Bogen/Manfrotto 3038 Super Ball Head Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

minivini
( Expert)

Review Date
February 26, 2009

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 1 of 10

Price Paid: $145.00 from local shop

Summary:

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.

Strengths:

Durability
Cost
Simplicity
Replacement Parts

Weaknesses:

WEIGHT
Proprietary Bogen Quick Release System

Similar Products Used:

Giottos
RRS
Acratech

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!!

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Rating
Reviewed by:

rpclark1
( Professional)

Review Date
January 28, 2008

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 10

Price Paid: $79.00 from KEH

Summary:

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.

Strengths:

* 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

Weaknesses:

* 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

Similar Products Used:

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

Customer Service:

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

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Rating
Reviewed by:

jshlabotnik
( Intermediate)

Review Date
April 21, 2006

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 10

Price Paid: $0.00 from Wolf Camera

Summary:

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.

Strengths:

- 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

Weaknesses:

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

Similar Products Used:

- 3029
- ancient Velbon

Customer Service:

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

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Rating
Reviewed by:

jpchleapas
( Intermediate)

Review Date
February 24, 2005

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 4 of 10

Price Paid: $75.00 from bought used from a c

Summary:

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.

Strengths:

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.

Weaknesses:

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.

Similar Products Used:

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

Customer Service:

Have not needed any.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

Christiano
( Professional)

Review Date
June 14, 2004

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 5 of 10

Price Paid: $150.00 from photo avc

Summary:

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.!

Strengths:

many; No blur ..strong build easy to control

Weaknesses:

far too heavy and a little clumsy

Similar Products Used:

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

Customer Service:

None..its a Bogen !

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