Yoshiteru Takahashi | Markins Ball Head

It's been more than 20 years since I started using ball heads. At that time, I used 2-way heads for super telephoto lenses, 3-way heads for 4x5 format, and ball heads for setup photography and mountain climbing.

The reason I used them differently was because they were not powerful enough for super telephoto lenses and 4x5 format.

I have always been interested in the quick shooting capabilities of ball heads, and I was looking forward to the ideal ball head being released someday. Then I found the Q20iQ-BK. This is a lever shoe type ball head with the highest load capacity among Markins' ball heads, and it is an excellent product that can also be used as a 2-way head by attaching the BV-22.

The three things I look for in a ball head are load capacity (stop), operability, and cold resistance. Regarding load capacity (stop), as I wrote in the report on the BV-HEAD set, it locks firmly even when walking with a super telephoto lens attached to the head.

What I want to point out is its high precision. You would think that it would stop because it can withstand a load of 50kg, but that's not actually the case. This is because the load-bearing standards of each company are different. I actually tried the same thing with a tripod head that I own, which can withstand a load of around 50kg, and only one of them stopped firmly.

The controls are very easy to use, and the main knob is very easy to turn even with gloves on. I especially like the quick shoe. The tightening lever in particular is very easy to grip with your fingers, making it easier to attach and remove equipment even in the cold.

What's interesting is the world's first direction-changing lever. This is a function that allows you to rotate the lever depending on your dominant hand and the equipment you are putting on it. I think it's very convenient because each person has their own direction that is easy to use. In my case, I set it to the direction that is easiest to apply force depending on the equipment I'm putting on it.
There is another convenient feature. It has a screw that allows you to adjust the tightening width. There are many Arca-style plates from various companies, but the shape and width are slightly different. Depending on the manufacturer, the width may differ depending on the time of production, so it can't be helped...

But it's great that most plates can be locked properly by adjusting this screw. Of course, I recommend Markins plates because there is no hassle in adjusting them, but if you have to use another manufacturer's plate, it's better to narrow down the manufacturer considering the hassle of adjusting it.

As for cold resistance, I have not used it in extremely cold areas yet, but a friend of mine who is an animal photographer said that there are no problems even when shooting in extremely cold areas. This time, I tried using it in Hokkaido under conditions of -3℃ and it worked without any problems. People who don't go to cold places may not be able to focus, but I personally think it's amazing that the ball head works normally in cold areas. This is because most ball heads become stiff when the temperature drops below freezing, and some of them even stop working.

I have owned 30 ball heads so far, but there were very few that satisfied me with their performance in cold climates and secure locking of super telephoto lenses. However, using the Q20iQ-BK this time, I was able to once again appreciate its ease of use and high precision. The Q20iQ-BK meets all the necessary requirements, and is a unit I can confidently recommend to those who are unsure which ball head to choose.