Durability
Cost
Simplicity
Replacement Parts

WEIGHT
Proprietary Bogen Quick Release System

For the money, if you use long fast glass, this is a hard head to beat. It's a little sticky at times, it has a litte bit of creep, and it is a behemoth. That said, it's about a third what you'll pay for an Arca-Swiss, RRS, Kirk, etc.

I've used this head on a set of Gitzo 410 legs for well over ten years. In that time, it's suffered a LOT of abuse. It's also held up very well in supporting my old 500/4P Nikkor lens and a variety of bodies. I don't feel weird about tossing it in the back of my truck for day trips because I didn't pay the equivalent of a mortgage payment for it.

I am about to pull this head off the Gitzo legs and mount it on a home made ground pod for use in shooting birds at ground level. It'll be used with a Wimberley Sidekick.

The one accessory that is really a necessity is an Arca-Swiss clamp to replace the poorly designed Bogen hex clamp that, for whatever reason, they thought was a good idea. A decent A-S release will also lower the height of the shooting platform, which is a litte too high to begin with.

Customer Service

My only experience was having to oder a replacement main lever. My rig fell over and cracked the original. Thank goodness there was nothing mounted on it!!

Similar Products Used:

Giottos
RRS
Acratech

* Rock Solid Stability
* Build Quality
* Impressive Looking
* Very Affordable - less than $100 USD if you look around - you could buy 4 for the
price of one Swiss made ball head

* Ball could be smoother - but as others have mentioned you get used to it
* Hexplates are a bit large - replace with a Arca-style clamp
* No longer made and getting harder to find

I love this ball head for strength & stability. If shooting with a
300/2.8 + teleconverters, or bigger glass, the 3038 will hold it steady.
I bought mine used from KEH in excellent shape, came with
a RRS (Really Right Stuff) Arca-style clamp. This is my third one
of these, I quickly sold the other two because of the large
hex plates -- I just don't like them. With the RRS Arca-style clamp,
I'll probably never let this one go. It's a beast and does the job!
Not an Arca, and not as smooth as one - but for less than $100 USD
you can't beat it with a stick, and if you did you couldn't damage it.

Customer Service

In 9 years, I've never had to use Bogen
customer service for one of their heads.

Similar Products Used:

* Bogen 488RC2, 410, 3126, 3047
* Arca Swiss Monoball

- supports up to 26.5 pounds
- solid as a rock
- requires very little force to lock/unlock the ball
- others say it's heavy: not true relative to 3047
- at $80, it is a great value

- not as smooth as a super high-end ball head
- discontinued
- watch out for the head grease: I ruined a new pair of khakis

I originally bought the 3029 3-way head with my 3021Pro legs, but after an afternoon using it, I decided it wasn't for me: too much wrist twisting required to lock and loosen the vertical tilt. I took it back to Wolf, thinking I would upgrade to the 3047. I was looking at all heads on the Manfrotto display and saw the 3038 Super Ball. I casually asked the salesman how much it cost, thinking I couldn't possibly afford it. "I don't know, let me check..." He came back and said, "It's actually on clearance: it was orginally $199.99, it's marked down to $79.99." After I put my eyes back in their sockets I quickly exchanged the 3029 for the Super Ball. It is pretty much wicked awesome. That said, I would have never paid $200 for it. It isn't much heavier than the 3047 (3.7lbs vs. 3.4 lbs), and is shorter (6.3in vs 7.1in). It works great under my Hasselblad 500c/m. I'll probably eventually get the 3048H QR plate the fits the QR grooves on the bottom of the Hassy. It might not be as smooth as the Arca B1, but I'm never going to spend $500 for a frikkin tripod head.

Customer Service

I wish Bogen/Manfrotto would say something about how to lubricate the ball

Similar Products Used:

- 3029
- ancient Velbon

This is a very well made ball head. You are not paying the premium for the Arca, or other higher end ball heads. It gives me the confidence to be able to walk away from the tripod and not worry that my lens will crash to the ground. It is very well made. I am looking into the conversion to Arca style plates. I will most likely simply buy 2 more heax heads, but the flat bottom ones so my lens will lie flat on a flat surface and not roll over. For the price it is a true bargain.

The only drawback to me is this beastie is heavy at around 5 pounds. If you do not mind carrying a few extra pounds this is a very good ball head.

I bought this Bogen 3038 to use with my larger and heavier Tamron 300mm f/2.8 LD IF lens. I needed a better ball head than my current tripod. I mounted this on my Davis & Sanborn Model A tripod good for 50 lbs. I think it moves rather easily. I did lubricate the ball and than made all the difference in giving it free travel with less drag. I like it with my Nikon FE. I am buying a heavier 600mm f/4 Nikon lens shortly. This ball head is rated to hold over 30 pounds so it will still be able to handle that heavier lens.

Customer Service

Have not needed any.

Similar Products Used:

This was my first ball head, but not my first time using a tripod.

many; No blur ..strong build easy to control

far too heavy and a little clumsy

I have used this head with my medium photo gear mainly Pentax 67 loaded with the big lenses and mounted on the manfrotto 029 tripod; NO Blur at all ! absolutely high end and really pro to work with,its heavy and sturdy but come on Boys This is IT..if you dont like blur buy it.!

Customer Service

None..its a Bogen !

Similar Products Used:

arcatech,bogen (other types)FOBA and the no 1 ARCA swiss(now were talking)

Solid, locks tight, well worth the money.

Slightly on the heavy side

I have used this ball head for several years now. Its sat on top of two or three set of legs. Yes it is large and heavy, but it is also rock solid. I too have experimented with various types of grease and some do make a difference. It locks easily and doesnt drift, the hex plates while not the smallest do work very well. I find I like this head the most and I own and use Gizto, NPC Prohead, and another Bogen model. Great ball head period, not just for the money (whichs helps). Dont let others intimidate you because you dont own an ARCA or Gizto or whatever other overpaid model they need to justify.

Customer Service

none ever needed

Similar Products Used:

Gizto ball head, NPC prohead, other Bogen models

Holds a 45 with no problem. Compact, only 1 handle needed for use. Great for quick composing, and still precise.

The only problem I had was when I first switched from traditional heads, I thought they had more precise composing capabilities until I became more proficiant with the ball.

As you gain more hours with it, you realize it's better than a traditional.

Customer Service

I never needed it, but it's there.

Similar Products Used:

Ohter traditional bogen heads.

Solid construction
Bubble levels on camera platform.
Single lever lockdown.
Panning base is very smooth.

Heavy, really heavy.
Creep with EOS A2e 70-200 2.8. & 2X tele.
Grease settles to the bottom of the ball. Requiring a sharp blow to the camera platform after a period of non-use to get it to free up.
Hex QR plate stabs you in the chest when camera hangs around your neck.

Bought this head with a Bogen Carbon-Fiber Tripod (great legset BTW), figuring it would get me by until I could afford a more expensive head. I wish I would have not wasted my money on this head. It weighs more than my legset at 3.75lbs! I chose to get this head because Philip Greenspun said it was a pretty good head for the money. It is so big and heavy, there has been lots of times I didn't take my tripod for that very reason. I was also dissapointed that when I would lock down the head with a 70-200 2.8 the entire composition changes. I will be getting the Arca-Swiss B1 or Kirk BH-1 very soon I would have bought one months ago had I not blown $150 on the 3038. Remember everyone, you get what you pay for.

Customer Service

Haven't needed it

Similar Products Used:

Various lightweight tripods & heads from Bogen and Slik

None

None

I feel I need to update my review. I found a new lubricant that is far and away better than what comes with this head. It is "Poly-Tech Lubricant" made by Schwinn. It is a silicon base PTFE lubricant that I purchased at a bicycle shop. It alieviates the lock-up problem I was having. I have purchased the Arca-Swiss B1 and it is absoultely the best ball-head made. But finding this new lubricant makes me at least want to keep the Bogen 3038 as a solid backup.

Similar Products Used:

None

Single lever use.
Bubble levels on head
Large controls
When lock, it doesn't move

Weight, weight, and size

Like everyone else I like to get a lot of value for my money. I never liked the idea of ballheads but finally decided to buy one and I bought the Giottos head. Big mistake for anything other than 35mm. I bought the Bogen for medium format and I was pleasantly surprised by the rigidity and ease of use. My caveat is that after years of standard heads, using a ball head takes some geting used to and practice. I have no problems with the Bogen with my Medium Format gear and even though I haven't tried it yet I would not be surprised to see that it worked as well with a 4x5 or even an 8x10. The jury is still out on that. Overall, the size and weight make it a daunting purchase but the same features make it rigid which is all I ever asked of a camera support.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

Bogen 3057
Giottos ball head