tolerances and another noting how it stays in place.

"...When locked down, the head is tight and steady." Read more

"...They all have tensioning that gives vernier adjustment and the movement for panning, etc., is as smooth as glass...." Read more

"...It is lightweight, easy to adjust and very stable. I use it on a Gitzo GT2541EX tripod to support a DSLR with up to a 60...250mm f/4 lens...." Read more

"...The tolerances are extremely tight and the motion is silky smooth...." Read more

4 customers mention "Smooth motion"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the ball head's smooth motion.

"...The motion of all controls is very smooth, and there is an excellent scale for doing panoramas...." Read more

"...is as smooth as glass. I also purchased the quick disconnect mounting plate from Acratech that matches my camera...." Read more

"What a great ball head. Very smooth and well made. Nice and light but rock solid when it counts...." Read more

"...The tolerances are extremely tight and the motion is silky smooth...." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of use"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the ball head easy to use, with one mentioning it gracefully handles it in any position.

"...and the GP gracefully handles it with ease in any position...." Read more

"Love this Ballhead. easy to use. can support all my heavy lens with ease." Read more

"...Nice design and easy to use." Read more

3 customers mention "Features"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the ball head's features, with some highlighting the gimbal feature as a real plus.

"...Pan and tilt work beautifully. The Gimbal option is a nice feature and in a pinch is certainly very functional..." Read more

"...not only does everything you could want from one, but has a few nifty features I didn't even realize I needed until I bought this ballhead...." Read more

"...The gimbel feature is a real plus and supports my D810 and Nikon lens up to 70-200 very well. I would definately buy this again...." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the ball head's value for money, with some finding it worth the price while others consider it pricey.

"...As It too is machined instead of cast aluminum, it is definitely worth the price." Read more

"...Sure it is an expensive head but you will get your moneys worth. (Nice long warranty too!!)" Read more

"Well worth the price!..." Read more

"...It is certainly pricey, but this ballhead will be the last one you ever buy, and will make the difference on getting good shots and super-fine..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Peter Henry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Light, sturdy and easily cleaned.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The description on the page showed the larger-base version of this head but I actually received the smaller-base version (the GP-S). Both heads are essentially the same except for the diameter of the base and the location of the knobs. I ended up keeping the small-base version since I was leaving for a trip immediately and didn't have time to change. Amazon, by the way, was excellent in working through this issue with me.

    The open design allows you to clean this ball head easily, making it suitable for use in conditions where other ball heads might collect crud. It is just as sturdy, or more so, than other ball heads I've used. And it is lighter for similar sturdiness. The knobs are comfortable, and the fast-turn knob for releasing the plate is very convenient. There is a nice spirit level on the plate which is extremely handy.

    The head can be put on its side through a notch to be a pseudo-gimbal. While this works OK, a heavy lens/camera combo will result in a lot of side-load to your tripod, reducing stability.

    The motion of all controls is very smooth, and there is an excellent scale for doing panoramas. While this isn't perfect for pans due to parallax issues, if you are doing landscape pans with little foreground detail, it is fine. The panning motion is smooth, and would also work well for video.

    Locking is excellent, and this head can support a good load without creep. Acratech has a good website with plenty of information on it to help decide about weight issues.

    Overall, I would have probably preferred to go with the large-base (GP) version instead of the GP-S, but there is not very much difference and the GP-S is a spectacular ball head. It is my standard do-everything tripod head that I use 80% of the time.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Masashi O.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Compact and light ball head. The pin and locking ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Compact and light ball head. The pin and locking mechanism is ok, does what is is supposed to. The “gimbal” feature Is the main reason I purchaed this head. After testing in the studio on several Ecom on figure shoots, I still can’t quite get it to where I want. Not sure if it is a defect or limitation of the head. When locked down, the head is tight and steady.
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  • SALAH AHMED ALRAWAS
    3.0 out of 5 stars Nice product, but dont use for large lens over
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Nice product,but dont use for large lens over 500mm
    One person found this helpful
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  • brad-man
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sturdy, lightweight & looks really cool
    Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I wrestled for quite some time between the Arca-Swiss Monoball Z1 and this Acratech GP. The Z1 is a marvelous piece of equipment, but in the end I was afraid it would make my Gitzo feel like a mace. The largest hunk of glass I own is an EF300mm f/4L IS (frequently with an EF 1.4x II extender attached) and the GP gracefully handles it with ease in any position. And it's favorite position is laying in the cradle in "gimbal mode." The only drawback to that is that I loose 4" of height, which is inconvenient unless I raise the column or sit in a chair. I suppose the final deal clinchers for me were that I absolutely love the "double speed" quick release clamp, and it just looks downright awesome. This thing is a perfect fusion of art and engineering. Though I'm not particularly interested in panoramics right now, it's nice to know it's there. Did I mention that this thing looks really cool?
    13 people found this helpful
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  • The Searcher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Precision at its best
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I spent several weeks researching to find the best ball head for my tripod. While I know there are some that are double the price of the Acratech GP, I would bet good money that none exceed its quality and performance. I am relatively new to advanced photography -- a step up from simple point and shoot. However, as an engineer, I can easily weed out the junk.
    I have done some pretty neat laser tests on the stability of my setup (camera, tripod, and ball mount), looking for the slightest indication of response to shutter shock or mirror slap. My setup is so solid that I am actually surprised.

    I love the layout of all the controls on this ball head. They all have tensioning that gives vernier adjustment and the movement for panning, etc., is as smooth as glass. I also purchased the quick disconnect mounting plate from Acratech that matches my camera. As It too is machined instead of cast aluminum, it is definitely worth the price.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Just added water
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic head with more features than anyone else in the price range
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    What a great ball head. Very smooth and well made. Nice and light but rock solid when it counts.

    I purchased 2 separate times from Kellards - both times they shipped me the (WRONG) GP-s model instead of the GP. Unless you need a small head go for the GP!

    Pan and tilt work beautifully. The Gimbal option is a nice feature and in a pinch is certainly very functional (though does not compare to a full gimbal head). Something else to be aware of is the clearance over the tripod mount - too big a mount plate and it may interfere.

    I also really like the option to be able to reverse the mount and use as a leveling panning head. I will probably never use it often but did set it up and it goes together beautifully.

    A very well thought out head with little if any compromises. Sure it is an expensive head but you will get your moneys worth. (Nice long warranty too!!)
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  • Chef Gene
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the price!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I was looking at the Arca Z and the Really Right Stuff medium heads... this one has them beat in design, and as recently tested by a photo website, in function as well. I really like the look of the head, and using it 'up side down' for pano shots is great. Put it on a Gitzo tripod and you have a top quality rig for around $1000
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Corey Carter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Oustanding engineering
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I've been shooting for more than 20 years and have almost always carried a tripod around with me. I have been using a mid-range Manfrotto head the last 10 years but the wife decided to buy me the Acratech for my birthday.

    It is not only a thing of beauty, but is by far better than anything I've used before. The ballhead not only does everything you could want from one, but has a few nifty features I didn't even realize I needed until I bought this ballhead.

    It is certainly pricey, but this ballhead will be the last one you ever buy, and will make the difference on getting good shots and super-fine stable shots in the future. My rig is a 50D with a battery pack and a 70-300L lens attached to it. My previous ballhead would drop no matter how much I tightened it down. It is now rock stable.
    13 people found this helpful
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