Uniqball UBH35X Ball Head

Uniqball’s revolutionary design combines two ball heads in the same shell. The outer ball acts like a conventional ball head and also becomes the levelling base for the inner ball. So you can have the freedom of movement to follow action or get into a tight spot for a macro picture, and then next have a perfectly level base for landscape, panorama or video tracking shots.

The advantages of this design are many: most pictures, whether they include architecture, animals or people, need to be level, so ensuring this at the time of exposure saves time straightening and cropping in a computer; tracking horizontal fast action becomes extremely easy; and having this advantage with all the use of a conventional ball head, saves you the need to carry and swap two types of head.

Setting the outer ball takes just a few seconds: loosen the large lock knob and use the built-in spirit level to set it up – there’s no need to fiddle with the tripod legs. Then use the red knob under the quick release to control the inner ball. Its internal mechanism only allows panning and forward/back tilting, so it will always stay level once set up. And unlike most built-in bubble balls which are accurate to around 1°, the Uniqball one is calibrated at installation to 0.1°.

Although they are very strong, the Uniqball heads are not heavy. Designed for the travelling photographer using long lenses, they are manufactured from very high quality aluminium alloys – certal or perunal – used in the aerospace industry. These parts are milled to a 1/100mm tolerance resulting in a steel-like solidity with light weight, plus silky smooth movements. The heads are hand-assembled, with every part tested before being passed.

The Arca-Swiss compatible quick release allows fore-and-aft movement of the camera plate to facilitate balancing of the camera/lens assembly. Uniqball, and other makers’ plates which adhere accurately to the Arca pattern (e.g. Kirk, RRS, Novoflex) can be used.

Uniqballs are supplied with an adjusting allen key for the plate and clamp, a soft drawstring pouch, instruction manual and are guaranteed for one year. This can be extended to 3 years free of charge by registering with Uniqball.

The UBH35X head is recommended for use with pro-size DSLRs lenses weighing up to around 3kg, such as 100-400mm f5.6, 50-500mm f6.3, 300mm f4, 300mm f2.8, 400mm f5.6, 70-200mm f2.8, 120-300mm f2.8, 80-400mm f5.6, 200mm f2, 400mm f4.