Really Right Stuff BH-30 PRO II: compact ball head with B2-Pro II screw clamp

Really Right Stuff BH-30 PRO II ball head with B2-Pro II screw clamp, compact, precise, amazingly strong

Sometimes a tiny twist is all it takes for an image to suddenly fall into place. The Really Right Stuff BH-30 PRO II is made exactly for that moment. This compact ball head with B2-Pro II screw clamp is aimed at everyone who wants to travel light, but won’t accept any compromises in handling or stability. Small in pack size, big in impact, especially when you work with mirrorless cameras, lightweight setups, and in travel or macro photography.

RRS explicitly recommends the BH-30 PRO II for the popular Gitzo Traveler tripods, and with its base diameter of around 4 cm it fits perfectly on slim travel tripods. Despite its compact design, the ball head reliably supports up to 6.8 kg while remaining impressively smooth to operate. A ball head that doesn’t just convince on paper, but out in the field – whether in the hustle and bustle of the city, in the forest, or somewhere between the airport and sunrise.

Precise B2-Pro II screw clamp for a secure hold

The heart of the system is the large B2-Pro II quick-release clamp with screw clamping and grippy knurled knob. You clamp your camera or lens plate in a controlled and sensitive way, without frantic fumbling. The screw clamp gives you the reassuring feeling that nothing will slip, even if you position the camera at an angle or in portrait orientation. According to the manufacturer, the clamp accepts Arca-style compatible 38 mm dovetail profiles, giving you a wide choice of camera plates and L-brackets.

The large knurled screw of the B2-Pro II clamp is easy to grip even with cold fingers or thin gloves. The result is a secure fit for your gear without having to brutally overtighten the clamp. This finely adjustable clamping action really pays off in macro photography, where you’re often working in millimetres.

30 mm hollow ball for fluid movements and precise alignment

Inside, a 30 mm hollow ball is at work, enabling the compact overall height of only about 7.5 cm. The ball moves silky smooth, so you can bring your camera into position quickly without it suddenly giving way in a jerky motion. A generously sized main locking knob ensures that you can securely lock the ball with a single hand movement. The knob is deliberately made large and grippy so you can find it intuitively, even when you’re focusing more on the subject than on the tripod.

Of course, there is also a 90° position so you can switch to portrait orientation in an instant. Especially with L-brackets and lightweight mirrorless setups, this is a very elegant combination when you want to switch flexibly between landscape and portrait format on the go.

Panorama base with fine 2.5° increments

Beneath the ball sits a separate panorama base with a laser-engraved 2.5° scale. This allows you to pan the camera in a controlled and repeatable way, which is particularly useful when you want to shoot overlapping series for panoramas or multiple exposures. The fine graduation makes it easier to rotate evenly without constantly having to guess how far you’ve already panned.

The panorama base can be operated independently of the ball movement. So you can first set the tilt precisely and then rotate the camera exactly around the vertical axis. This is helpful not only for classic landscape shots, but also when you photograph cityscapes or interiors and need clean image sequences.

Robust materials: 6061-T6 aluminum and stainless steel for long-term use

With the BH-30 PRO II, Really Right Stuff consistently relies on high-quality materials. The structural components are made of 6061-T6 aluminum and stainless steel, which is an excellent combination of stability, corrosion resistance, and low weight. The aluminum is precisely machined and cleanly anodized, while stainless steel parts at particularly stressed points provide additional security.

With a weight of about 0.383 kg, the ball head remains pleasantly light. Depending on the clamp used, small additional weights are added: about plus 0.130 kg with the B2-Pro II screw clamp, plus 0.116 kg with the B2-40-LR lever clamp, plus 0.069 kg with the B2-mAS screw clamp, plus 0.164 kg with the B2-AS II lever clamp, or plus 0.048 kg with a simple mounting platform. This lets you configure your setup almost exactly the way you need it for your work, without carrying unnecessary weight around.

Made in the USA, precision from a small workshop instead of mass production

Really Right Stuff manufactures the BH-30 PRO II in the USA and is known for focusing on quality rather than huge production volumes. The components are machined with great care, edges are cleanly deburred, and the surfaces are finished to a high standard. In everyday use, you notice this in the fact that nothing rattles, nothing wobbles, and operation still feels solid and controlled even after many trips.

We’d say it feels more like a precision tool than a mere accessory. Especially if you travel a lot and your equipment regularly ends up in a backpack, carry-on luggage, or the trunk of a car, this robust construction really pays off.

Arca-style compatible, highly versatile with plates and L-brackets

The BH-30 PRO II is designed to be Arca-style compatible, giving you great freedom in your choice of camera plates and L-brackets. You can use suitable plates from various manufacturers as long as they follow the common 38 mm dovetail profile. This makes the ball head particularly flexible if you already use ARCA-based components or plan to expand your system later.

Especially in travel photography, it’s convenient not to need a separate plate for every tripod system. Once you’re properly set up to the Arca-style standard, you can quickly move your camera between ball head, slider, or other accessories without having to keep reattaching plates.

Perfect for mirrorless, travel photography, and macro photography

The BH-30 PRO II really shines with mirrorless system cameras and lightweight DSLR setups. The maximum load capacity of 6.8 kg gives you plenty of headroom for a solid body, a fast lens, and possibly a small macro rail or similar accessory. Despite this, the head remains compact enough to fit easily into a camera backpack or even a slightly larger shoulder bag.

In travel photography, you benefit from the low weight and short overall height. In macro photography, the sensitive ball movement and the precise screw clamp are worth their weight in gold, because they let you place close-up subjects very accurately in the frame. In short: the BH-30 PRO II is not just a studio head, but a very mobile tool for outdoor use, for on the go, for “quickly, but done right”.

Technical data at a glance

So you know exactly what you’re getting into, here are the key specs of the Really Right Stuff BH-30 PRO II ball head with B2-Pro II screw clamp in structured form:

• Load capacity: up to 6.8 kg for mirrorless and lightweight DSLR setups
• Height: about 7.5 cm for a compact overall package
• Ball diameter: 30 mm hollow ball for smooth movements
• Base diameter: approx. 4 cm, ideal for travel tripods such as Gitzo Traveler
• Tripod mount: 3/8" UNC female thread for common tripod connections
• Weight of the head: about 0.383 kg, varying slightly depending on the clamp
• Clamp type: screw clamp via B2-Pro II quick-release clamp with knurled knob
• Separate panorama base: yes, with laser-engraved 2.5° increments

All components are designed for durability and reliable function. Nothing superfluous, nothing gimmicky – just a clear focus on stability, operating comfort, and clean, repeatable alignment of your camera.

Conclusion: A compact ball head for serious use on the go

If you’re looking for a ball head that is light enough for your backpack yet still feels like a serious tool, the Really Right Stuff BH-30 PRO II is a very compelling option. It combines a robust construction of 6061-T6 aluminum and stainless steel with a finely adjustable B2-Pro II screw clamp, a separate panorama base, and a surprisingly high load capacity.

Whether you’re wandering narrow old-town alleys with a mirrorless camera, waiting for reflections on a lakeshore at dawn, or capturing the fine details of a petal in your garden with macro photography, this ball head is made to support you quietly but reliably. Not a show star, more the calm professional in the background that simply works when it matters.