Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR II ball head with clamp lever

Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR II ball head with lever clamp: compact precision for on the go

You want a ball head that stays small but is rock solid at the decisive moment. That’s exactly what the Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR II is made for. At only 7.6 cm in height and 0.486 kg in weight, it fits neatly into a travel setup, yet doesn’t feel like a compromise. The base measures 5.3 cm in diameter, with a 3/8 inch UNC female thread at the bottom – classic and easy to use on many tripods.

And yes, it’s designed for medium setups, yet the whole thing feels surprisingly confident.

40 mm hollow ball, buttery-smooth movement and reliable locking

At its core is a 40 mm hollow ball that moves pleasantly smoothly and can tilt up to ±45° in any direction. You position the camera, let go, lock it, and the framing stays exactly where you want it. This “no sagging” is not just a marketing promise in practice, but exactly what makes the difference in landscape, reportage, or architectural work.

The construction made of 6061 T6 aluminum and stainless steel is built for longevity. Not excessively massive, more on the precise side, and therefore pleasant in the field, because nothing rattles or sticks.

One drop notch for portrait orientation without removing the camera

The BH 40 LR II has a single 90° drop notch. This lets you switch quickly to portrait orientation without having to awkwardly loosen the camera first. Especially for portraits, macro, or whenever you frequently switch between landscape and portrait in a scene, this saves time and nerves. It’s the kind of detail you only really appreciate after using it for a few days.

B2 LR II lever clamp: fast, one-handed, repeatably precise

Included is the B2 LR II quick-release clamp as a lever clamp. For you this means: fast changes, often even one-handed, and still a very solid hold. The clamp accepts a ARCA compatible 38 mm dovetail clamping, stated by the manufacturer as Arca-style compatible. This is practical because it lets you use both RRS and many common dovetail plates from the industry without locking yourself into an isolated system.

For clean work, there is an integrated bubble level and an engraved scale on board, which makes repeatable framing much easier, for example when shooting series or when you want to set up your rig identically on a regular basis. And because the clamp is compact and low-profile, it is less likely to snag in your backpack or on a strap. Sounds trivial, but it isn’t.

8.0 kg load capacity: suitable for many telezooms, mirrorless, DSLR and even medium format

With a maximum load capacity of 8.0 kg, the BH 40 LR II is designed for medium to moderately heavy combinations. Typical candidates are telezooms and longer primes as often used in practice: Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II or Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8 L IS II, Nikon 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR AF-S NIKKOR or Nikon 70–200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR, Sony 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 GM OSS FE SEL100400GM or Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II FE SEL70200GM2. Canon RF 100–500mm f/4.5–7.1 L IS USM and even the lightweight super-tele options like Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM or RF 800mm f/11 IS STM also fit the concept well if you want a mobile setup.

And if you work with a Sigma 150–600mm f/5–6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary or Sports, or with an Olympus 300mm f/4 M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED IS PRO, this is exactly the type of combination this head is often chosen for. Not because it’s huge, but because it stays stable when it counts.

Made for panorama, wedding, travel, reportage, landscape, macro and telephoto photography

The BH 40 LR II suits mirrorless and DSLR cameras just as well as medium format, as long as the total weight stays within range. Its separate panning base is especially pleasant when you want to pan smoothly and level horizontally, for example in panoramic photography, but also in architecture or landscape work where straight lines and repeatability matter. At the same time, it’s fast enough for weddings and reportage because you don’t have to “crank” knobs for ages, but can move quickly from position to position.

All in all, this is a ball head that doesn’t slow you down. It feels more like a precise tool that you eventually just take for granted.