Vanguard SBH-300 Ballhead Mini Review

This is a quick look at the awesome Vanguard SBH-300. Manufactured by Vanguard, this ballhead is made of solid magnesium alloy, and I can tell that the build quality is excellent without the heavy price tag. The SBH-300 can support up to 70lbs./32 kg, which is an overkill for me. It can handle my eos 20d with EF 70-200mm F/4 IS USM like a toy. I had this ballhead since February of 2010 and up to now it’s still in A+ condition. One feature that I like is the plate locking mechanism, to release the plate I have to un-tighten a knob, but this won’t release the plate, there is a second lock that I have to press to fully release the plate, that second lock is the red button on the opposite side. This is an excellent feature which is a must on all plates to protect the camera from accidental drop. Let’s look at the manufacturer’s description below:

The strongest of all the SBH ball heads, SBH-300 is a lightweight brute. SBH-300 precision-cut ball head moves swiftly and steadily so you won’t miss the action.  Constructed of solid, strong magnesium alloy, it\’s durable and yet lighter in weight than the industry standard. Unlike other ball heads, SBH ball heads are designed with molded body parts, not assembled cut parts, like the competition. Its smooth locking knobs allow you to move the ball head swiftly and securely into the perfect position, even with the heaviest lenses and cameras. It includes two bubble levels, 360-degree scale, fine-tuning knob and a safety lock for extra stability. A special universal VANGUARD quick shoe for body/lens is also included so you can upgrade your system to quick-release immediately.

Features:

• Lightweight magnesium alloy
• Precision-cut ball head
• Large camera plate has outstanding loading capacity for professional gear; supports up to 70 lbs./32 kg.
• Includes sliding quick shoe

Impression:

After spending sometime with this ballhead I find it to be precise, reliable and tough. Having seen some of ballhead from leading manufacturers, I can honestly tell that the quality of the  SBH-300 can equal or exceed them. However to my needs it is an overkill so I’m planning to get the SBH-250, but I will still keep the SBH-300.

Recommendation:

For $99.00 buy it, you won’t regret it, it’s a steal. If you are looking for a heavy duty ballhead that can support up 70lbs of gear this is the ballhead for you, or if you need a much small ballhead then try the sbh-50, sbh-100 and sbh-250.
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Vanguard SBH Ballheads are available from the following manufacturers:

• Amazon
• Adorama
• 
  BHPhotoVideo

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