The BH-40 Ballhead from Really Right Stuff is a great ballhead, to say the least. Not only is it well built, but also has smooth turning knobs and is pretty compact.
It is a great ballhead for most DSLR users and if taken care of, can last for years.
So in this article, I will be breaking down the pros and cons of the Really Right Stuff BH-40 ballhead, and let you know what my experience has been while using it.
If you want to watch my video where I review this ballhead, click here.
What is a Ballhead?
Now, if you don’t know what a ballhead is or what its function is, let me shortly explain that first.
A ballhead is the part that goes directly on top of your tripod and is the link that allows your camera to “connect” to a tripod.
It acts as a gimbal, in which you can move your ballhead left, right, up, down, and vertical.
Point to be made, a ballhead is a necessity (I’m not even sure you can connect a camera to a tripod without a ballhead).
Specs of the BH-40
Load Capacity – 18lbs / 8.1kg
Material – Aluminum
Vertical Tilt – 0°-+90°
Panning Range – 360°
Dimensions – Height: 3.0” / H: 76.0mm
Weight – 17.1oz / 1.06lbs / 486.0g
Features of the BH-40
Before I explain the features, I want to let you know that this ballhead is priced around $400 which is a very expensive purchase for most. You could get a camera for less than this ballhead. I would not recommend this ballhead to a beginner just because it is so pricey.
The ballhead also does not come with a quick-release plate (the part that allows the camera to connect to the ballhead), which means you have to purchase this part separately.
The BH-40 has 3 main turning knobs:
The Tightening Knob
The tightening knob allows you to move your camera around once you loosen this knob. It controls which direction you face your camera. Once your satisfied with your camera’s position or angle, just tighten this knob up and the camera will stay in place.
The Tension Knob
The tension knob gives you the option of tightening or loosening the tension of the tightening knob. Basically, if you think the tightening knob is too loose (meaning one turn of the knob and your camera falls to a vertical position), then that means you will want to tighten the tension knob.
This will ensure that you have as much control as you want with the tightening knob.
The Panning Knob
The panning knob is what allows you to have your camera pan to the left or right. It is also the function that allows you to take panoramas. If you want to learn how to photograph and stitch panoramas, check out my article here.
Once you loosen this knob, you can easily pan your camera to the position you want it in and then tighten the knob up.
The Lever Lock Release Clamp
This feature is optional when purchasing the ballhead. I for one love this feature because it guarantees that once my camera is locked in, it will stay locked in.
With the lever lock release clamp, once you slide your camera in, you just secure the clamp, and bam, your camera is secure! The other great feature about the clamp is that you cannot accidentally unlock it. It requires some force to unlock the clamp to slide your camera out, so you never have to worry about it loosening up or accidentally being pushed open.
This is great because when you are out taking pictures, the last thing you want to be worrying about is if your camera is about to slide off the tripod.
I say this because there is another option instead of the clamp that you can buy; the turning knob. With this knob, once you slide your camera in, you turn a knob to make sure the camera stays in place.
I have had some close calls with this feature as sometimes, the knob will slowly become undone, which is not good if you are moving your tripod with your camera attached to it. At one point, I had to remind myself every 10 minutes to tighten the knob so I knew that my camera was securely locked in.
Avoid all of this and buy the ballhead with a lever lock release clamp!
The Nodal Marks
The nodal marks are on the base of the tripod and are specifically used when taking a panorama. They are marked every 15 degrees, so you know that each picture is the same degree apart, allowing for the seamless stitching of panoramas in editing.
All of the turning knobs are great because they differ so much in size and feel. When I am shooting at night, this becomes very useful because I can easily differentiate between the tightening knob and the panning knob.
I have used other ballheads in the past where it was not like this, and it would frequently become frustrating when I would get confused about what knobs did what.
Pros of the BH-40
- Lightweight
- Has great turning knobs
- Good material, well built
- Durable, can hold a lot of weight
Cons of the BH-40
- Expensive
- Doesn’t come with a quick release plate
You can purchase the ballhead here:
B&H Photo: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc…
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Really-Right-Stuff-BH-40-Lever-Release/dp/B06XB77FD9/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=bh40&qid=1602183406&sr=8-2
There you have it! A complete review of the Really Right Stuff BH-40 Ballhead. I personally love this ballhead and have been using it for 7-8 months. It is extremely well built and locks my camera in place!
Have fun and keep photographing!
