Review on Sunwayfoto XB-25: Premium Low Profile Ball Head with 25mm Arca / RRS Compatibility by Djmikis Parker

Offers most of the benefits of a regular ball head (metal construction, Arca-Swiss style quick release buckle) but in a smaller form factor; Ball heads of this size are often made of plastic (not fancy) and have a fixed screw shaft instead of a quick release. However, some compromises have been made compared to its slightly larger XB-28II cousin (pictured left, XB-25 right): - The ballhead latch is open: you can see the screw that pulls the two halves of the ballhead body together. External influences are unlikely to contribute to longevity - The handle on the quick release is not closed: you can see the captive screw mechanism inside - There are no locking screws on the quick release plate: if the clip is loosened slightly, the plate (and your camera) will be able to slip off . Note that the clip itself has cutouts that make it compatible with security screws. The ball head has a knob to control both the ball and the bottom of the pan. Settings range from a free ball with panning, to a tight ball with panning, to a tight ball without panning, but there's no setting to disable panning while the ball remains free. These are some minor inconveniences; If you really need a very small ball head this is still a great product for the asking price of $30 (wish I could give it 4.5 stars). If you're happy with a slightly larger ball head, the XB-28II avoids all of the limitations listed above (and even adds an extra swivel clamp base).