IB2 Triple-Action Ball Head – Arca-Compatible Quick Release, Independent Pan Lock, Friction Control, Smooth Precision Movement for Tripods & Professional Photo Setups (IB2)

Another well-designed Benro product. Solid, smooth operation, relatively light, good ergonomics and at a very competitive price. I especially appreciate the safety locking feature on the Arca Swiss tightening knob. Nice touch.

I bought this for the Swiss Arca compatability, but I was very pleased to discover how light weight it is. This Benro will now be my travel ball head on both a monopod and a tripod. It holds a big Nikon with various f/2.8 long lenses surprisingly well, and the movement is smooth. I'm impressed with the build quality and how well the quick release works with various Arca plates I already own. Good value, I think.

I purchased this to use on a new Benro Tripod, which is fantastic. My normal setup weighs around 5 lbs, but my telephoto camera/lens combo comes in just under 11 lbs. This head is rated for 17 and it works great on my standard lenses but I see a little creep on my telephoto, no matter how much I tightened it. I borrowed a B2 rated at 40 lbs and it was perfect. So lesson learned is if going telephoto where movement is amplified, go with a much higher load rated head, you may not need the load, but with the weight increase comes an increase in steadiness. This is a great ball head, excellent design and quality but keep well under the load limit if using large telephoto lenses.

This is a nice compromise when you need to keep the weight down. Functionally, it is a fine little ball head. I got this Benro head to replace another brand that lacked separate drag control. Just couldn't live with that. This has all of the controls you expect on a ball head and everything works very fluidly. I'm using it on a Benro M8 Magnesium-Carbon 3-Section Tripod with Quick Release, supports 17.6 lbs , which is no longer available. This is my light tripod for hikes. My standards are pretty high: my main tripod is the https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YEUADCW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 with an RRS BH-55. But that is impractical for long walks. I'm quite happy overall with Benro products mixed in with my Really Right Stuff and Pro Media Gear L plates and accessories. This ball head is pretty short, a good thing for stability, and features a nice, quick-acting Arca-type clamp. The clamp can be set to close down or open enough to slide the plate out with a short turn.

First off the product feels quality. It’s sturdy as can be and everything has a nice finish on it so it feels tactile. Installation is kind of goofy since you have to screw it on but with the turning base it makes it awkward, you have to fully tighten the rotation lock so it can’t move and use the knobs to tight the unit down, but I’ll chalk that up industry standard. All the rotational actions are smooth and precise which makes it feel well built. I would say it’s on the heavier side but it’s not obnoxiously heavy. The quick release function is actually very helpful if you’re at an action event so it’s nice to have! Overall I highly recommend this to everyone

I thought it was a great ball head but during a photography trip the knob that controls the ball head snapped off. I have had this ball head for less then a year. Which is inexcusable, if you are a professional I suggest you look elsewhere because having something break when you need it is not good for your business

I liked this so much for my monopod that I bought another one for my travel tripod! Well built and solid. I carry some really heavy gear and noticed that unless the large knob is not very tight, my 5D MKIII and 100-400 MKII has a tendency to move when the tripod/monopod is carried over my shoulder but that is a LOT of weight and other ballheads would probably do the same. Tightening the knob very tight fixes the problem. Other than that, it is very smooth and it even comes with an Arca-Swiss plate which is also very well made. It is only $20 more than the lighter model (IB1) and I bought that one first but returned it because for $20 more, this one is much more heavy duty than the IB1 and worth the extra bucks.

This is my third. Not because of failure, I eventually couldn't resist putting one on both of my tripods and even my monopod. Everything about this says affordable quality. Secure and adaptable. This is no cheap piece of equipment. It is quality through and through. Can even turn it into a single control by loosening both the rotational and ball adjusters and using just the friction knob to control the whole thing. Can even lock out using just the friction.