Desmond Demon DB-44 44mm Tripod Ball Head Arca Compatible w Pan Lock & DAC-X1 Clamp

2 reviews for Desmond Demon DB-44 44mm Tripod Ball Head Arca Compatible w Pan Lock & DAC-X1 Clamp

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – January 3, 2024 Dedrick Abshire

   Anthony M wrote a review complete with photos that would be hard to beat so I won’t cover the same things he did, but I am here to tell you he is right. This is one fine piece of gear that anyone would be proud to be “caught using”. I was researching ball heads when I came across his review at another site. The one I was looking at was nice and a little cheaper, but when I read his review I knew the DB-44 was the one I wanted.He also told me the one I was looking at wasn’t bad, really kind of good(ish). I wanted the “excellent” one and bought my DB-44 from OEC Camera Accessories. It arrived quickly and well packed. They only had one left but don’t worry, I emailed and ask them and more are on the way. Not only more but they’ll have different configurations with different clamps, plates etc.I’m new to DSLR’s and have used a ball head before ranging from junk to mediocre I’d say. Actually they’d all be junk compared to this one. For those who don’t know, the small screw like adjustment inset in the large lock knob is how you set your minimum friction. It limits the large lock knob range to be from like 1-4 instead of 1-12 and you can set the minimum anywhere from flopping to super tight if you want. The reason for this is simple, so you don’t have to crank the knob all day everyday and you can set it so it won’t fall over if you accidentally go the wrong way and loosen instead of tighten. With no default friction (tightness) it’d just flop over if you loosened it too far. It doesn’t come with instructions but there isn’t much to it and I’ll post them at the end of this review.I have a D7100. According to the instructions (that I found online) I put my lightest lens on it and adjusted the minimum friction to work nicely with it, a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D. My 35mm f/1.8G might be lighter, if so I’ll redo it. My minimum setting is 1 and you’d have to turn it hard to reach 6. The range I’ll be using is 1-3.5 and maybe 4 if I hung a full 2-liter on the end of it. Ok, that might take a 5.After that I put my 80-200 f/2.8 D ED (two ring version) on it and with it set to minimum (1), it stood there. Yes, at 1 it stands up yet the 50mm moves buttery smooth. Now, even with the 50mm if you point it way off center you do have to tighten it but not much to keep it from drifting down. The 80-200 is stable as low as 2-3 until you get pretty far over, such as almost straight down and you have to tighten it to 3.25-3.5 or so. I don’t think I’ll need 4 except to just lock it when I know I want it there for awhile. I expect it may loosen up a tad with use, but not much according to what I’ve read about quality ball heads. My range would still be like 1-4.So that is basically how it works and boy does it work. It’s so smooth that I tracked the moon just to test it. If you point at the moon with a cheap head, the moon will move of course and when you move the camera you’ll jerk past it trying to get that last mm or two you need to be right on it. Also when you tighten it down, most heads will move so you have to aim high and let it settle down where you want it.Not with this one! I love it already and have yet to really use it beyond setting it up but I can tell it’s going to be a pleasure. I do some macro which is really hard when 1mm makes all the difference in the world in sharpness. Also, because of extremely shallow depth of field what is in focus changes with ever so slight of a movement. I can already tell I’m going to be able to aim it and keep it there much better. Of course they have plates and rails that allow you to micro adjust and this is the perfect setup to use those with too. I think you get that I love it and it’s already encouraged me to get out and shoot just so I can use it!Problems? What problems? It’s just a gorgeous ball head that I’m sure will give me years of enjoyable use. If you’re doing macro on a hot day it’s not so enjoyable to fiddle around for 15 minutes for a shot and then do it all over for a shot of something else. This should help eliminate wasted time and aiming/re-aiming, and cut down on do-overs.I didn’t cover Arca Swiss compatibility because if you’re here you probably know what it is, but basically it’s a clamp and quick release plate system that is interchangeable and has became the standard. Some companies do have a slight variation so be sure to research anything you buy to go with this and make sure it’s not a little proprietary. Some old used plates may be too thick/wide etc, so double check.The reviewer I previously refereed to said that he’d bought a lot of stuff from OEC Camera and never had a problem and I’m very happy with my experience as well. If you want a serious piece of gear that won’t “let you down” you need to try this, it’s a gem. Below is the basic instructions I found online.Friction adjustment instructions for Desmond DB-44 Ball Head.With the head tightened, mount the lightest combination of camera and lens you will regularly use. Turn the small thumbscrew (located on the multi-function knob) by rotating it counter clockwise to loosen it a little bit. Now turn the multi-function knob counter clockwise until you reach the desired minimum degree of friction that you want. This can range from completely free or to as little or as much drag as you desire. Once you have it set, turn the thumbscrew clockwise until it stops. Now the big knob won’t move past the minimum friction point you set.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – March 13, 2024 Alexanne Goldner

   You read right.You’re going to have to get the Sirui K-30X to do better than this for an extra $60. After that, you’ll need to spend even more – because Sirui is the screaming deal in the mid $100’s. For about the same price as the Sirui, there’s the SunwayFoto DB-44. Or um…When I saw this, I immediately recognized it for what it is – the SunwayFoto DB-44 ball head. When this ball head was introduced back in 2010, there was a lot of buzz that you could buy a ball head of this sort of quality for $300. Just do a search for SunwayFoto DB-44, and look at their website, as well as the reviews on Fred Miranda. Direct comparisons are made to the RRS BH-40 and others. SunwayFoto still makes the DB-44, at a little bit less than when introduced. I see the DB-44DL on Amazon right now with the brilliantly designed Duo clamp, which has a lever on one side and a fine adjustment knob on the other. The best of both worlds.Desmond is a distributor of many fine photographic tools including SunwayFoto products, and I have recently learned that they have helped with the design of some of their products as well (such as the Duo clamp). Desmond designs all of the Desmond products as well as designing and manufacturing for OEM’s around the world. So this gives some explanation as to how this ball head came into being.So, how do they do it? The design appears to be identical save for some cosmetic differences. I can only find a couple of places where Desmond has cut some corners either to use their own parts and/or bring the price down. I’ll let you know what I think they are as I go through the review.Packaging:Here’s one cost savings measure right here. The Desmond DB-44 arrives in a plain, brown cardboard box. The box design is exactly the same as many brands, it’s heavy and meant to be reused. A tiny postage stamp sized SKU sticker is on top, with the words Desmond in comic sans, and 44mm Ball Head. There are clear round plastic seals at every seam, so 3 cuts later and I was in. The head is wrapped in closed cell poly foam. Also included is an allen wrench to remove the clamp, as well as a 3/8” to ¼” adapter screw in case you want to do something different with your clamp system.Design:This is a medium sized ball head, suitable for a full sized DSLR and up to a stabilized 70-200/2.8 comfortably. It’s rated at 30kg./66 lbs. and I’ve got a bridge to sell you! What I would rate it at would be 15lbs, and that’s a lot of weight. I have no doubt that it could hold 66 lbs, but the chances of the tiny little case-hardened bolt holding the clamp onto the ball sheering off are much higher than the ball slipping once you’ve locked down your concrete block. A comfortable amount of weight for this ball head from what I’ve found would be right around 5lbs max. That allows you to move the camera and lens with some friction dialed in, but not having to hold it with both hands. You can easily maneuver it into position, make fine adjustments and lock it down without additional movement.The design of this ball head was pretty new at the time, which is a single knob control which acts as the friction and locking mechanism. This was popularized by Markins a few years earlier. It has a panning base with a single lock knob, and a standard knob type Arca Swiss clamp. One valuable feature is the double drop notch body which is fantastic for quick changes from landscape to portrait to full tilt up or down. The ball is a 44mm semi-elliptical type, allowing for a similar feel of motion as the angle gets steeper.DescriptionBody:The single knob acts as friction control and lock. The friction knob is huge and has very nice ribbing on it, giving a sure and positive grip in any environment. This one will be easy to use with gloves on – unlike some of the ones with fine crosshatching. The face of the friction knob has a polished metal inset – and it’s not simply a plate. Like the Sirui this appears to be part of the axle and it’s got a very solid feel and appearance. The marker ring is exactly the same as the SunwayFoto, no change here. Set into the friction knob is a tension clutch – unlike some brands (even SunwayFoto) this has a single slot instead of the star-cut type.The panning base has a square scallop type shape to it, making it easy to grasp when screwing onto your tripod plate, or more importantly, removing! One cost cutting measure I see is that rather than having the base cover the numerals and have a cut-out window, the numerals are exposed and a simple marker denotes your starting point. The numerals go from 0 to 90 back to zero again. This type of demarcation is handy for panoramas if you’re counting off 15 degree increments.Clamp:The other (and most obvious) change from the SunwayFoto is the clamp. This is also the most obvious price-cutting measure I see, although that sounds worse than it is. At first appears to be the same Arca Swiss compatible clamp that Desmond sells (and I own), model number DAC-01. While the design is identical, the machining is completely different, as is the finish. The tolerances are super tight, and the machining is as good as any out there. Other than that it’s the same extended knob and dual pressure-spring jaw, which while not top tier (the springs are semi-exposed) is excellent in its functionality. The clamp has a small bubble level in it which is a nice addition, but useless once the camera is in place.There is not particular safety mechanism in place on the clamp, and as there are on the SunwayFoto or Sirui for instance. The clamp has a center point and numerals on it for accurate placement. The knob on the clamp has the same type of ribbing as the big friction and lock knob. This gives it a consolidated appearance that the SunwayFoto was lacking. It too has a mirror polished face, but in this case it appears that it is a plate. The knobs have a similar look as the Desmond line of products, however the machining is much sharper and the ribs are slightly tighter in spacing as well.Fit & Finish:Unlike many ball heads around this price, the body is machined from a single billet of aircraft grade aluminum. It’s pretty typical of lower cost support to be made of cast metal, finished with a slightly textured looking finish that hides imperfections. Here we have machining comparable to higher end competitors. The finish of the ball head appears to be identical to SunwayFoto’s earlier flat anodizing instead of their semi-gloss. It’s a smooth and even anodizing, but it’s not as luscious and lustrous as what you find on Sirui or ball heads costing far more. Since the finish appears to be identical to SunwayFoto, this means it could be slightly prone to chipping on the sharp corners. My only real complaint here as with the mirror finish on the face of the knobs as well as the matt body is it is prone to fingerprints. Bottom line, the machining is first rate, and the finish is not far behind. For a ball head at this price, nothing else comes anywhere near it.Aesthetically, I actually prefer the overall appearance of the Desmond over the original SunwayFoto. The knobs are all consistently designed, the scalloped edge of the plate has a much more industrial appearance and the squared-off bevels matches the knobs. The polished mirror finish of the knob faces are just enough of an accent to give it a high-end appearance. The pieces all tie together making for a very subtle, understated and handsome piece of gear. The icing on the cake is besides the numeric markings on the panning base and clamp, there are no identification or markings save for a very subtle model number in 9 pt. text on the clamp. I love not having a giant logo and model number mucking things up.Handling:This is absolutely top notch stuff. The friction knob is buttery smooth, as is the tension screw on its face. The panning has just the right amount of resistance, and is dangerously close to the Sirui in this respect. The more weight you put on it, the easier and faster it moves. The clamp too is smooth and easy, with just the right amount of pressure against it as you open it up.The Desmond DB-44’s clamp movement is smooth and even in its action and pressure. The jaw knob is nearly as smooth as the SunwayFoto, but you’ve got to have them next to each other to tell. Both of these are just a notch under the Sirui, which IMO is one of the best standard type ball heads made.With an EOS 6D and my 70-200/2.8 OS, I can easily position and lock the camera with no noticeable slippage. Unlocking and locking again causes very little movement. At extreme angles, if you zero in on your target and lock it, you don’t have to worry about trying to aim high and have it settle into position afterwards.Pros:- insanely inexpensive- first rate fit and finish- fantastic handling- double notch design- single friction/lock knob design- huge friction knob- no rubber on knobs- Arca Swiss Compatible- RRS Compatible- no discerning identification – stealth ball head!Cons:- so inexpensive it falls into the “too good to be true” category- anodizing not as good as some others- mirror finish attracts fingerprints- bubble level could be extended from clamp- no discerning identification – stealth ball head!Other observations:I bought this ball head because I missed my Kirk BH-3, which I sold with a Gitzo tripod. I had the Sirui K-40X, and the K-20X, which are size-wise on each side of this. But to me, a ball head in the mid-40’s is the perfect all-around size. I had planned on replacing it at some point, but only with a good one. However I recognized this right away for what it was. Desmond has proven themselves to be a fantastic value for the money, and they’re the first thing I think of for budget clamps and plates. However, here they’ve taken a huge stride forward. This ball head competes fully with ones costing twice the price. Not even a question.Summary:If you’re looking for a medium sized ball head in the $150-250 range, consider this. Certainly, the Sirui K-30X is a better ball head for $140 – except I prefer the all metal knobs here. Is the SunwayFoto better? I absolutely cannot say. There’s a very slight improved feeling of the machining, and no doubt the materials used would be better. Wouldn’t they? Hmmm. What you do get potentially is an improved warranty. I would put this up against the likes of Benro, Induro, Feisol, Giottos… and it absolutely obliterates Manfrotto. If you’re considering something like a $30 Neewer, for a little more you can have an absolute professional grade ball head that will last a lifetime.This is an absolute screaming deal. I love when I find things like this. OEC camera (currently the only seller) has proven themselves to be a great vendor. I’ve purchased a lot of stuff from them, and they find the highest quality gear for very reasonable prices. This new ball head from Desmond is a jewel.This is 5 stars, and should be more.