Markins M10/M20 Ball Head Review
by Darrell Young

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Panorama System

Many of us like to experiment with panorama imaging. The Markins ball heads have a very smooth panorama control on the bottom of the tripod.

There is a small lock knob for the pano system just below and to the right of the main ball head tension knob. When you loosen the knob, the entire head will turn in a full circle. I don't know how they accomplished it, but it has a very smooth, almost fluid-like feel to it. It is not dampened like with a fluid head, but is super smooth in the way it turns.

The pano base is marked in degrees so that you can accurately make a turn to a particular degree mark. You might start at 0 degrees, and then turn to 30 degrees, then to 60 degrees, then to 90. At each point you can take a picture that overlaps the last and next one, so that you can use computer software to connect or "stitch" the images together into one long panorama image.

You could get really technical about it and learn how to find the entrance pupil of your lens, and then use a rail or sliding plate that allows moving the center of rotation directly under the nodal point. Then you can make undistorted rotations. Or, you could just put your camera on the Markins, loosen the pano lock knob and take a series of overlapping pictures without worrying much about the precision technical aspect.

Either way, with the Markins panorama features, you can get the images you want. You can just have some fun, or get really serious about panoramas. The important thing is, you'll need a head with pano features to even attempt panoramas. The Markins Q-Ball design does the job exceedingly well.

Conclusion

During the 6th Annual Nikonians Photo Adventure Trip (ANPAT 2006) I used the Markins M10 for seven days of exciting shooting action. In fact, of the 25 Nikonians on the ANPAT, 20 of them were using Markins heads. I find that to be a telling number. Why do so many Nikonians use Markins ball heads?

I can only speak for myself, and so I'll tell you what I think. One very cold morning on top of the Smoky Mountains at Newfound Gap, we were shooting a sunrise. It was about 6:45 AM, very dark, and 17° Farenheit, with the wind blowing small icy particles. Needless to say all the Nikonians surrounding me were at least double their normal size from the layers of clothing. I had on a pair of gloves that would have made it very difficult to use any tripod head. However, with the Markins, I was set to go.

Before I headed up the mountain, while still in the warmth of the motel room, I set my tripod up with the camera and lens I was going to use. I put the D2X and 80-400mm lens on the Markins, set the sweet spot, then removed the camera and packed everything up. When I arrived at the top of the cold dark mountain, I simply unpacked my tripod and camera, attached it to the Markins, and I was ready to go. I could simply reach out and move the camera to whatever position I needed to get the shot. I didn't have to touch the tension knob. I just grabbed the camera and moved it. Even in extreme cold the Markins performed like the professional ball head it is. I got the shots I wanted.

Later I took the Markins over to the Tremont area and returned that evening with some of the best shots I have personally ever taken. It might have had something to do with the fact that I was surrounded by world-class Nikonians photographers that I could imitate, but I came away from that ANPAT with images that make me very happy. The Markins was part of an overall photographic system that performed flawlessly in all of the conditions I found myself in. Does it take a Markins to get images like this one? Maybe not, but, it sure helps when you don't have to think about fiddling around with your tripod head and have the certainty of getting no-unintentional blur razor-sharp images. When you can just set it for the body and lens load you are using and then shoot, it makes images like this one come easier than ever. Do I like my Markins? Yes! Could I ever go back to a cheap ball head? No way!

I use Nikon cameras, Nikkor and Sigma EX Pro lenses, and now Markins ball heads. What's in your bag? If you don't have a Markins, ask yourself, "Why not?" They're not overly expensive. You use professional camera equipment, why not a professional ball head.

The Markins M10 certainly changed my mind on why I need a pro-level head. Get one to try out and see if it you don't see the light in new ways too! And remember, buying at the PhotoProShop helps to support the community.